Best Online Whiteboard Tools for Team Collaboration

Communication / Technology

Best Online Whiteboard Tools for Team Collaboration

When we think about team collaboration, the first thing that springs to mind is a whiteboard.

The original collaboration tool, physical whiteboards, enable teams to discuss ideas, plan, create prototypes, and explain information to coworkers.

People have utilized online whiteboards and traditional blackboards for many years to brainstorm, plan, explain, and teach. While the bulk of these tools has been digitalized, the physical boards have been a long-standing presence in many organizations.

Collaborative whiteboards have shown to be quite useful for setting down ideas and plans in a big, visible format. An idea can be rapidly written down if it strikes someone. 

Whiteboards are great for team meetings when everyone has to work on ideas in the same room. However, it is no longer necessary to gather the entire office in one space in the digital age.

On the other hand, whiteboards only operate when all of your coworkers are in the same room. Whiteboards are being replaced by their digital equivalent as work becomes more remote.

Here we will discuss some of the Best Online Whiteboard Tools that increase productivity and performance.

What is an Online Whiteboard Tool?

Whiteboard refers to software solutions that are available as applications or web-based solutions. Whiteboard tools are similar to white screen tools connected to a computer or projector. The tools assist businesses and organizations in collaborating visually over distance in real-time.

Good quality whiteboards offer the best features to make your real-time collaboration experience efficient.

Which Features do the Best Online Whiteboards Have?

Are you looking for the best online whiteboard tools for your project? Or have you ever decided which one? But wait, first make sure these crucial features are in it. 

You should look for the following 8 key features in the best online whiteboard tools that give you the best online whiteboard experience.

  • The ability to make video/audio calls.
  • Options for saving files in a variety of formats.
  • Pre-built library templates.
  • A messaging tool and a commenting tool.
  • Smart shape and image recognition.
  • Board versions and revision history.
  • Sticky notes feature.
  • Uploading files and images.

The 8 Best Online Whiteboards You Should Check Out

  • Miro for visualizing ideas.
  • Microsoft Whiteboard for interactive learning and effective meetings.
  • Limnu for engineering and product design teams to solve problems, brainstorm, and visualize ideas in real-time.
  • AWW App for drawing, editing, and sharing your thoughts on the online whiteboard.
  • Conceptboard for easy board management and seamless collaboration.
  • Ziteboard for online businesses and a simple, free brainstorming tool and tutoring tool for educators.
  • Whiteboard Fox for corporations as well as educational institutions.
  • Stormboard for collaboration between remote innovation teams wherever they are located.

Why is Online Whiteboard Needed?

Whiteboards enable your team and organization to perform collaborative activities to the next level, increasing productivity and efficiency. Online whiteboards make video conferences more than just communication, enabling real collaboration. 

Anyone who has attended any important events or seminars knows how important a whiteboard is. You will be able to put down all the ideas and thoughts that arise in your mind.

A company is not required to provide an office environment with all the facilities, such as a microphone, whiteboard, speakers, and projector. Building such a costly workspace is impractical and difficult when the teams have to work remotely, and such a situation may require a digital whiteboard as a remote work tool instead of the real one.

Whiteboards can also be used for educational purposes. Digital whiteboards are a great way to make teaching easier because they contain a lot of useful features.

8 Best Online Whiteboard Tools for Collaboration

Here are the 8 best online whiteboard tools for collaboration with features, benefits, drawbacks, pricing details, and supported platforms.

Miro Infinitely Zoomable Canvas and Web Whiteboard

Miro is an online collaborative whiteboarding tool that allows remote teams to brainstorm to plan and manage agile processes. The Miro platform enables you to work remotely while collaborating online.

It is whiteboard software that allows you to create an infinite canvas. You can pick from various widgets, including arrows, shapes, post-it notes, freehand drawings, and smart drawings. 

With Miro, you can make use of a comprehensive range of collaboration tools to make cross-functional teamwork a breeze: employ video chat, presentations, sharing, and a variety of other features.

In digital workplaces, you can collaborate in real-time. You can also leave asynchronous notes for team members to read.

Screen sharing and video conferencing are also available. Finally, you can export Miro frames to PDF and utilize them in presentations.

Features of Miro

Miro has a large set of features, making it popular. Some of the best features of Miro are as follows:

  • Templates and frameworks
  • Infinite canvas
  • Provides widgets such as sticky notes, freeform pen, shapes, smart drawings, arrows, and more
  • Mouseover collaboration
  • Screen sharing and presentations
  • Integrated video chat and commenting
  • Accounts and User Administration
  • Product development
  • UX research and design

Benefits of Miro

  • Easy to use once you have some experience.
  • Helps in creating and innovating tasks faster.
  • Enhances collaborative features.
  • Provides standardized and centralized communication.
  • Provides enterprise-grade security.

Drawbacks of Miro

  • Hard to use for absolute beginners.
  • Multiple things cannot be scaled at the same time.

Pricing of Miro

It offers four different pricing plans with several features.

  • Free: Free to use.
  • Team: It costs $8 per member/month, billed annually.
  • Business: It costs $8 per member/month, billed annually.
  • Enterprise: Contact the vendor for details.

Availability: Web, iOS, Android

Microsoft Whiteboard – Effective Meetings and Engaging Learning

Microsoft Whiteboard is an excellent tool for real-time collaboration and education. Microsoft Whiteboard is a freeform, digital canvas where people, content, and ideas interact.

You can use a whiteboard to collaborate with your team to complete various tasks, whether your team is in the same area or in several locations. Members of the team can collaborate using their own devices.

Microsoft Whiteboard has strong capabilities for drawing, line straightening, and shape identification, and its touch displays are the best. Collaborative brainstorming sessions are possible when teams work together.

It also works well with other Microsoft products such as Office 365 and Teams.

You can use Microsoft Whiteboard for free on your iPhone, iPad, Android device, PC, or web with a Microsoft account. You only need a Microsoft account, usually free, such as Hotmail.

Features of Microsoft Whiteboard

Some of the exciting features of Microsoft Whiteboard are as follows:

  • Drawing and Markers
  • Templates and shapes.
  • Drag and drop
  • Mind mapping
  • Integrates with sticky notes, Office 365
  • Enterprise Use Cases
  • Sharing and collaboration

Benefits of Microsoft Whiteboard

  • Helps to brainstorm your projects visually.
  • The application is fully integrated with Microsoft Teams.
  • You can share a digital canvas on any device.
  • Helps to save and resume with ease.
  • Provides a search facility.

Drawbacks of Microsoft Whiteboard

  • It lacks advanced tools and shapes.
  • The tool palette is limited.

Pricing of Microsoft Whiteboard

It is free to use and you must have a Microsoft Account for accessing it.

Availability: Desktop, Web, iOS, Android, macOS.

Limnu – The Most Natural Digital Whiteboard for Teachers

Limnu is a collaborative online whiteboard designed for online meetings and video conferencing that is quick and easy to use. Limnu allows you to sketch, plan, and think with others simultaneously.

It provides a realistic take on the virtual whiteboard experience. The tools provided to consumers are similar to those found in competing products, but Limnu’s administrative functions set it apart.

Limnu provides you with a canvas with no edges or boundaries. Your boards can be as large as your team needs.

You can use Slack integration and external 3rd parties to form groups and share boards for enhancing team communication.

You can also assign administrative roles to team members. There’s a bulk editing tool and excellent searching and sorting features. The refresh button on Limnu is lightning quick.

Limnu features several keyboard shortcuts as well. The letter ‘E’ is used to open the eraser, while the ‘S’ selects things on the screen. The letter ‘M’ allows users to navigate around the whiteboard.

Features of Limnu

Some of the best features of Limnu are as follows:

  • Project Management
  • Content Management
  • Collaboration Tools
  • Zoom (Pan)
  • Brainstorming
  • Discussion boards
  • Reporting (Analytics)
  • Annotation and Markup Tools
  • Real-time editing
  • Diagramming

Benefits of Limnu

  • Intuitive to use.
  • Helps with brainstorming and project planning.
  • Provides real-time collaboration.
  • Offers video chat.
  • There is team admin control.

Drawbacks of Limnu

  • Slow in loading images and other rich media.
  • Need to Upgrade their product as it seems outdated.

Pricing of Limnu

It offers three different pricing plans.

  • Free: Free of cost with limited features.
  • Pro: It costs $5/month or $50/year
  • Team: It costs $8/month/team member OR $80/year.

Availability: Web, iOS

AWW App – Digital Whiteboard for Realtime Visual Collaboration

AWW App is a touch-friendly online web whiteboard app that makes sketching, collaboration, and sharing simple.

AWW App is a 2016 online whiteboard platform from the United States. It is divided into three sections: business, education, and API.

The AWW App is completely online, and it’s an incredibly simple platform. With the basic version, anyone can get started in seconds.

The premium version comes with several additional features. It’s great for team communication since it allows administrators to manage members.

You can send a link, an email, or an iFrame to share a copy of the board. Managers can also assign tasks to team members for project management.

Boards can be uploaded and downloaded as PDFs. AWW App connects with Google Classroom for educational purposes.

Features of AWW App

Some of the interesting features of AWW App are as follows:

  • Touch-friendly
  • Collaboration tools
  • Brainstorming and sketching
  • Project planning
  • File sharing
  • Document storage
  • Communication management
  • Customizable templates

Benefits of AWW App

  • Super easy to use.
  • Easy to draw sketches and edit.
  • Enhances collaborative features.
  • Sharing of the canvas is possible.

Drawbacks of AWW App

  • No underline option for text.
  • You cannot change the eraser size.
  • Connection problem.

Pricing of AWW App

It provides a free trial version.

  • It costs $10/month/user.

Availability: Web, iOS, Android.

Conceptboard – Best Online Whiteboard for Remote Collaboration

Conceptboard is an interactive whiteboard that enables teams of all sizes to collaborate in real-time and asynchronously on projects.

Conceptboard is a high-quality whiteboard application. It’s ideal for brainstorming, design collaboration, project management, and remote meetings in agile teams. It has an infinite canvas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTwYU6_6GG4

It is a visual project management tool that allows you to share ideas and track graphic projects like UX design.

You can use Conceptboard to accelerate the review and approval process. The ability to annotate files and make comments speeds up the process of gathering and compiling everyone’s feedback.

There are several visuals, such as sticky notes, mind map icons, and templates. When your team members make changes to a board, you’ll receive real-time notifications.

Live conferences with real-time employee monitoring are available. Conceptboard also keeps track of information such as the number of boards you create, projects, and tasks you complete.

Features of Conceptboard

Some of the best features of Conceptboard are as follows:

  • Seamless collaboration
  • Auto syncing
  • Real-time feedback
  • In-app email alerts
  • Presentation mode
  • Audio and Video calls
  • Project management features
  • Integrated board
  • Document management and sharing
  • Search/Filter

Benefits of Conceptboard

  • Graphic design.
  • Helps in website prototyping.
  • Provides unlimited collaborators.
  • Keeps track of changes.
  • Offers hassle-free file uploads and sharing.
  • Ensures high security and access control.
  • The application allows you to comment and discuss your content.

Drawbacks of Conceptboard

  • Pages get split when you copy PPT or PDF documents to the board.
  • More advanced features are needed.

Pricing of Conceptboard

It offers four different pricing plans.

  • Free: It is free to sign up and use. But, it lacks essential features.
  • Premium: It costs $6/user/month billed annually OR $7.50 billed monthly.
  • Business: It costs $9.50/user/month billed annually OR $12 billed monthly.
  • Enterprise: Contact the vendor for detailed information.

Availability: Web, Windows, iOS, macOS

Ziteboard – Math Tutoring Whiteboard Tools for Realtime Collaboration

Ziteboard is the greatest zoomable online whiteboard for collaboration on every desktop or mobile device.

Its goal is to help real-time collaboration, mostly for educational purposes and general team brainstorming.

There is no need to set up this whiteboard, and users are not required to log in. The boards have permanent URLs that you can share. Users can publish boards to the web and feature them in presentation mode, making Ziteboard stand out.

Wireframes, workflows, and basic whiteboarding material can all be designed with Ziteboard. You get to sketch freehand before Ziteboard smooths out your lines and recognizes your shapes.

You can insert pictures and PDFs, graphs, sticky notes, and navigation boxes in Zitebooard. Text chatting and audio and video conferencing features are available in real-time on interactive whiteboards. You can create high-resolution PDFs from digital whiteboards.

Features of Ziteboard

Ziteboard is highly featured. Some of the features of Ziteboard are as follows:

  • Vector graphics, zoomable user interface
  • Device independence Lightweight
  • Synchronization that is lightning quick and in real-time
  • Reliable disconnection handling
  • Board URLs that are permanent and shared
  • Options for personalization
  • Integrations
  • Document handling

Benefits of Ziteboard

  • Provides infinite space and zoom level.
  • Offers full webinar services.
  • Easy collaboration.
  • Helps with strategic planning.
  • Helps in system design and drawings in real-time.
  • The system is easy to use.

Drawbacks of Ziteboard

  • Some tools are buggy to use.
  • The price seems high.

Pricing of Ziteboard

It offers five different pricing plans based on the period.

  • Free: It is free to use.
  • One Week Pro: It costs $5.
  • Monthly Pro: It costs $9.
  • Annual Pro: It costs $85.
  • Enterprise: Contact the vendor for more detail.

Availability: Android, iOS, Web

Whiteboard Fox – Cloud-Based Whiteboarding Solution

WhiteboardFox is a cloud-based whiteboarding service that allows companies to communicate, visualize, and brainstorm ideas in real-time on a virtual whiteboard.

The team members may use the platform to create and share whiteboards with colleagues through unique URLs and track changes across multiple devices.

Whiteboard Fox is a trusted brand when it comes to free online whiteboards. It’s incredibly easy to use in your web browser, and you can start drawing immediately.

Whiteboard Fox is a simple-to-use virtual whiteboard that doesn’t require any setup. The only thing consumers need to do is go to whiteboardfox.com in their browser.

Features of Whiteboard Fox

Some of the exciting features of Whiteboard Fox are as follows:

  • Task management
  • Collaboration software
  • Zoom (Pan)
  • Brainstorming
  • Board discussion
  • Making a report (Analytics)
  • Tools for annotation and markup
  • Dark theme

Benefits of Whiteboard Fox

  • Helps to share documents with ease.
  • Quick syncing.
  • Easy to use the app.
  • Provides multiple collaborators.

Drawbacks of Whiteboard Fox

  • Needs improvement in customer support.
  • More advanced features have to be added.

Pricing of Whiteboard Fox

It offers three different pricing plans, which are as follows:

  • Personal: It is free to use.
  • Pro: It costs $7/month.
  • Enterprise: It costs $15/user/month.

Availability: Web, Android, iOS.

Stormboard – All In One Online Whiteboard Tool

Stormboard is a cloud-based digital workplace system that allows businesses to collaborate on ideas, track projects, and conduct meetings with remote employees.

It is a high-end digital workspace sharing application. It’s designed with remote teams and distributed workforces in mind.

There are no boundaries to the canvas. Text, free-form drawings, files, pictures, and videos can all be added. Stormboard’s drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to arrange whiteboard notes after a meeting.

It allows users to leave comments on previous notes and transform them into tasks for team members to complete. Within stored whiteboards, users can change task status and collaborate.

Many organizations use Stormboard for brainstorming and project management, and it is a handy app to plan your projects and easily design prototypes.

Features of Stormboard

Some of the features of Stormboard are as follows:

  • Editing in real-time
  • Infinite canvas
  • A large number of pre-made templates
  • Plugin for user voting
  • Chat messaging applications
  • Real-time, interactive collaboration
  • Slack integration and top Slack alternatives
  • Brainstorm ideas
  • Assign objectives and milestones

Benefits of Stormboard

Some of the features of Stormboard are as follows:

  • Easy to use and user-friendly.
  • Provides advanced brainstorming tools.
  • Offers interactive collaboration.
  • Helps to gather ideas and enables them to present them.
  • Offers project planning and project tracking.

Drawbacks of Stormboard

  • A better security system is needed.

Pricing of Stormboard

It offers four different pricing plans.

  • Free: It is free to use.
  • Startup: It costs $8/user/month.
  • Business: It costs $10/user/month.
  • Enterprise: Contact the vendor for detailed information.

Availability: Web, Android, iOS.

Conclusion

All the above-mentioned online whiteboard tools are best for team collaboration. You can use anyone based on your requirements and budgets for your business.

Do not forget to mention which you choose to use in the comment section below. Also, subscribe to us for more blogs and information.

FAQs Regarding Best Online Whiteboard Tools for Team Collaboration

Which whiteboard is best for online teaching?

To provide your students with a meaningful learning experience, we have compiled a list of virtual whiteboards. Miro, Limnu, and AWW App are acknowledged as the best for online teaching.

What are whiteboard applications?

Whiteboard apps enable teams to work together in real-time in a shared visual workspace. It’s a whiteboard where team members can jot down observations, ideas, and suggestions.

How do I enable a whiteboard on a Microsoft Team?

You can enable whiteboards on Microsoft Teams by following these steps:

  • On the meeting screen of the Teams app, click on Meeting’s Chat.
  • The whiteboard tab will be available. Click on it.
  • Thus, you can illustrate your ideas on a team’s whiteboard.