HeadTidyExcalidraw vs tldraw vs HeadTidy
Want to sketch an idea, work on a shared whiteboard, or turn a map into a plan? These three tools overlap on the canvas, but suit different jobs.
Written by Rene Reede Updated 4 September 2026
This comparison is written by HeadTidy. We compare the public whiteboard apps with HeadTidy, and call out where a dedicated drawing tool is the better choice.
Which should you choose?
- Excalidraw: a good fit for hand-drawn-style diagrams, wireframes and sketches you want to share.
- tldraw: a good fit for a freeform multiplayer whiteboard, with flexible canvas editing.
- HeadTidy: a good fit for a personal mind map that also holds tasks, habits, dates and tables, with drawing alongside them.
Drawing and planning, side by side
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare all three tools.
| What you need | Excalidraw | tldraw | HeadTidy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Sketch-style diagrams | Freeform whiteboarding | Mind mapping and personal planning |
| Canvas tools | Freehand, shapes, text, arrows and images | Drawing, shapes, text and arrows | Pen, highlighter, shapes, arrows and text around map cards |
| Editing drawings | Bound arrows and reusable shape libraries | Move, resize and rotate shapes | Move marks, edit text and undo; no shape resizing or fills yet |
| Follow-up work | A visual board for your ideas | A visual board for your ideas | Task due dates, priorities, habit check-ins, Calendar in Plan, and editable tables |
| Working together | Real-time collaboration | Multiplayer whiteboard | Private sharing and comments for configured accounts; no live cursors |
Excalidraw features are documented in its official repository. tldraw describes its canvas editing and multiplayer foundation on its official site; the ready-to-use whiteboard is at tldraw.com.
When Excalidraw is the better fit
If the drawing is the result you need, try Excalidraw first. Its sketch style, bound arrows and shape libraries suit explaining a process or exploring a wireframe. It exports PNG, SVG and editable .excalidraw files. The hosted editor also supports end-to-end encrypted collaboration. See the official feature list.
When tldraw is the better fit
If you want an open whiteboard where you can move, resize and rotate objects while working with others, try tldraw. Developers can also build custom canvas tools with its SDK; that is a separate use case from choosing a personal planning app. SDK licensing should not be confused with access to the public whiteboard. See tldraw’s product overview.
When HeadTidy is the better fit
Choose HeadTidy when the drawing supports work you want to come back to. A branch can hold your project notes, a dated task, a habit tracker and a table. Drawing lets you add a label, circle an idea or sketch a relationship without opening another app.
Open Draw on canvas for pen, highlighter, rectangle, ellipse, diamond, line, arrow and text tools. Use Select / move to reposition a mark, or the Text tool to edit a label. These are lightweight annotations: HeadTidy does not yet offer shape resizing, fills or attached drawing connectors. It is not a replacement for a dedicated diagram editor.
A practical example: plan a study week
Suppose you are revising biology. Use Excalidraw or tldraw to sketch a process and explain how its parts connect. If your next question is “what should I study on Tuesday?”, HeadTidy can hold a topic branch, a task with a due date, a daily review habit and a revision table beside a simple sketch.
Start with the study plan template, add your topics, then draw a label or arrow where it helps. You can also keep your detailed diagram in a separate tool and add an exported image to a HeadTidy card.
Can you move an existing whiteboard into HeadTidy?
There is no direct import of editable Excalidraw or tldraw documents. An exported image can serve as a reference, but its shapes will not become editable HeadTidy objects. HeadTidy exports JSON backups, Markdown, OPML, PNG and PDF; its JSON backup is the lossless format for restoring a HeadTidy map.
Product details were reviewed on 4 September 2026. Features and plans can change; check each official site before choosing a tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is HeadTidy an Excalidraw alternative?
For a personal map with tasks, habits and simple drawings, it can be. For detailed diagram editing, bound drawing arrows or reusable shape libraries, Excalidraw is the stronger fit.
Does HeadTidy have a drawing canvas?
Yes. Draw on canvas includes freehand pen, highlighter, shapes, arrows and text. You can move existing marks and edit text. Shape resizing, fills and attached drawing connectors are not yet supported.
Can I import a tldraw or Excalidraw file?
Not as editable objects. You can add an exported image as a reference, or rebuild the parts you want to turn into tasks and map cards.