Self-host whiteboard
v1.9.1Collaborative whiteboard with real-time drawing for teams
docker run -d -p 8080:8080 rofl256/whiteboard- Stars
- 846
- Port
- 8080 (HTTP server)
rofl256/whiteboard
What is whiteboard?
This is a lightweight collaborative whiteboard application built with NodeJS that allows multiple users to draw together in real-time. Users can see each other's cursors while drawing, and each person has their own undo and redo history. The app supports dragging and dropping images and PDFs from browsers, adding text and sticky notes, and saving boards as images or JSON files. It includes keyboard shortcuts optimized for interactive displays like Wacom, Huion, and XP-Pen tablets. Whiteboards can optionally be saved to WebDAV servers such as Nextcloud, and the entire system can be controlled via a REST API with OpenAPI documentation.
whiteboard alternatives
excalidraw-persistExcalidraw Persist is a self-hosted, open-source whiteboard based on Excalidraw that adds server-side persistence, multiple boards, and trash recovery using SQLite.Compareexcalidraw-persist with whiteboard
excalidrawExcalidraw is a self-hosted, open-source virtual whiteboard for hand-drawn diagrams with infinite canvas, dark mode, and PWA support.Compareexcalidraw with whiteboard
tableaunoirA self-hosted whiteboard for teachers featuring movable magnets to animate lessons, real-time collaboration, LaTeX math, and offline desktop use.Comparetableaunoir with whiteboard
astradrawAstraDraw is a self-hosted, open-source whiteboard forked from Excalidraw with workspaces, role-based access, real-time collaboration, and video walkthroughs.Compareastradraw with whiteboard
pad.wsWhiteboard as an IDE, draw and code in your browserComparepad.ws with whiteboard
excalidraw-yjs-starterSelf-hosted collaborative whiteboard using Excalidraw, Next.js, YJS, and Socket.IO with MongoDB and MinIO.Compareexcalidraw-yjs-starter with whiteboard
drafft-inkA self-hosted, open-source whiteboard with an infinite canvas, real-time CRDT collaboration, and WebGPU rendering — no accounts or subscriptions needed.Comparedrafft-ink with whiteboard
DigiboardSelf-hosted, open-source collaborative whiteboard for classes and remote teams, with drawing tools, colored labels, pinned comments, multi-page boards and PNG export.CompareDigiboard with whiteboard
Should you self-host whiteboard?
whiteboard scores 52/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #15 of 30 in Collaboration. It has 846 GitHub stars, +1 in the last 30 days.
It shipped 2 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v1.9.1, came out on 3 October 2026. New versions land roughly every 4 weeks.
Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is MIT-licensed and written mostly in JavaScript.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is penpot (84/100, 61 844 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See whiteboard vs penpot side by side.
Features
- Image and PDF drag-and-drop
- Interactive display support
- Per-user undo/redo
- Real-time collaborative drawing
- REST API
- Text and sticky notes
whiteboard README
More in Collaboration
wiki-serverA self-hosted, open-source Federated Wiki server in Node.js that enables collaborative writing across distributed wiki instances with plugin extensibility.
WikiSuiteWikiSuite is the most comprehensive and integrated Open Source enterprise solution, offering a suite of tools for communication, collaboration, data management, and more.
workadventureSelf-hosted, open-source virtual office: roam 16-bit pixel maps as an avatar and start video chats by walking up to colleagues; deploy via Docker Compose or Helm.
XandikosSelf-hosted, open-source CalDAV and CardDAV server that stores calendars and contacts in Git repositories, with scheduling, sync and WebDAV-Push support.
YaadeOpen-source, self-hosted Postman alternative for teams: shared API collections, environments, scripts, OAuth2/OIDC login, and code export, run via Docker.
yeswikiYesWiki is a self-hosted, open-source PHP wiki for collaborative sites with drag-and-drop forms, maps, calendars, and directory views.
ZulipSelf-hosted, open-source team chat where every message lives in a named topic thread, with web, desktop, mobile and terminal apps, SSO options and a REST API.
4ga Boards4ga Boards is a self-hosted, open-source kanban tool with realtime collaboration, dark mode, SSO, and multi-level hierarchy for teams.
AChatSelf-hosted, local-first AI chat platform for teams: shared conversations, roles, billing, moderation and plugins, on Node.js with PostgreSQL and Redis.
AffineThere can be more than Notion and Miro. AFFiNE(pronounced [ə‘fain]) is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together. Privacy first, open-source, customizable and ready to use.
AFFiNE Community EditionAFFiNE is a self-hosted, open-source knowledge base combining documents, whiteboards, and databases in one local-first workspace as a Notion and Miro alternative.
AgorakitOpen-source groupware for collectives: self-hosted groups with a forum, calendar with iCal feeds, file manager, map and email digests.
0 comments