Squiggle vs Microsoft Whiteboard
How Squiggle compares to Microsoft Whiteboard for drawing, teaching, and annotation.
Microsoft Whiteboard is a free digital canvas that comes with Microsoft 365. It’s built into the Microsoft ecosystem — but if you’re not a Teams user, it might be more than you need.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Squiggle | Microsoft Whiteboard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5 once (Pro) | Free with Microsoft 365 |
| Account required | No | Yes (Microsoft account) |
| Works offline | Yes, always | Limited (syncs to cloud) |
| Privacy | 100% local — zero data collection | Cloud-based, Microsoft collects data |
| Screen overlay | Yes | No |
| PDF import | Yes | Yes |
| Templates | Teaching-focused (Cornell, T-Chart, KWL) | General templates |
| Platform | Windows & macOS | Windows, iOS, web |
| Startup time | Instant | Slower (connects to cloud) |
| Collaboration | No (solo tool) | Yes (via Microsoft 365) |
When to choose Squiggle
- You don’t want to sign in to a Microsoft account just to draw
- You care about privacy — your boards never leave your computer
- You want to draw on top of other apps with screen overlay
- You’re a teacher who wants purpose-built templates (not generic ones)
- You’re on macOS and want a native experience (MS Whiteboard on Mac is web-only)
- You want a lightweight tool that doesn’t come with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
When to choose Microsoft Whiteboard
- You already use Microsoft Teams and want whiteboarding in meetings
- You need real-time collaboration with colleagues
- You want a free tool bundled with your existing Microsoft 365 subscription
- You need Ink to Shape and Ink to Table AI features
- You use Surface Pen or other inking hardware heavily
Key differences
Account vs No Account
Microsoft Whiteboard requires a Microsoft account. Squiggle requires nothing — download, install, draw. No email, no signup, no verification.
Cloud vs Local
Microsoft Whiteboard syncs your boards to OneDrive. This means your drawings are stored on Microsoft’s servers. Squiggle stores everything on your local filesystem — your data never touches a server.
Screen overlay
Squiggle’s screen overlay mode lets you draw on top of any application. Microsoft Whiteboard can only draw within its own window.
Platform support
Microsoft Whiteboard works on Windows, iOS, and web. Squiggle is currently available for Windows and macOS as native desktop apps.
Bottom line
If you’re in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and need team collaboration, Microsoft Whiteboard is a natural choice. If you want a privacy-focused, no-account-needed drawing tool that works offline, Squiggle is simpler and more private.