WBO replaces 3 paid apps
One open-source tool, 3 subscriptions it can stand in for. Each pairing below is curated and verified by hand, with the honest catch spelled out. No votes, no pay-to-list.
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installUse the free hosted instance, or run the Docker image/Node.js server
dataBoards are persisted as JSON files in the server's data directory; a Docker deployment must mount that directory, while public-hosted boards live on the operator's server
setupNone for the public instance; self-hosting needs Docker or Node.js, a persistent writable volume with the expected user ownership, backups, and a public URL/TLS
facts verified 2026-08-10
A tiny, durable collaborative board with persistent rooms and a free hosted instance; useful precisely because it does not try to run the company.
the catchWBO provides only the basic shared canvas and omits nearly all of Miro's workshop structure, integrations, templates, planning tools, and administration.
the verdict →all Miro alternatives →
Persistent collaborative boards with a free hosted instance and optional Docker; primitive libraries, refreshingly little ceremony.
the catchWBO lacks Excalidraw's polished drawing tools, reusable libraries, file organization, export quality, and managed team workspace.
the verdict →all Excalidraw+ alternatives →
The basic communal whiteboard that keeps working: persistent rooms, live cursors, free hosting, and almost no workshop theatre.
the catchWBO is a bare communal canvas without Lucidspark's templates, voting, timers, structured activities, integrations, or enterprise controls.
the verdict →all Lucidspark alternatives →last updated 2026-08-10 · up to $120/yr replaced · no votes, no pay-to-list
