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Miro vs Drawpile

A side-by-side look at Miro (the paid SaaS) and Drawpile (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.

Miro Drawpile
Tagline Online whiteboard for workshops, retros and diagrams. Collaborative drawing and painting in real time.
License Proprietary SaaS GPL-3.0
Pricing Free up to 3 boards; Starter from $8/user/month. Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan
Self-host option No Yes — difficulty 2/5
Hosted cloud available Yes (only option) Yes
Desktop apps Varies by product Windows, macOS, Linux
Mobile apps Official apps typically available Android
Ad slot — between tables

Best for

Real-time collaborative drawing on a shared canvas.

Drawpile strengths

  • Real-time multi-user drawing.
  • Self-host your own session server.
  • Natural feel for artists and designers.

Drawpile weaknesses

  • More painting-focused than diagramming.
  • No sticky notes / Miro-style UX.
  • Limited integrations.

What's the catch with Miro?

  • Pricing scales with boards and seats.
  • Cloud-only — no self-host for confidential workshops.
  • Large boards can lag in the browser.

Still unsure?

Check the full list of alternatives to Miro: see Miro alternatives, or learn more about Drawpile on its project page.