Eraser
Heptabase
| Feature | Eraser | Heptabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10/mo | From $11.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | engineering-teams, solution-architects, technical-documentation, system-design | researchers, students, visual-thinkers, phd-students |
| Founded | 2022 | 2021 |
| Diagrams As Code | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Diagrams | ✓ | ✗ |
| Whiteboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Documentation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Version History | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Whiteboards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Card System | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mindmaps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Journal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pdf Annotation | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Eraser Pros
- AI-generated diagrams from text descriptions
- Code-first diagrams with version control
- Combines docs and diagrams in one canvas
- Purpose-built for technical architecture docs
✗ Eraser Cons
- Limited general-purpose whiteboarding features
- Smaller template library than Miro/Lucidchart
- Not suited for non-technical teams
✓ Heptabase Pros
- Visual-first approach to note-taking
- Whiteboards for spatial thinking
- Card-based system is very flexible
- Great for research and learning
✗ Heptabase Cons
- No free plan
- Mobile app is limited
- Steeper learning curve than simple note apps
The Verdict
Eraser is built for engineering teams and solution architects, with a focus on diagrams-as-code and ai-diagrams. Heptabase targets researchers and students and leads with whiteboards and card-system.
Pricing is close: Eraser starts at $10/mo versus $11.99/mo for Heptabase — not a deciding factor on its own.
Eraser has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Heptabase requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Eraser offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Heptabase takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.