Excalidraw vs Principle: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Excalidraw and Principle. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Excalidraw starts at Custom pricing and Principle starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 2 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Excalidraw vs Principle: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Excalidraw | Principle |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
| Number of Plans | 1 | 1 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | open-source | flat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Excalidraw and Principle are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Design Tools. Together they offer 2 pricing plans with 0 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Excalidraw stands out with a free plan for getting started. Excalidraw uses open-source pricing while Principle uses flat pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Design Tools needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Excalidraw Try it free |  Principle Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Try the forever free editor for yourself $0/monthCheapest | See For Yourself Custom pricing |
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Excalidraw
Free open-source virtual whiteboard for hand-drawn style diagrams
View all Excalidraw plansExcalidraw
Excalidraw offers a free plan.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Excalidraw
Try Excalidraw freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Excalidraw if:
- •You need a free plan with core features—Excalidraw offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You prioritize Excalidraw's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •Excalidraw's single-tier open-source structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
Choose Principle if:
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Principle offers negotiated terms for large deployments
- •You prioritize Principle's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •Principle's single-tier flat structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
Excalidraw offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Principle requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Excalidraw a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Excalidraw's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately Custom pricing provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Principle's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Excalidraw's 1 tier provide flexibility at different budgets, while Principle's 1 tier structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Excalidraw is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Excalidraw vs Principle
How many pricing plans does Excalidraw have vs Principle?
Does Excalidraw or Principle offer a free plan?
Does Excalidraw or Principle offer custom enterprise pricing?
What pricing models do Excalidraw and Principle use?
How do Excalidraw and Principle compare for Design Tools?
Sources
- Excalidraw Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Principle Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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