This is the only guide you need to go through to select the best online whiteboard for your team. Choose from 20 online whiteboards based on price and features. Read on!

Best online whiteboard

Online whiteboards help to make a presentation lively and make everyone feel involved. Simply, an online whiteboard is a tool that is helpful in learning, used by schools, workspaces, etc. where every participant can interact in real-time via the internet. Let us elaborately see the list of the 10 best online whiteboards for remote teams.

Everyone has an emotional touch for writing out, which indeed helps in improving memory. When someone comes up with an idea, it can simply be written down. In modern times, technological advancement has reduced the efforts of humans. One can write down on a whiteboard while observing from a distinct location.

The virtual whiteboard software ensures a better working experience for remote workers. The online whiteboard also helps the remote workers to take part in a presentation/demonstration/strategy discussion. A sketch or a doodle app could not exactly be said as a digital whiteboard while some other add-ons are expected in an online whiteboard.

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Top features of best whiteboard apps

Typically, you must look into the following key features in the whiteboard online software or app:

1. Integrations with the Video Conferencing tool. Team members at remote locations can collaborate and discuss leveraging a digital white board; a critical feature.
2. Infinite or large canvases to assist in brainstorming and pen down multiple ideas into a single screen of the interactive whiteboard app
3. Provision of sticky notes and drag down feature facilities on an online interactive whiteboard for effective and dynamic collaboration
4. Spotlight feature for highlighting the section on the online smart boards for focus and attention from all
5. Images, links, and other files should be able to be attached. This acts as a point of reference.
6. The digital whiteboard should be able to be shared online or export it, useful during a presentation. 
7. This is mainly used for collaboration purposes. Cloud apps should allow collaboration and the desktops should allow adequate cloud file sharing devices. 
8. The canvas should be unlimited. While physical whiteboards have certain limitations, virtual whiteboards are not complex. 

There are various virtual whiteboard software/applications.

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Top uses of virtual whiteboard

In this section, we will discuss the top uses of a virtual whiteboard; an incentive to select the best online whiteboard for your team, and also to understand what is a whiteboard

1. Facility to integrate multiple users in a single online whiteboard tool
2. Upload and share documents with multiple file extensions like .pdf, .doc, .xls, .ppt, etc. on the digital whiteboard app
3. Multi-media content like videos, audio, and images can be uploaded and shared with multiple users on the online collaboration tool 
4. Provides capability to draw shapes and insert texts using the design content tools of the free virtual whiteboard
5. Provision to create concept maps, mind maps, and design workflows through the connectors of an online free whiteboard

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How does a whiteboard app help in team collaboration?

A whiteboard app is useful for remote team collaboration, especially when teams are located in different regions and even not in the same time zone. Here are some of the ways your best online whiteboard can help:

1. A common space for brainstorming ideas and thoughts by noting down in a central place on the digital whiteboards
2. Use sticky notes to chalk out action items of each team member, a provision in the toolbar section in major interactive whiteboards software
3. Integration with audio and video conferencing tools allow flexibility to collaborate with the team members
4. Easy addition of text objects for recording comments from the team

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15 Best online whiteboards for real-time collaboration

Till now, you must be acquainted with the utilities of using the best online whiteboard and what is whiteboard. Let us now delve into popular online whiteboards, their features, and interactive white board reviews with the pros and cons. The analysis will assist you to select the correct interactive whiteboard software.

1. Stormboard – the online drawing board

Ranked higher as the best online whiteboard. Allows efficient collaboration drawing online in storm board

Top 3 features

• Interactive and flexible online drawing board 
• Assist in defining project plan, and agenda
• Effective collaboration in its dry erase board online space

Pros

• Integrated with Zapier, Slack, Box, and OneDrive as part of its whiteboard program
• Offers free trial as per Personal plan

Cons

• Limited scope for exploring ideas 
• A limited number of users can be present on a board at once

Stormboard is like a sticky-note tool where each digital sticky note can house its own whiteboard. As soon as we come up with an idea, it could be added to the sticky note and it could be turned into a collaborative whiteboard where all the collaborators can view and edit in real-time.

Data can be imported into the whiteboard which helps in adding references whenever needed. The software also allows integrations with Slack, Zapier, etc. 5 open storms and 5 users per storm can be used for an unpaid version.

Unlimited open storms up to 10 storm viewers with additional features like the ability to customize all templates, substorms, etc. can be availed by paying USD 10 per month. Unlimited storm viewers can be availed by paying USD 16.67 per month with additional features like access to Stormboard on all devices, invoice billing, VIP support, customized demos, and training, etc.

2. Sketchboard – white board online

Collaborate whiteboard leveraged by businesses of all sizes. 

Top 3 features

• API and collaboration tools for team engagement 
• Facilitates content management 
• Integrated with Google Drive, Slack, and GitHub

Pros

• Easy editor for creating notes and mind maps with drag and drop facility in its collaborative draw team boards
• Hand Tool for focusing on a part to draw ideas 

Cons

• Expensive pricing plans for a writing board online software
• Not very user friendly 

This software, one of the best whiteboards for remote teams, houses more than 0.36 million users. The whiteboard comes up with a variety of pre-designed icons used in software diagrams and roadmaps. The paid version of the software helps to integrate it with Slack.

It’s an advantage for Slack users because of the nifty integration where visual messages can be created from inside Slack. The software allows up to 5 users, 3 whiteboards, 1 team, and limiting with 500 comments for unpaid versions.

The paid plans start from 1 user to unlimited users, unlimited boards, an unlimited number of teams, and unlimited comments in 3 ranges of paid versions ranging from USD 8, USD 16, and USD 49 per month. The files in format JPEG, PDF, SVG, PNG can be exported. Images can be uploaded and the storage of screenshots varies from 1 GB, 500 MB/User, 1 GB/User depending on the plans opted from 3 range paid versions.

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3. Aww App – the virtual white board

Aww App is a virtual white board popular for academic discussions and collaborations. 

Top 3 features

• Functional teaching white board with drawing and writing tools
• Aww whiteboard facilitates sharing using its collaboration drawing capabilities
• Aww board assists in uploading PowerPoint presentations, images and create whiteboard drawings

Pros

• The web browser acts as a blackboard permitting dynamic interactions
• Convenient to navigate the white board website

Cons

• Requires internet connection to access and upload files
• Inefficient post-sales support of this particular online chalkboard

This app runs directly in a web browser going to its webpage awwapp.com. You can directly start with the whiteboard just after reaching its website, without signing in, but it doesn’t get saved. After logging in, you can invite your friends, colleagues and start working over. Only the basic tools can be used in an unpaid version.

The main drawback in the unpaid version is the whiteboard can’t be saved beyond a single image shot, though being easy to use. By subscribing to the paid plan, other features can also be accessed. Some of the additional features of the paid version include unlimited participants on board, working hassle-free without any ads, managing participants’ rights, etc.

The paid version costs USD 10 dollars for personal use and USD 75 dollars for organizational use per month. One can also avail of a customized version of the app depending upon the organizational requirement starting from 60 users.

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4. Whiteboard Fox – the drawing board online

A popular web-based drawing board online effective for greater collaboration and sharing of ideas and ranked well as the best online whiteboard

Top 3 features

• Draw and write on the online free whiteboard and share the link in an email
• Add text in the whiteboard virtual space of the software and embed images 
• Highlighters and Zoom gestures for focusing on particular content on the whiteboard online drawing

Pros

• Easy to share for viewing, editing, and collaborate online
• Changes are fast synced up in real-time with the participants

Cons

• No save-feature available for future use
• Pen tip and thickness for writing or drawing cannot be altered

Any prior setup is not required to use whiteboard fox. This one is perfect for those who are just in need of whiteboard to use the next moment. You can start using the virtual whiteboard by just navigating the browser to its webpage whiteboardfox.com. 

The basic functionality includes drawing, erase, undo, navigate buttons, adding texts, which is easy to use. The app allows users to add images by copy-pasting them. The whiteboard can be easily shared and invites can also be easily shared. For every new whiteboard, the users can also create a unique link.

Another advantage of using Whiteboard Fox is the app works in real-time. The guests can notice the changes instantly and the app is also tablet-friendly. The app is totally free of cost. Whiteboard Fox is one of the best online whiteboards suitable for small organizations in the nascent stage hesitant in spending.

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5. Conceptboard – the interactive whiteboard online

An interactive whiteboard online software designed to ease your collaboration strategy across multiple teams and participants. It is preferred as the best online whiteboard.

Top 3 features

• Infinite ever-expanding canvas to collate ideas in the whiteboard writing visual workspace 
• Efficient drawing tools to create sketches and prototypes
• Capturing sticky notes, comment boxes, and notes with access to all

Pros

• Quick password-protected links to share with external and internal participants 
• Supports varying multi-media files like pdfs, videos, images, and so on

Cons

• Automatically splits into pages while uploading pdfs or ppts which sometimes is difficult to control
• Performance is slow compared to other idea board online apps

Conceptboard, one of the virtual whiteboards for remote teams, is something beyond the concept of the digitized whiteboard. Sharing the ideas, monitoring the progress on visual projects, etc. The app mainly focuses on visual projects.

The app stores the projects of the users and also allows the in-depth management of the project or any specified tasks. Files and images can be fed onto the board allowing others to write, pin notes, draw and collaborate visually. Instead of integrating it with other video conferencing software, the users of this app can directly place a call to all other users. 

Whereas, the features vary for paid and unpaid users. The number of boards stands to be unlimited for all kinds of users. The guests can only alter/edit the visual board. Unpaid users can store up to 500 MB whereas the file storage of the users extends to 20 GB, 1 TB, and unlimited in the other 3 paid versions.

The audio and video call option, the screen sharing option is only available for paid versions. The paid versions are available paying USD 7.50 and USD 12 per month. The package for an enterprise solution accessed by over 500 users depends upon the need for customization.

6. Limnu – the web whiteboard

A web whiteboard enabling collaboration, sharing, and sketching across multiple participants. Tutors and business analysts consider it to be the best online whiteboard among many.

Top 3 features

• Facilitates easy drawing of workflows and business process flows using its tools
• Digital canvas for brainstorming and sharing ideas
• Pin feature for swapping to a previous topic

Pros

• Access Limnu whiteboard online free for 14 days with unlimited collaborators
• Easy and simple to use and share with anyone 

Cons

• Limitation of 10 participants in a conference
• Font size is limited 

Limnu, an online whiteboard collaboration app was founded in the year 2015. Limnu is almost perceived as close to a physical whiteboard. The same, to invite others, click on the ‘share’ icon, copy and paste the link and share it with others to view your board.

You can also limit others to just view the content without editing it. The mode of collaboration is only through chat. The unpaid version is just to give Limnu a test drive. It is available only for 14 days to access. The paid version begins from USD 5 per month with unlimited boards and unlimited collaborators.

The other paid version costs USD 8 per month with unlimited board and unlimited team members. One’s work could also be shared with anyone – your slack team, your clients, co-workers, your mom – whether they have a paid account or a free one.

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7. InVision Freehand whiteboarding

InVision Freehand enables creative and shared whiteboarding across multiple teams. 

Top 3 features

• Provision of adding images and artboards from Photoshop and Sketch applications
• Infinite zoom in and zoom out facilities
• Passing control to team members for presenting the content 

Pros

• Accessible in any smart device –  tablet, mobile, and even on the web
• Easy to prototype supporting actionable wireframing

Cons

• No support of online screen design with its tools
• Navigation is not seamless

Freehand is a product powered by InVision. Invision Freehand is an infinite whiteboard where the team members can co-draw, plan, present, and give feedback. Simple tools like draw, write, sketch and comment help to explore ideas in real-time. The app could be used by anyone in the guest mode or by creating an Invision account. 

This app also gives the opportunity to the designers to sync their sketch and Photoshop files. Texts can be added and the files can also be uploaded easily. The controls can be shared with the teammates. Apart from the free version, the app is also available from USD 15 to USD 99. Enterprise setup is also available designed in a custom format as to how the team needs it.

8. GoToMeeting white board app

Cloud-hosted white board app with support for international customers and attractive whiteboard pricing plans; considered high in the rank as the best online whiteboard.

Top 3 features

• One-click recording facility in its online board
• Meeting Scheduler for planning and organizing meetings
• Provision for application and desktop sharing

Pros

• User friendly and easy to use
• Secure and flexible to use on different smart devices and operating systems

Cons

• Unstable desktop client leading to connectivity issues
• Glitches in the sharing control options

GoToMeeting, a popular one for virtual conferencing, is also used as a platform for online shared whiteboards. The software allows one to draw on the screen while the screen is being shared. The pen option allows one to draw/sketch/highlight on the shared screen.

If you want to bring someone’s attention to a particular thing, the highlighting tools effectively help in doing so. Spotlight is like a laser pointer that is useful during a real presentation to draw the participants’ attention to certain areas. 

Apart from that, a screen drawing tool called GoToMeeting Spotlight is a simple tool that offers an effective way to collaborate with the team during a presentation. It is widely used for business purposes and offers screen sharing and recording and other additional features.

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9. Miro whiteboard website

Miro software is an online whiteboard website for faster collaboration among remotely located teams. It ranks as the best online whiteboard when it comes to brainstorming and ideation.

Top 3 features

• Allows tracking of action items in the Miro whiteboard
• Provision for managing the agenda of meetings through the miro board agenda management facility
• Attendee management

Pros

• Zoom out feature to check the details of decision trees, process flows, and workflows
• Zoom in feature to check details on the daily activities and attendance

Cons

• Lack of office capabilities
• Need improvement in navigation and user access

Miro is a virtual whiteboard software that is currently being used by more than 4 million users around the world. The app helps to build and develop ideas with distributed teams as if the participants were in the same room, anywhere, anytime. 

Miro offers various features to its users. The unpaid version is limited to 3 editable boards and real-time collaboration with the team members. Integrations with Gmail, google drive, Microsoft is a free online whiteboard tool available for unpaid users. The paid version is available in multiple options for USD 8, USD 12, and USD 16.

It can be accessed by 5+, 20+, 1+ and 50+ users based on the plan one opts. The common feature of all the paid versions is an unlimited number of editable boards, integration with Jira, confluence, real-time collaborations, video chat, manual backup of files, and authentication via Google, office 365, and slack.

10. Explain Everything whiteboard software

Explain everything app is an interactive whiteboard software where team members can collaborate, brainstorm ideas, and share documents. It is also ranked high as the best online whiteboard.

Top 3 features

• Drag and drop facilities uploading pdfs, images, links, and videos into the explain everything whiteboard
• Tools for designing mind maps 
• Multiple options to pick marker colors on the palette of the whiteboard explain everything software

Pros

• Available as in-browser, desktop, and mobile applications
• Offers real time sharing

Cons

• Difficulty in navigation
• The limited version has restrictions on the number of slides and saved projects

From sketches, through PDFs, to videos, Explain Everything lets one turn an infinite canvas into a mixed-media playground. Only one user can access one project slide creating 3 projects for an unpaid version. Voice chat is another free online whiteboard tool for the unpaid version.

The paid version is for solo use and team use. USD 6.99 per month is charged for individual usage and USD 11.99 per month per user for team usage. The features for an individual and the team are more or less the same. Unlimited projects, unlimited project slides are offered in the paid version.

Other features include voice chat, access to creative tools, animation, video editing options. The amount of storage space available for the project is 10 GB for individual use and pooled storage for team use. Also, folders can be exchanged between the other users of a team. These are the 10 best online whiteboards suitable for individuals and for teams.

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Top 10 free online whiteboard apps

In this section we will discuss the top 10 free online whiteboard apps, ranked high in the best online whiteboard category. They provide collaboration and brainstorming facilities with drawing tools and sharing options within the free whiteboard app. These whiteboard free online apps are easy to use and convenient due to their free downloadable options.

1. Infolio online whiteboard free

Infolio is an online whiteboard free software, facilitating collaboration; considered popular among the free online whiteboard apps.

Top 3 features

• Provision to chat, and record comments 
• Real time sharing with the participants through its project whiteboard
• Visual layout is easy to use

Pros

• Integrated with Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive
• Available as a native iOS App or in the web version

Cons

• Images and videos cannot be uploaded in the notes sections
• Absence of tutorial for the navigations and workflows

2. Zoom free whiteboard

Zoom offers free whiteboard available in all major app stores; one of the preferred free online whiteboard apps. 

Top 3 features

• Annotation feature in the Zoom blank whiteboard 
• Real time sharing with the participants 
• Icons and colors to change the pen settings

Pros

• Compatible with multiple operating systems like Windows, Linus, iOS, etc.
• Participants can view and annotate on the shared screen

Cons

• Only one frame at a time
• No predefined templates for the whiteboard to draw on

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3. Ziteboard free whiteboard online

Ziteboard is a free whiteboard online used for real-time collaboration and interaction.

Top 3 features

• The user interface can be zoomed in and out
• Real-time sharing and synchronization of data 
• Provision to change the color and thickness of the pen icon

Pros

• Compatible with smart devices as it is a web app
• Lightweight and easy to use

Cons

• No search tips and calculators
• Non-availability of pre-defined templates 

4. IDroo virtual whiteboard free

IDroo is a virtual whiteboard free tool and is very popular as one of the best free online whiteboard apps.

Top 3 features

• Advanced drawing tools for creating process flows, shapes, images, etc.
• Freehand tool for drawing and sketching ideas
• Equation tools for creating formulas

Pros

• Allows upload of documents, and images in various formats – PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, XLSx, PPTx, DOCx, RTF, and so on
• No download required, easy to use in the web browser

Cons

• Only downloadable whiteboard app for Windows
• Needs fast internet speed

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5. Canvas Chrome collaborative whiteboard

Canvas Chrome google whiteboard is a free collaborative whiteboard that works with Google Meet and Hangout.

Top 3 features

• Basic tools for drawing like chalk, pen, pencil, eraser, marker, etc.
• Availability of a color palette in the online whiteboard google canvas 
• Export drawing in PNG format

Pros

• Compatible in various browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer
• Can be used as a google hangout whiteboard and chalkboard online for google meet

Cons

• Required clearing cache for performance issues
• User Interface is complex

6. Google Jamboard – a web whiteboard

Google’s Jamboard is a web whiteboard available free as a platform and app. 

Top 3 features

• Easy to use shape recognition tool
• Easy to read handwriting 
• Drawing with a stylus and erasing with the finger in its online dry erase board

Pros

• The app is compatible with Windows and iOS
• Responsive, user friendly, and accurate

Cons

• Only images can be added
• Requires to be online to use the web application

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7. Educreations shared whiteboard

Educreations is a shared whiteboard and interactive too; one of the best free online whiteboard apps.

Top 3 features

• Ability to capture screenshots
• Provision to embed images and websites
• Recording audio and video clips

Pros

• Sharing is real-time and instant
• Synchronization with Cloud

Cons

• Limited editing capabilities
• Limited version maintaining facilities

8. Groupboard digital whiteboard online

Groupboard is a digital whiteboard online for collaboration and interaction.

Top 3 features

• Advanced features of undoing, zoom, move, delete in its digital dry erase board
• Can run into multiple pages
• Has maths tutoring tools – ruler, graph plotter, protractor, graph paper

Pros

• Supports multiple file formats – PDF, Excel, Word
• Translation facilities to different languages

Cons

• The styler is not easy to use
• Limited plugins with project management tools

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9. Webex App with online chalkboards

Webex Apps provides online chalkboards during meetings with remote team members and can be used as a whiteboard alternative to costly apps.

Top 3 features

• Annotate documents and images
• Pen and pencil tools available for annotation
• Line colors can be changed through the color palette

Pros

• Allows upload of different types of files 
• Saving the changes and sharing across participants

Cons

• Delay in screen mirroring 
• Delay in sharing

10. Black whiteboard by Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard Inc. provides options of black whiteboard for collaboration, brainstorming ideas, educative learning, and interactions.

Top 3 features

• Ability to view, navigate and edit content
• Upload documents in various formats
• Has in-built tools for wikis and blogs 

Pros

• The online blackboard app is available in the iOS and Android app store
• Can be accessed offline

Cons

• User Interface is complex
• Difficulties in formatting options

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What is an online whiteboard?

An online whiteboard collaboration tool is helpful in learning used by schools, workplaces, etc. where every participant can interact in real-time with other participants.

How does an electronic whiteboard work?

Movements of the users’ pen or other pointers, which are ultimately the users’ fingers over the whiteboard is captured by its interface with infrared light at the surface of the whiteboard. When pressure is exerted on the whiteboard surface, software triangulates the location of the marker or stylus.  

What are the advantages of using an online whiteboard?

The advantages of using an online whiteboard is that it improves learning among students and employees, increases engagement among meeting participants, facilitates better communication among the team, engages the remote employees, makes a presentation lively and inclusive.

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What are the features of an online whiteboard?

Some of the features of the online whiteboard include that the users from a different location can observe the online whiteboard by sharing the screen. Observes can also make changes in the existing one. Files, images, and documents can also be shared through an online whiteboard. An online whiteboard can also be integrated with video conferencing software to communicate with the existing users in real-time.

What are the best online whiteboards for remote teams?

Whiteboard fox, Aww app, Limnu, Conceptboard, and Stormboard are the best online whiteboards for remote teams. 

What are the best online shared whiteboards available for free of cost?

The free version is available in many software like Sketchboard, Stormboard, Aww app, Conceptboard, etc. But the software is limited with access to only a few features. Whiteboard Fox is one of the best online whiteboards that are totally free of cost which do not even have any paid versions.

Can an online whiteboard app/software collaborate for a video conferencing call?

Few online whiteboard apps like Conceptboard and Miro can directly place a video conferencing call with the team members. 

What is a smartboard?

An online whiteboard is also commonly known as an interactive board or smartboard.