Heptabase
tldraw
| Feature | Heptabase | tldraw |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $11.99/mo | Free / from $0/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | researchers, students, visual-thinkers, phd-students | developers, quick-sketches, embedded-canvas-apps, open-source-projects |
| Founded | 2021 | 2021 |
| Whiteboards | ✓ | ✗ |
| Card System | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mindmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Journal | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pdf Annotation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Infinite Canvas | ✗ | ✓ |
| Drawing Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Real Time Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embeddable Sdk | ✗ | ✓ |
| Export | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Features | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multiplayer | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ tldraw Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- Incredibly fast and responsive canvas
- Embeddable SDK for building custom apps
- AI-powered features (make real, draw-to-code)
✗ tldraw Cons
- Fewer built-in shapes than enterprise whiteboards
- No built-in templates or frameworks
- Collaboration requires self-hosting or tldraw.com
The Verdict
Heptabase is built for researchers and students, with a focus on whiteboards and card-system. tldraw targets developers and quick sketches and leads with infinite-canvas and drawing-tools.
On pricing, tldraw is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $11.99/mo for Heptabase. That $11.99/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
tldraw 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, tldraw 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.