Miro

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Miro

A curated collection of the 4 best self hosted alternatives to Miro.

Miro is an online collaborative whiteboard platform that enables teams to brainstorm, plan, design, and visualize workflows in real time using boards, templates, sticky notes, diagrams, and integrations for remote collaboration and workshops.

Alternatives List

#1
AFFiNE

AFFiNE

Local-first, open-source workspace combining docs, wikis, and whiteboards with real-time collaboration and optional self-hosted cloud sync.

AFFiNE screenshot

AFFiNE is an open-source, local-first workspace that combines a block-based document editor with whiteboards and knowledge-base style organization. It targets the “Notion + Miro” workflow, offering flexible pages, databases/collections, and collaborative editing while keeping offline use and local storage as first-class.

Key Features

  • Block-based editor for pages and documents (rich text, blocks, embeds)
  • Whiteboard/canvas for freeform brainstorming and diagrams
  • Knowledge organization with pages, collections/databases, and backlinks-style navigation
  • Local-first workflow with offline use; optional sync via AFFiNE Cloud or self-hosted server
  • Real-time collaboration (multi-user) on supported deployments
  • Import/export options for migrating content (varies by format/version)
  • Cross-platform apps (desktop) and web app distribution

Use Cases

  • Personal knowledge management for notes, journaling, and structured research
  • Team documentation/wiki with collaborative editing and shared spaces
  • Whiteboarding for planning, brainstorming, and project discovery sessions

Limitations and Considerations

  • Some advanced “Notion-like” database automations/integrations may be less mature than commercial incumbents.
  • Feature parity and stability can vary between desktop, web, and server deployments as the project evolves.

AFFiNE is a strong fit for users who want an offline-capable workspace that blends documents and canvases, while still supporting collaboration when a sync server is used. It is especially compelling for teams seeking a unified notes+whiteboard toolchain without relying on proprietary SaaS defaults.

61.6kstars
4.2kforks
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#2
Penpot

Penpot

Web-based UI/UX design and prototyping tool for real-time collaboration, SVG-first editing, and developer-friendly handoff.

Penpot screenshot

Penpot is a web-based design and prototyping platform for creating UI/UX designs, interactive prototypes, and design systems collaboratively. It is built around open standards (notably SVG) and aims to provide a workflow that works well for both designers and developers.

Key Features

  • Real-time multiplayer collaboration with comments and shared workspaces
  • SVG-first vector design workflow with shapes, text, fills/strokes, and constraints
  • Interactive prototyping (screens, flows, links, transitions) for clickable previews
  • Design systems support via reusable components and libraries
  • Developer-focused handoff features (inspect properties, measurements, and assets)
  • Import/export oriented around standard formats (notably SVG) for interoperability
  • Role-based team organization features for collaborative projects

Use Cases

  • Designing and iterating product UI screens with multiple stakeholders in one file
  • Building and maintaining a reusable component library/design system
  • Creating clickable prototypes for user testing and stakeholder reviews

Limitations and Considerations

  • Feature parity with some established proprietary design suites may vary by workflow (e.g., advanced plugin ecosystems and certain specialized tooling).

Penpot is a strong option for teams that need a collaborative UI design tool with a standards-oriented approach and practical developer handoff. It is particularly suitable when SVG interoperability and transparent, inspectable design artifacts are important.

43.6kstars
2.4kforks
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#3
CryptPad

CryptPad

Privacy-focused collaborative office suite with end-to-end encryption for docs, spreadsheets, forms, and file storage.

CryptPad screenshot

CryptPad is a privacy-first collaborative workspace for creating and editing documents online with end-to-end encryption. It provides a browser-based suite of office-style apps plus encrypted file storage, designed so the server cannot read your content.

Key Features

  • End-to-end encrypted collaboration where document contents are encrypted in the browser
  • Real-time co-editing with share links and granular sharing options (e.g., view/edit)
  • Multiple app types: rich text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, kanban boards, code/markdown, whiteboard, forms, and polls
  • Encrypted Drive for organizing files and documents (folders, uploads, and shared content)
  • Optional accounts; supports sharing without requiring recipients to sign up
  • Version history and change tracking features (vary by app)
  • Team/shared spaces for organizing collaborative work
  • Import/export options for common formats (varies by app)

Use Cases

  • Collaborative writing and internal documentation for privacy-sensitive teams
  • Collecting responses using encrypted forms/polls without exposing content to the server
  • Secure project coordination using kanban/notes with share-by-link access

Limitations and Considerations

  • Feature parity with mainstream office suites varies by app (advanced formatting and compatibility can be limited)
  • Search/indexing of content is constrained by the encryption model

CryptPad is a strong fit for organizations and communities that want practical online collaboration while minimizing trust in the hosting server. It combines a broad set of document tools with encrypted storage and link-based sharing for flexible collaboration workflows.

7.2kstars
791forks
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#4
draw.io (diagrams.net)

draw.io (diagrams.net)

diagrams.net (draw.io) is a web-based diagramming tool for flowcharts, UML, ER diagrams, and more, with integrations and offline/desktop options.

draw.io (diagrams.net) screenshot

diagrams.net (formerly draw.io) is a diagramming and flowcharting application for creating technical and business diagrams in the browser. It focuses on fast editing, broad diagram types, and easy export/sharing, with integrations commonly used in engineering documentation workflows.

Key Features

  • Drag-and-drop editor with extensive shape libraries (flowcharts, UML, BPMN, network diagrams, org charts, etc.)
  • Diagram-as-a-file approach: save as .drawio/XML and import/export across environments
  • Export to PNG/JPEG/SVG/PDF and embed diagrams into documents and wikis
  • Connectors, layers, groups, alignment tools, and style controls for precise layouts
  • Templates and reusable custom libraries for standardized diagramming
  • Integrations and embedding options commonly used with platforms like Confluence/Jira and Git-based documentation
  • Desktop app availability (Electron) for offline editing and local file workflows

Use Cases

  • Software architecture diagrams (C4-style), UML, and sequence/flow diagrams for engineering teams
  • Network/topology diagrams and infrastructure documentation
  • ER diagrams and process maps for product, operations, and compliance documentation

Limitations and Considerations

  • Real-time multi-cursor collaboration depends on the chosen integration/storage backend; the core editor is primarily file-centric.
  • Large/complex diagrams can become heavy in the browser depending on client resources.

A major advantage of diagrams.net is its lightweight, file-based model and wide export compatibility, making it easy to adopt in existing documentation pipelines. It suits both ad-hoc diagramming and repeatable, standardized diagram creation through templates and libraries.

3.3kstars
583forks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running