Getting a group to brainstorm on a physical whiteboard can be chaotic enough; Add remote work to the mix, and it can feel impossible.
That’s where digital whiteboards help. They offer a virtual space for teams to collaborate, share ideas, and get on the same page without being in the same room.
FigJam and Miro are digital whiteboard tools you might have heard about, and if you’re trying to figure out which one is right for your team, you’re in the right place.
This blog will dive deep into the details of what makes each tool unique, compare their features, and help you choose the best fit for your collaborative needs. 👥
What is FigJam?
FigJam is an online whiteboard tool from Figma, designed to bring teams together for seamless brainstorming and collaboration. It acts as a visual workspace where ideas flow freely, making it valuable for remote teams who need to work together in real time.
But FigJam isn’t just another digital whiteboard tool; it’s a natural extension of Figma.
If you’re already using Figma for design work, you’ll find that FigJam seamlessly integrates with all your projects, allowing you to move back and forth without a hitch.
Also read: 10 Best FigJam Alternatives & Competitors
Key features of FigJam
FigJam’s features are designed to make collaboration easy and effective.
Whether you’re brainstorming, planning a project, or just trying to get everyone on the same page, this whiteboard software helps you do it all in a fun way.
Feature #1: Collaborative whiteboard
At the heart of FigJam is its digital canvas. This space allows teams to draw, write, and use sticky notes to express ideas visually. It’s great for capturing quick thoughts or developing complex diagrams.
Team members can drop comments, react with emojis, or even join an audio chat to keep the conversation flowing.
💡 Pro Tip: Explore various diagram examples to better understand how different structures can be applied to your projects. This can help refine your ideas and determine the best way to represent your concepts visually.
Feature #2: Templates and tools
FigJam offers various templates that help streamline brainstorming sessions. Options include mind maps and user journey maps that are ready to use.
Plus, there’s a set of drawing tools—like shapes, markers, and connectors—to help you annotate files and bring your ideas to life.
Feature #3: AI-powered productivity
When you need to jumpstart a meeting or visualize a timeline, FigJam’s AI steps in to generate custom templates and visuals based on your prompts.
The AI feature also helps organize your thoughts. It can instantly sort your sticky notes into themes, helping you zero in on what matters most.
Feature #4: Interactive widgets and stickers
FigJam provides a range of interactive widgets and stickers to make the process of brainstorming ideas more engaging and energetic. These tools let team members visually share their thoughts, give feedback, and engage in discussions, making meetings more dynamic and effective.
FigJam pricing
- Free
- Professional: $5/member/month
- Organization: $5/member/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
What is Miro?
Miro is a powerful digital collaboration platform that acts as a virtual whiteboard, helping teams brainstorm, plan, and manage projects. It’s designed to be flexible and intuitive, making it suitable for remote teams collaborating across geographies.
The tool offers a spacious digital canvas for brainstorming, planning, and organizing ideas. Whether you’re working on a design sprint, mapping out a project, or running a workshop, Miro helps you get the job done.
Also read: Top 10 Miro Alternatives & Competitors
Key features of Miro
Let’s dive into what makes the Miro platform a favorite among teams.
Feature #1: Infinite canvas
Miro’s Infinite Canvas is a digital workspace that allows you to pen your ideas without any physical constraints. It’s great for brainstorming, mapping out projects, or simply organizing thoughts in a way that’s easy to visualize.
Feature #2: Extensive template library
With Miro, you gain access to a rich library of templates that covers everything from user story mapping to strategic planning. These templates are customizable, allowing teams to tailor them to their specific workflows and requirements.
Feature #3: Visual management
Miro also helps with visual project management. With features like Kanban boards, mind maps, and flowcharts, it’s easy to keep track of complex projects and visualize progress in a clear and accessible way.
Feature #4: Asynchronous collaboration
Miro allows teams to contribute at their own pace, which is ideal for remote teams working across time zones.
Features like video walkthroughs and comments keep the conversation going even when everyone isn’t online simultaneously.
Miro pricing
- Free
- Starter: $8/member/month
- Business: $16/member/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
FigJam vs. Miro: A Feature-by-Feature Comparison
FigJam and Miro are fantastic tools for team collaboration, but they shine in different areas.
Let’s break down their features and see how they stack up against each other.
Feature | FigJam | Miro |
Who’s it for? | Ideal for design teams and collaborative brainstorming | Suits for a wide range of teams, from design to project management |
Canvas size | Collaborative whiteboard with ample space for brainstorming | Infinite canvas for limitless brainstorming and project mapping |
Collaboration | Supports real-time drawing, commenting, and chat | Supports real-time collaboration with video and chat integration |
Templates | Offers customizable templates for various brainstorming needs | Offers an extensive library of templates for different activities |
AI features | Creates custom templates, automates sorting and summarizing ideas | AI assists with idea generation and clustering insights |
Sticky notes | Includes sticky notes with flexible organization options | Features digital sticky notes with clustering capabilities |
Integrations | Integrates with Figma and other popular tools | Connects with over 130 tools, including Slack and ClickUp |
Mobile access | Accessible on web and mobile platforms | Available on web and mobile for easy access |
User engagement | Encourages interaction with stamps, emojis, and comments | Includes interactive tools like anonymous voting and live reactions |
File sharing | Integrates with Figma for seamless design updates | Supports a variety of file types, including images and documents |
Workshops & meetings | Designed for workshops and design sprints | Enhances workshops and meetings with entertainment features and interactive presentations |
Feature #1: Canvas size
The canvas size and flexibility are crucial for different types of projects.
FigJam
FigJam provides a collaborative whiteboard with ample space to sketch out ideas and brainstorm creatively. It’s designed to support teams in generating and organizing ideas efficiently.
Miro
It offers an infinite canvas for extensive brainstorming and project mapping. This limitless space is perfect for managing complex workflows and visualizing large-scale projects.
🏆 Winner: It’s a tie! Miro’s infinite canvas is ideal for detailed project planning, while FigJam’s ample space is great for focused creative sessions.
Feature #2: Real-time collaboration
Effective real-time collaboration enhances team productivity.
FigJam
Supports real-time drawing, commenting, and chat, allowing team members to interact and refine ideas together. It’s built to foster immediate feedback and collaboration.
Miro
Excels at integrated video and chat features, supporting real-time collaboration across different locations. It enhances communication and engagement during collaborative sessions.
🏆 Winner: Miro’s integrated communication tools offer a more comprehensive real-time collaboration experience.
Feature #3: AI features
AI can significantly streamline your workflows and brainstorming.
FigJam
Uses AI to generate custom templates and visuals based on your prompts, automates the sorting of ideas into relevant themes, and summarizes outputs into clear action items. This helps in focusing on key insights and decision-making.
Miro
Leverages AI to generate ideas, cluster insights, and summarize key takeaways. It assists in organizing and prioritizing ideas, which aids in efficient brainstorming and project management.
🏆 Winner: Miro’s AI excels in generating insights and clustering, making it the stronger choice for complex data analysis and collaboration.
Feature #4: Customizability
Customization options can enhance your workflow and user experience.
FigJam
Allows for customization of templates and board elements, making it easy for clients to tailor the workspace to specific project needs. This flexibility supports various brainstorming techniques and design activities.
Miro
Offers extensive customization options for creating boards, templates, and themes, accommodating a wide range of project requirements and preferences.
🏆 Winner: It’s a tie! Miro provides broader customization options, but FigJam’s focused customization is well-suited for design-oriented tasks.
FigJam vs. Miro on Reddit
To get a sense of how real users perceive FigJam and Miro, we turned to Reddit.
Miro fans rave about its extensive features and community support. It’s praised for handling complex tasks like user journey mapping and workshops.
On the other hand, FigJam is loved for its simplicity and seamless integration with Figma. It’s seen as a great choice for smaller teams or those already using Figma.
Learning curves are also a hot topic. Miro is often described as having a steeper learning curve, which can be daunting for new users. FigJam is appreciated for its accessibility and ease of use.
Cost is another consideration. FigJam is highlighted for being cost-effective, especially for startups or smaller teams, as it comes free with Figma.
While robust, Miro’s limited free tier can be considered restrictive for users.
Did You Know? In business environments, whiteboards can improve innovation by increasing the speed of ideation, contributing to a higher rate of successful project completions.
Meet ClickUp—The Best Alternative to Miro vs. FigJam
When it comes to choosing the right tool for brainstorming, planning, and collaboration, ClickUp stands out as a powerful alternative to FigJam and Miro.
While FigJam and Miro offer robust features for visual collaboration, ClickUp brings a fresh perspective with its integrated approach to design project management and creative brainstorming.
ClickUp’s one-up #1: Whiteboards
ClickUp’s Whiteboards are designed to be more than just a digital canvas. They offer a versatile space where teams can brainstorm, plan, and visualize ideas in a dynamic environment.
Unlike traditional whiteboards, these Whiteboards integrate seamlessly with other ClickUp features, allowing for a more cohesive workflow. You can add tasks, assign actions, and track progress directly within the Whiteboard, making it a central hub for your team’s creative processes.
💡 Pro Tip: Integrating creative workflow software like ClickUp with other tools like Google Drive, Slack, or Adobe Creative Cloud ensures all your work is centralized, reducing the need to switch between different applications and improving overall productivity.
You can even customize your Whiteboard with various shapes, lines, and connectors to suit your preferences.
ClickUp’s one-up #2: Mind Maps
ClickUp’s Mind Maps are another standout feature, offering a structured way to organize and visualize information. This tool is perfect for mapping out complex ideas or project plans.
You can start with a central concept and branch out into various related topics, making it easier to see how different elements connect and influence each other.
With Mind Maps, you can easily drag and drop elements, add notes, and adjust the structure as your ideas evolve. This flexibility ensures that your brainstorming sessions remain fluid and adaptable.
👀 Bonus: Utilize mind map templates available in ClickUp for different stages of your project. For instance, use one template for initial brainstorming and another for detailed project tracking, providing a structured approach to your planning process.
ClickUp’s one-up #3: Docs
ClickUp’s Docs provides a collaborative writing space where your team can work together in real time. These Docs are more than just text editors—they support rich media, comments, and task assignments, making them an essential tool for content creation and brainstorming.
The collaborative nature of Docs allows clients and team members to seamlessly contribute ideas, provide feedback, and refine content.
ClickUp’s one-up #4: Brain
ClickUp’s AI, known as ClickUp Brain, adds a powerful layer to its capabilities. It helps generate and refine content quickly, whether you’re working on proposals or detailed project plans.
Brain tailors content to your team’s needs and ensures that documents are completed swiftly and accurately. The AI tool can also summarize updates and discussions, providing concise overviews that aid in decision-making.
To help you get started, ClickUp offers a variety of templates tailored to different needs.
💡 Pro Tip: The ClickUp Fishbone Diagram Template is ideal for problem-solving, breaking down issues into manageable parts. ClickUp’s Simple Mind Map Template assists with organizing ideas, while the Creative and Design Template by ClickUp supports various planning and design activities.
These templates provide a solid foundation, making it easier to hit the ground running.
Brainstorm Creatively with ClickUp
Choosing the perfect whiteboard tool depends on your team’s specific needs.
FigJam is ideal for design-focused teams working within the Figma ecosystem. It offers seamless integration and a simple, intuitive interface.
Miro, on the other hand, provides a broader range of features and integrations, making it a versatile option.
However, if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that incorporates the best of both worlds and adds powerful project management features, ClickUp is the best choice for your team.
It offers whiteboard features, an AI assistant, flexible Docs, and more under one roof. So why wait?
Get started with ClickUp for free today!