Fabio Lauria

What are digital whiteboards? A comprehensive comparison for 2025

May 30, 2025
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As remote and hybrid work continues to expand, online whiteboards have become essential tools for visual collaboration among distributed teams. This article offers an updated 2025 comparison of the major collaborative whiteboard platforms-Miro, Mural, Lucidspark, Conceptboard, and Microsoft Whiteboard-highlighting their distinctive features, strengths, price offerings, and ideal use cases.

Overview of Miro

Miro continues to position itself as a leader in online collaborative whiteboards, self-designating itself as the "Innovation Workspace" in 2025. The platform offers an endless canvas for brainstorming, planning and designing in real time, with a user base exceeding 90 million worldwide.

Main features:

  • An extensive library that now has over 5,000 templates for virtually any job scenario
  • Over 160 integrations with popular apps (Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Google Drive)
  • Advanced AI features called "Miro AI" that can summarize content, generate mind maps, and assist in creating diagrams
  • New 2025 features such as Tables, Slides and the "Sketch to Diagram" function that converts sketches into editable diagrams
  • "Talktrack" which allows short videos of whiteboards to be recorded for asynchronous communication

Prices (2025):

  • Free plan: $0 for unlimited number of members, with limit of 3 editable boards
  • Starter Plan (Team): $8 per user/month (annual billing) or $10 month-to-month
  • Business Plan: $16 per user/month (annual) or $20 monthly
  • Enterprise plan: customized pricing for larger organizations

Strengths:Miro excels in versatility and its vast ecosystem. In 2025, it expanded its functionality beyond simple whiteboarding to a complete workspace with the addition of Tables, Slides, and integrated project management tools. Its recent AI evolution allows sketches to be transformed into editable diagrams, increasing efficiency in the transition from ideation to structured design.

Mural

Mural positions itself as a platform focused on facilitating structured collaborative sessions and guided workshops.

Main features:

  • Set of "Facilitation Superpowers®" to run engaging sessions
  • Facilitation features such as convening participants, anonymous voting, timer, and private mode
  • Hundreds of predefined models and LUMA frameworks for guided methodologies
  • Mural AI to assist in idea generation and organization

Prices (2025):

  • Free plan: $0, unlimited members but limited to 3 murals (chalkboards)
  • Team+ Plan: $9.99 per user/month (annual billing) or $12 monthly
  • Business Plan: $17.99 per user/month (annual billing)
  • Enterprise plan: customized pricing

Strengths:Mural excels at a structured approach to collaboration. Its built-in facilitation features allow workshops to be run effectively, making it especially popular with facilitators and consultants. The interface is designed to keep participants focused during structured sessions. In 2025, Mural improved its AI capabilities and business credibility by offering strong security compliance and advanced administrative controls.

Lucidspark

Launched by Lucid Software as a complement to the popular Lucidchart, Lucidspark has evolved as a complete visual ideation solution.

Main features:

  • Deep integration with Lucidchart through the "Universal Canvas"
  • "Lucid Cards" to represent tasks or ideas (useful for Agile whiteboards)
  • "Dynamic mind map" function to create and expand mind maps
  • Breakout Boards that allow teams to divide into smaller groups
  • Collaborative AI that can generate ideas and assist in content classification
  • Visual Activities (interactive elements such as votes) that work on both Lucidspark and Lucidchart

Prices (2025):

  • Free plan: Up to 3 whiteboards with basic functionality
  • Individual Plan: ~$7.95 per month (annual payment)
  • Team Plan: $9 per user per month (annual billing, minimum 3 users)
  • Enterprise Plan: Approximately $16.50 per user/month or part of the Lucid Suite

Strengths:The main advantage of Lucidspark comes from its integration with Lucidchart. Teams can move seamlessly from brainstorming to creating detailed diagrams, maintaining a seamless workflow within the same ecosystem. The clean interface and guided experience are often praised for being intuitive. In 2025, Lucidspark improved its collaborative AI and added Team Spaces, which serve as hubs where hybrid teams can store all their whiteboards and related documents.

Conceptboard

Conceptboard maintains its position as a European solution geared toward security and GDPR compliance.

Main features:

  • Focus on security and privacy with ISO 27001 certification and GDPR compliance
  • Flexible hosting options: public cloud, dedicated server or on-premises data center edition
  • Standard whiteboard functionality with built-in audio/video conferencing
  • Facilitation tools such as timers and moderator mode
  • Version management and approval workflow for formal projects
  • New Object Freezing feature to anchor objects on the user interface

Prices (2025):

  • Free plan: Always free for a single user, unlimited whiteboards but limited to 100 items/whiteboard
  • Premium Plan: $6 per user per month (annual) or $7.50 monthly
  • Business Plan: $12 per user per month (annual) or $15 monthly, minimum 10 users
  • Enterprise/Public Sector Plans: Start at $16 per user/month with at least 100 licenses

Strengths:Conceptboard's strengths remain its security and data hosting flexibility. It is one of the few solutions that offers on-premise deployment, a significant advantage for institutions with strict IT policies. Fully GDPR compliant, Conceptboard is particularly popular in Europe and the public sector. The platform has improved its integrations with Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, and Atlassian tools, while maintaining a simple interface and competitive pricing.

Microsoft Whiteboard

Microsoft Whiteboard is integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite and offers an affordable solution for those already in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Main features:

  • Available as a Windows app, web and is deeply integrated into Teams meetings
  • Over 60 built-in templates and support for customized templates
  • Integration with Microsoft Copilot for AI assistance in brainstorming
  • Excellent pen input experience on Surface devices
  • Microsoft Loop components to synchronize content between Office apps

Strengths:Microsoft Whiteboard's greatest strength is its ease of use and availability within the Microsoft ecosystem. Integration with Teams makes it ideal for quick meetings without the need for additional tools. Microsoft has significantly improved Whiteboard in 2025 with the integration of Copilot AI and more templates, making the tool more competitive than before.

Lucidchart

Although Lucidchart is not a whiteboard itself, it is a professional diagramming tool that is often considered along with whiteboard apps.

Main features:

  • Extensive library with thousands of symbols for technical diagrams
  • Import/export compatibility with Microsoft Visio
  • Data link functionality to populate diagrams from external sources
  • Collaborative AI that can generate diagrams from text descriptions
  • Deep integration with Lucidspark for complete workflow

Prices (2025):

  • Free: Allows 3 editable diagrams, up to 60 objects per diagram
  • Individual: ~$9.95/month or $119.40/year
  • Team: $108 per user/year (about $9 per month; $11 if monthly) with minimum 3 users
  • Enterprise: ~$21.95 per user/month (annual), includes both Lucidchart and Lucidspark

Strengths:Lucidchart excels in creating advanced and professional diagrams. For scenarios that require precision and technical detail, it provides the right tools and templates. In 2025, its integration with Lucidspark has become even more seamless, enabling teams to cover the entire workflow from ideation to detailed design within a single ecosystem.

Trends and innovations in visual collaboration (2025)

Advanced integration of AI

Artificial intelligence is now fully integrated into all major online whiteboard platforms. Miro AI can now turn sketches or screenshots into editable diagrams with the "Sketch to Diagram" feature, Mural AI assists with idea generation and organization, and Lucidspark offers AI assistance with brainstorming. Microsoft has also integrated Copilot into Whiteboard, enabling users to generate and organize content through natural language commands. These AI features not only speed up preparatory work, but also improve post-session analysis, helping teams turn ideas into concrete action plans.

Evolution toward complete workspaces

By 2025, online whiteboard platforms had evolved far beyond the simple "digital whiteboard" function. Miro introduced Tables, Slides and project management tools, positioning itself as a comprehensive workspace for innovation. Lucid consolidated its suite with Lucidspark, Lucidchart and Team Spaces, creating a unified environment that covers the entire cycle from ideation to execution. Conceptboard has also expanded its functionality to include project management and formal approvals. This trend toward all-in-one platforms reflects the need for teams to reduce tool fragmentation and maintain context during the transition from ideation to execution.

Advanced support for hybrid work

With the consolidation of hybrid work, platforms have refined functionality to serve both live meetings and asynchronous collaboration. Integration with video conferencing is now standard, with Miro, Mural and Lucidspark offering video calls integrated directly into whiteboards. Features such as Miro's Talktrack (which enables recording of whiteboard explanations) support asynchronous collaboration across time zones. Integration with physical devices is enhanced, with Microsoft Whiteboard and Miro supporting interactive displays to connect in-person and remote participants.

Increased focus on safety and compliance

Security and compliance have become key differentiators in 2025. Conceptboard continues to stand out with its security-oriented approach, offering hosting in Germany, ISO 27001 certification, and on-premise options. Other platforms have also upgraded their security credentials: Miro now offers a choice of data residency between U.S. and European data centers, while Mural provides regional hosting and BYOK encryption. These options reflect the growing importance of data sovereignty and regulatory compliance for global organizations.

FAQ on online collaborative whiteboards

Which platform is best suited for a team that needs GDPR security and compliance?

Conceptboard is the best choice for teams with high security and GDPR compliance needs. Being developed and hosted in Germany, it offers full GDPR compliance, ISO 27001 certification and on-premise hosting options. It is especially popular among European government institutions and companies with strict data protection requirements.

What is the main difference between Miro and Mural?

Miro offers a broader ecosystem with more than 160 integrations and 5,000+ templates, positioning itself as a comprehensive workspace for innovation. Mural, on the other hand, excels in structured facilitation features such as anonymous voting and private mode, making it ideal for facilitated workshops and design thinking sessions.

Can I use these platforms for free?

Yes, all major platforms offer free plans with some limitations. Miro, Mural and Lucidspark offer free versions with limit of 3 editable whiteboards. Conceptboard offers unlimited whiteboards for a single user (with limit of 100 items per whiteboard). Microsoft Whiteboard is completely free for anyone with a Microsoft account.

How do I choose between Lucidspark and Lucidchart?

Lucidspark is ideal for brainstorming and initial ideation, while Lucidchart specializes in creating detailed technical diagrams. For teams that need both capabilities, the Lucid Suite offers an integrated experience that makes it easy to move from ideation to formal diagrams.

Do online collaborative whiteboards support artificial intelligence?

Yes, by 2025 all major platforms have integrated AI capabilities. Miro AI can turn sketches into editable diagrams, Mural AI assists in idea generation and organization, Lucidspark offers Collaborative AI for brainstorming, and Microsoft Whiteboard has integrated Copilot to assist in content creation.

Which platform integrates best with Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Whiteboard offers the most natural integration with Teams, being part of the same ecosystem. However, Miro, Mural, and Conceptboard also offer native integrations with Teams that allow whiteboards to be used during meetings. The choice depends on the additional functionality needed beyond integration with Teams.

Do these platforms work well on mobile devices?

All major platforms offer mobile and tablet apps, but the experience varies. Miro and Mural have full mobile apps, while Microsoft Whiteboard is particularly optimized for Surface devices. For heavy use, we still recommend desktop access for the best editing experience.

Conclusion

The online collaborative whiteboard market in 2025 offers different options for every need. Miro excels as an all-in-one solution with a broad ecosystem, Mural stands out for its structured facilitation capabilities, Lucidspark offers seamless integration with Lucidchart for end-to-end workflow, Conceptboard excels in security and GDPR compliance, Microsoft Whiteboard provides easy integration for Microsoft users, and Lucidchart remains the standard for professional charting.

The best choice depends on the specific needs of the team, the integrations required with the existing ecosystem, and the security and compliance requirements of the organization. What is clear is that visual collaboration continues to be critical to modern work, with platforms rapidly evolving to support increasingly complex and distributed workflows.

Sources

  1. Miro - The Innovation Workspace - Official site of Miro with up-to-date information on features and prices.
  2. What 's New: What we launched in April 2025 | MiroBlog - Miro's official blog with the latest feature updates.
  3. Mural - Official site of Mural for feature information and current prices.
  4. Lucidspark | Virtual Whiteboard Where Ideas Ignite - Official site of Lucidspark for feature information.
  5. Lucidchart vs Miro (2025) - Detailed comparison of Lucidchart and Miro with verified reviews.
  6. MURAL vs Miro (2025) - Detailed comparison between MURAL and Miro based on business user reviews.
  7. Secure Collaboration Tool for Hybrid teams | Conceptboard - Official site of Conceptboard with information on features, security and hosting options.
  8. Data Protection | Conceptboard - Detailed information about Conceptboard's data protection policy.
  9. GDPR Online Whiteboard for Public Sector | Conceptboard - Conceptboard-specific solutions for the public sector.

Fabio Lauria

CEO & Founder | Electe

CEO of Electe, I help SMEs make data-driven decisions. I write about artificial intelligence in business.

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