Demo
See the whiteboard-focused motion
This 15-second demo shows the narrower job ExcaliRec is built for: draw an idea, keep the active strokes readable, add a camera bubble, and download the recording locally.
A free FocuSee alternative when your content is a whiteboard
FocuSee is excellent for polished software demos. ExcaliRec is narrower: it is made for drawing-based explainers, where the whiteboard itself is the content and the camera should follow the idea.
ExcaliRecWhiteboard-native, browser-based, free to start
FocuSeeDesktop screen recorder for apps and full screens
Best forLessons, sketches, frameworks, founder notes
Best forSoftware demos and full-window walkthroughs
OutputFocused whiteboard video with optional camera bubble
OutputPolished general screen recordings
Quick answer
Use ExcaliRec when the drawing is the product. Use FocuSee when the screen is the product.
If you are recording a SaaS demo, a browser walkthrough, or a full app interface, FocuSee is built for that wider screen-recording job. If you are explaining an idea by drawing boxes, arrows, formulas, notes, or rough diagrams, ExcaliRec is a better fit because the whiteboard and recorder live in the same browser tab.
The difference sounds small, but it changes the workflow. With a general screen recorder, you first prepare a board, then capture the screen, then crop or polish the video. With ExcaliRec, the canvas is already the recording surface. You draw, let the view follow the important strokes, add a webcam bubble if needed, and download the video locally.
Detailed comparison
ExcaliRec vs FocuSee
The table below is not about which tool is better in every case. It is about choosing the right recorder for the content you are making.
| Need | ExcaliRec | FocuSee |
|---|---|---|
| Recording surface | Built-in Excalidraw-style whiteboard | Your desktop, app window, or browser screen |
| Auto-zoom behavior | Designed around whiteboard drawing and click focus | Designed around screen demos and cursor movement |
| Installation | Runs in the browser; no desktop app required | Desktop app workflow |
| Best content type | Teaching clips, visual frameworks, math notes, product thinking, internal whiteboard explanations | Product demos, software tutorials, website walkthroughs, polished screen recordings |
| Privacy flow | Recording happens locally in the browser and downloads to your device | Depends on the FocuSee workflow and export settings |
| Price angle | Free to start, no sign-up required | Commercial product with a broader demo-recording feature set |
When ExcaliRec fits better
Choose ExcaliRec for whiteboard explainers
ExcaliRec is useful when you want the viewer to understand the idea as it is being built. A static Excalidraw board can show the final structure, but a recording can show the order: what comes first, why one part connects to another, and which detail the viewer should look at right now.
- You are teaching a topic and want the drawing to stay readable on mobile.
- You want FocuSee-style motion, but the content is not a software interface.
- You need to record a quick product framework, strategy map, or internal diagram.
- You prefer a browser-based workflow with no setup before recording.
- You want a free whiteboard video recorder before committing to a heavier screen-recording stack.
When FocuSee fits better
Keep FocuSee in the stack for polished app demos
FocuSee is still the better choice when your main subject is an app interface, browser window, or desktop workflow. If you need to show clicking through a product, opening menus, moving between screens, or recording a polished software tour, use a general screen recorder. ExcaliRec is intentionally not trying to replace that entire category.
That narrow focus is the point. A free FocuSee alternative for whiteboard videos should not become another complicated screen recorder. It should make the whiteboard recording moment faster, cleaner, and easier to repeat.
Feature checklist
What you get with ExcaliRec
Whiteboard-native canvas
Draw and record in the same tab instead of capturing a separate Excalidraw window.
Automatic zoom
Let the recorded view follow important strokes so small diagrams stay readable.
Webcam bubble
Add a face-cam when trust or teaching presence matters, or turn it off for a clean board.
Clean backgrounds
Record a framed whiteboard video without random tabs, desktop clutter, or window borders.
Local download
Save the finished recording to your device and convert to MP4 only when your workflow requires it.
Free to start
Open the browser app and record without sign-up or a desktop install.
FAQ
FocuSee alternative FAQ
Is ExcaliRec a full FocuSee replacement?
No. It is a focused alternative for whiteboard videos. Use FocuSee for polished app demos; use ExcaliRec when the explanation happens on a whiteboard.
Does ExcaliRec have auto-zoom?
Yes. ExcaliRec is built around FocuSee-style auto-zoom for drawing-based explainers, so the recorded view can follow the active part of the whiteboard.
Is it free?
Yes. The current version is free to start and does not require sign-up to record a whiteboard video.
Do I need to install anything?
No. ExcaliRec runs in the browser. It is best used on a desktop browser for a wider canvas and a more stable recording experience.
Try the free FocuSee alternative for whiteboard videos
Free · No sign-up · Records locally · Built for drawing-based explainers
Open ExcaliRec