I need a collaborative whiteboard that is open source and does not have feature gates.

If your requirements are open source + real-time collaboration + no feature gates, I’d shortlist these:

1. github.com — best overall

• MIT licensed.
• Real-time collaboration is built into the public app.
• Infinite canvas, drawing, shapes, arrows, images, text, libraries, export, etc.
• You can self-host the software rather than depending on a paid workspace.
• The important caveat: the official self-hosting story for the full collaborative service is less turnkey than the hosted Excalidraw experience.

2. github.com — best if you want Docker/self-hosting

• An MIT-licensed project specifically aimed at self-hosted collaborative Excalidraw.
• Provides Docker Compose deployment and real-time collaboration.
• Latest release shown is from May 2026.
• This is probably the option I'd investigate first if "no feature gates" means I want to run the whole thing myself.

3. github.com — technically excellent, but licensing is a caveat

• Excellent infinite-canvas UX and multiplayer architecture.
• The SDK supports self-hosted real-time collaboration.
• However, tldraw is not simply an MIT-licensed end-user whiteboard, so I'd rule it out if your definition of "open source with no feature gates" requires an entirely permissive/open-source stack.

My recommendation

If you're looking for something analogous to Miro, but without paid feature tiers, I'd go with:

Excalidraw + self-hosting.

If you tell me whether you want (a) a ready-to-run Docker container, (b) a hosted service you can use immediately, or (c) something you can embed into your own app, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and compare them on collaboration, authentication, persistence, permissions, mobile support, and licensing.

If you want a truly collaborative digital canvas without arbitrary board caps, paywalls, or locked "enterprise-only" features, open-source options are the way to go. Because they are open source (and easily self-hosted), there are no artificial feature gates—what you see is what you get.

The best open-source, collaborative whiteboard options fit different specific needs:

• Excalidraw
  • Best for: Fast, casual brainstorming, sketching, and wireframing.
  • Why it fits: Famously lightweight with a distinct hand-drawn aesthetic. It supports seamless real-time end-to-end encrypted collaboration right out of the box, requires no accounts for basic use, and carries a permissive MIT license with zero commercial restrictions. You can use the hosted public version or self-host the entire stack via Docker.
• AFFiNE
  • Best for: An all-in-one workspace combining whiteboards and notion-style documents.
  • Why it fits: Built local-first and privacy-focused, AFFiNE merges infinite-canvas whiteboarding with rich-text document editing. It is fully open-source (MIT license) and designed so you can host your own sync/collaboration server without hitting tier limits.
• diagrams.net (draw.io)
  • Best for: Structured technical diagrams, flowcharts, and system architecture.
  • Why it fits: While less of a "freehand sketching" board and more of a technical diagramming tool, its core application is entirely open source (Apache 2.0). It supports real-time collaboration plugins/integrations (like via Nextcloud) and has zero feature gating or monetization prompts for core usage.
• OurBoard
  • Best for: A lightweight, self-hostable alternative specifically aimed at replacing Miro-style team boards.
  • Why it fits: Built with TypeScript and WebSockets, it provides basic sticky notes, shapes, and areas with simple sharing controls and optional Google sign-in. It is fully open source and trivial to spin up locally or via Docker Compose.

Do you plan to self-host the whiteboard on your own server , or do you prefer a zero-setup hosted web version ? I can give you the exact setup steps or recommend the best fit accordingly.

Yes. If open source + real-time collaboration + no feature gates are the hard requirements, I’d narrow it to these:

• Excalidraw — Best overall. MIT-licensed, infinite canvas, real-time collaboration, E2E encryption, image/shape support, and exports. You can self-host it, and the core whiteboard isn't dependent on a paid license.
• WBO — Best if you want extremely simple self-hosting. Open-source, real-time collaborative drawing, persistent boards, and designed to be self-hosted. It's less polished/powerful than Excalidraw but avoids the SaaS-oriented model.
• Nextcloud Whiteboard — Best if you already run Nextcloud. Open-source collaborative whiteboarding integrated into the Nextcloud ecosystem; a good choice if you want the board alongside your files and other collaboration tools.

My recommendation

Go with Excalidraw. It is probably the closest match to “I want a Miro-like collaborative whiteboard, but I don't want important functionality held hostage by a paid tier.” Its public source is MIT licensed and the project explicitly includes real-time collaboration.

One important distinction: Excalidraw does have a commercial Excalidraw+ offering, but that doesn't mean the underlying open-source whiteboard has feature gates. If your requirement is specifically “every feature of the self-hosted/open-source product must be available without a license key”, I'd choose Excalidraw or WBO rather than tldraw.

If you tell me whether you want self-hosted Docker, a hosted service, or something you can embed in your own app, I can give you the best 3 options for that specific use case.

If you want a virtual canvas without artificial board caps, user paywalls, or premium tier feature gates, open-source whiteboards are the absolute best route . Because they are open source (and usually self-hostable), you get access to every single feature the software offers out of the box.

The top options that match your needs span different styles of collaboration:

• Excalidraw — Best for quick, zero-friction, hand-drawn style brainstorming. It requires no account for basic use, features end-to-end encrypted real-time collaboration, has an MIT license, and can easily be self-hosted via Docker so your entire team uses the full toolset with zero feature gating.
• AFFiNE — Best if you want an open-source, local-first hybrid between an infinite whiteboard ("Edgeless mode") and a structured doc workspace ("Page mode"). It features a robust architecture allowing you to self-host sync servers using Docker Compose without being trapped behind SaaS board limits.
• draw.io (diagrams.net) — Best if your collaboration leans heavily into structured technical diagrams, flowcharts, and architecture maps. It is completely free, open-source (Apache 2.0), integrates with various storage backends, and has zero locked features or paywalls.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• Do you plan to self-host it on your own server , or do you prefer a free hosted web version?
• Is your primary use case freeform sketching/brainstorming or structured diagramming/flowcharts?

If you need a true open-source collaborative whiteboard without arbitrary limits, paywalls, or feature gates locking away core functionality (like history, room limits, or advanced exports), several standout projects fit your requirements.

The best options available, ranked by their specific strengths and self-hosting capabilities, include:

1. Excalidraw

• Best for: Fast, frictionless brainstorming and sketching.
• The Vibe: Distinctive hand-drawn, wireframe aesthetic.
• Why it fits: The core project is MIT-licensed, completely free, and supports real-time end-to-end encrypted collaboration out of the box. There are no artificial caps on collaborators or board creation on the open-source version.
• Self-hosting: Highly containerized and easy to run via Docker. (Note: Excalidraw+ is their paid managed cloud service for team management, but the underlying open-source app lacks any feature gating if you host it yourself or use the free public web version).
• Where to find it: Check out the project or spin it up via the Excalidraw GitHub Repository.

2. AFFiNE

• Best for: Combining whiteboards, docs, and local-first databases.
• The Vibe: A modular, Notion-meets-Miro workspace.
• Why it fits: AFFiNE is open-source (MIT license) and built around an infinite canvas fusion that merges structured text docs with freeform whiteboarding. It is local-first, meaning you aren't forced into a restrictive cloud tier to access your own data or advanced layout tools.
• Self-hosting: Fully supported for private servers and local deployments.
• Where to find it: Explore features or deploy it via the AFFiNE Official Website or AFFiNE GitHub Repository.

3. Draw.io (Diagrams.net)

• Best for: Technical diagrams, flowcharts, architecture maps, and structured wireframes.
• The Vibe: Clean, precise, and infinitely capable.
• Why it fits: While technically a diagramming tool rather than a "marker-first" sketching board, it supports real-time collaborative editing (via integrations like Nextcloud/Confluence or file-syncing) and is entirely free and open-source (Apache 2.0) with zero feature gates.
• Self-hosting: Completely open to run locally or embed in your own stack.
• Where to find it: Use the web tool or self-hosting files via Diagrams.net / Draw.io GitHub.

To help narrow down the right choice, let me know:

• Do you plan to self-host on your own server (Docker/Node), or do you need a ready-to-use public web app?
• Are you looking for freeform sketching (like a digital marker board) or structured technical diagramming?

Yes. If open source + real-time collaboration + no feature gates is the requirement, I’d narrow it to these:

• Excalidraw — Best overall. MIT-licensed, infinite canvas, real-time collaboration, E2E encryption, image support, shape libraries, and export. The hosted service has paid Excalidraw+ features, but the core editor itself is open source and usable without those paid features.
• WBO — Best if you want something extremely simple. Open-source, self-hostable, and designed specifically for simultaneous collaborative drawing. It's much more bare-bones than Excalidraw, but that's also its appeal.
• Nextcloud Whiteboard — Best if you already use Nextcloud. A good choice when you want the whiteboard integrated into a self-hosted collaboration platform.

My recommendation

I'd pick Excalidraw unless you specifically want a Miro-style board with lots of organizational/project-management features. Its MIT license and open source repository make it particularly attractive if you want to avoid the situation where a vendor gradually moves important functionality behind a subscription.

If by "no feature gates" you mean literally every feature—including multiplayer, unlimited boards, persistence, users/teams, permissions, and history—must be available in the self-hosted open-source version, I can make a stricter shortlist of 5–10 projects and check their licenses and feature matrices.

If you want a collaborative whiteboard that is truly open-source, self-hostable, and completely free of artificial paywalls or "feature gates" (where advanced features like history, extra shapes, or user caps are locked behind a paid enterprise tier), your best options depend on whether you want a lightweight sketch tool or a full workspace.

The top genuine open-source choices that fit your criteria include:

• Excalidraw — The undisputed gold standard for lightweight, friendly, hand-drawn-style whiteboarding. It is licensed under the permissive MIT license with zero feature gating.
  • The Catch on Self-Hosting: The core frontend code is entirely open source, but real-time multiplayer collaboration requires running a companion WebSocket server (like the open-source excalidraw-room or community Go implementations) alongside the frontend container. Once self-hosted with the room server, every feature is completely unlocked. You can check out the official guidance via the Excalidraw Open Source Self-Hosting Documentation.
• AFFiNE — An open-source, local-first alternative that combines an infinite visual whiteboard canvas with rich-text documents and databases. It is built on the BlockSuite framework, meaning you aren’t locked into a cloud SaaS ecosystem.
  • Why it fits: It is fully open source (MIT license) and designed so you can own your data and sync locally or self-host without arbitrary feature lockouts. You can explore the project via AFFiNE Official Website.
• WBO (Whitebophir) — A minimalist, highly performant, open-source collaborative web whiteboard.
  • Why it fits: It has zero bloat, no accounts required, no monetization, and can be spun up in seconds via a lightweight Node/Express setup on your own server. Multiple users can draw simultaneously with real-time state persistence. Code and instructions are available via the WBO GitHub Repository.
• OpenBoard — An open-source digital whiteboard tailored primarily for education, presentations, and team sketching.
  • Why it fits: It is completely free standalone freeware with no SaaS dependencies or tiered enterprise gates, though it leans more toward a local application rather than a cloud-synced multiplayer web app. Learn more at the OpenBoard Website.

To help narrow down the best setup for you, tell me:

• Do you plan to self-host on your own server (Docker/Node) or do you just need a free public web tool?
• Are you looking for freeform sketching/diagrams (like Excalidraw) or a document-and-whiteboard hybrid (like AFFiNE)?

Yes. If by “no feature gates” you mean the software should not lock collaboration, users, boards, exports, etc. behind a paid tier, I’d narrow the field considerably.

Best options

• Excalidraw — my first choice. It is genuinely open source, supports infinite canvases, diagrams, images, exports, and real-time collaboration.

• You can self-host it.

• There are community-maintained fully self-hosted collaboration stacks using Docker Compose.

• Caveat: the upstream Excalidraw repository currently says its basic self-hosted Docker deployment does not include sharing/collaboration, so you'd want a collaboration-capable deployment rather than simply running the vanilla container.

• WBO (Whiteboard Online) — worth considering if you want something designed specifically as a self-hosted collaborative whiteboard rather than an SDK. It is lightweight and oriented toward multiple people drawing on shared boards.

Ones I'd avoid for your requirement

• tldraw looks excellent technically and has self-hosted multiplayer, but does not meet your “no feature gates” requirement. Its current license explicitly requires a license key for production use, and the SDK is not open source by the conventional definition.
• Miro, FigJam, Lucidspark, etc. obviously don't fit if avoiding SaaS feature limits is the goal.

My recommendation

If this is for a team/company and you want to run it on your own server, I'd start with:

Excalidraw + a self-hosted collaboration/storage stack.

That gives you the familiar Excalidraw interface without depending on a vendor's paid workspace tier. The community excalidraw-self-hosted project, for example, provides a Docker Compose-based fully self-hosted collaborative setup and is MIT licensed.

If you tell me whether you want (1) easiest Docker deployment, (2) SSO/authentication, (3) persistent boards, (4) multiple users/teams, or (5) something closest to Miro, I can give you the best 3 open-source options and compare their actual feature/licensing limitations.

When you want a collaborative whiteboard that is truly open-source and completely free of artificial feature gates, upsells, or locked enterprise tiers, several stellar options stand out.

The top open-source whiteboard options that give you full feature sets without paywalls include:

• Excalidraw — The definitive go-to open-source virtual whiteboard. It features a lightweight, virtual hand-drawn aesthetic, an infinite canvas, shape libraries, and robust real-time collaboration. While excalidraw.com offers free hosted usage, the core software is completely open-source and can be entirely self-hosted (including its collaboration room backend/relay server via Docker) so you own 100% of the data with zero restrictions. You can check out the source code on the Excalidraw GitHub Repository.
• AFFiNE — An open-source, local-first knowledge operating system and workspace designed to replace tools like Notion and Miro. It combines traditional rich documents, databases, and a fully functional infinite whiteboard canvas (termed "edgeless mode"). It supports peer-to-peer/local sync and can be self-hosted via Docker Compose without feature blocks. Learn more or deploy it via the AFFiNE GitHub Repository.
• Penpot — While primarily built as an open-source design and prototyping tool, Penpot functions exceptionally well as a collaborative visual workspace and whiteboard for teams. It is web-based, entirely open-source (MPL 2.0), uses open web standards (SVG native), and has no commercial feature gating or locked collaboration tiers. You can self-host the entire stack or use their community instance via the Penpot Website.

(Note: Avoid tools like tldraw for self-hosted production team use if strict open-source licensing matters to you, as their SDK transitioned away from permissive open-source licenses toward non-commercial/custom terms).

Would you prefer to self-host one of these options using Docker, or are you looking for a fully managed/hosted free service that doesn't restrict features?

Yes. If your requirements are open source + collaborative + no feature gates, I’d start with Excalidraw.

Best options

• Excalidraw — my top recommendation. It is MIT-licensed, free/open source, supports real-time collaboration, infinite canvas, images, shape libraries, exports, and end-to-end encryption. GitHub excalidraw.com ·
• WBO (Whiteboard Online) — worth considering if your priority is a simple, self-hosted collaborative whiteboard rather than a polished Miro-like product. I'd favor it when you want maximum control over the deployment.

One important caveat

I'd avoid tldraw if "no feature gates" is a hard requirement. Its licensing changed in 2025, so although the source is available, it isn't equivalent to a permissively licensed, unrestricted open-source whiteboard for production use.

My recommendation

If you want something that feels like "Miro, but I can run it myself and nobody can put features behind a subscription", I'd choose:

Excalidraw → self-host it → use your own collaboration/backend infrastructure.

One caveat: the standard Excalidraw client is open source, but self-hosting the frontend alone doesn't automatically give you a complete self-hosted collaboration service; the project's own documentation has historically distinguished the client from the hosted collaboration infrastructure.

If you tell me whether you want Miro-like (sticky notes, voting, templates, cursors, etc.) or diagramming/sketching-focused, I can give you a shortlist of 3–5 genuinely open-source options with license, collaboration, self-hosting, and feature-gate status.