How to Use a Whiteboard in Zoom — Free, No Zoom Pro
Skip Zoom's paid whiteboard feature. Open onlinewhiteboard.org in your browser, share the tab in Zoom, and draw live in any meeting — completely free on the Zoom basic plan, with more tools than Zoom's built-in whiteboard.
Zoom's Built-In Whiteboard vs This Method — What's the Difference?
Why screen sharing a dedicated whiteboard beats Zoom's own feature.
Zoom's built-in whiteboard is gated behind paid plans — the basic (free) Zoom plan has a very limited whiteboard that expires and lacks most tools. The Zoom Pro and Business plans offer a fuller Whiteboard product, but it requires all participants to have Zoom accounts, and the drawing tools are less complete than a dedicated whiteboard.
The screen share method is simpler: open onlinewhiteboard.org in your browser before the call, share the tab, and draw. Your audience sees your full canvas in real time with zero additional software. You get sticky notes, image upload, multiple boards, laser pointer, and PDF export — none of which are available in Zoom's basic whiteboard.
What You Can Do on the Whiteboard During a Zoom Call
Every whiteboard feature becomes a Zoom meeting feature.
Draw Diagrams Live
Sketch process flows, system architectures, maths working, and UX wireframes as you explain them — participants watch each stroke appear.
Live Brainstorming with Sticky Notes
Add sticky notes as participants contribute ideas. Organise them into themes visually, in real time, while the brainstorm runs.
Annotate Shared Images
Upload a product mockup, data chart, or document screenshot before the call. Annotate it live during the Zoom discussion — circle issues, draw arrows, mark changes.
Laser Pointer for Presentations
Activate the laser pointer to draw attention to specific parts of your diagram without adding permanent marks. Essential for walking through complex diagrams.
Multiple Boards as Agenda Items
Create one board per agenda item. Switch between boards during the meeting to keep each topic visually distinct without scrolling.
Technical Diagrams During Engineering Calls
Draw database schemas, network topologies, and API flow diagrams during technical review calls — faster and clearer than describing them verbally.
Save the Meeting Canvas
After the Zoom call, save your whiteboard as a project file and export as PDF. Share the PDF with attendees as the meeting's visual record.
Fullscreen for Cleaner Sharing
Enable fullscreen mode before sharing — removes browser chrome for a larger, cleaner canvas display in the Zoom share.
Share from iPad in Zoom
Open the whiteboard in Safari on iPad and share your iPad screen in the Zoom mobile app. Draw with Apple Pencil during the call.
Step-by-Step: Use a Whiteboard in Zoom
From browser tab to live Zoom drawing in under a minute.
Open onlinewhiteboard.org Before Joining Zoom
Open Chrome or any browser. Go to onlinewhiteboard.org. Your canvas loads immediately. Prepare any content you need ready — diagram outlines, uploaded images, agenda sticky notes.
Join the Zoom Meeting and Click Share Screen
Start or join your Zoom meeting. Click the green Share Screen button in the Zoom toolbar. The sharing dialog opens showing your open windows and tabs.
Select Your Whiteboard Tab and Click Share
In the sharing dialog, click the tab showing onlinewhiteboard.org. Click the blue Share button. Your whiteboard canvas is now live in Zoom — draw, add sticky notes, and use the laser pointer. All participants see your canvas in real time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Zoom Pro to use a whiteboard in Zoom this way?
No — this method uses screen sharing which is available on the free Zoom plan with no restrictions. No Pro, Business, or Enterprise plan required.
Can Zoom participants draw on my whiteboard?
Directly on your canvas — no. But if you enable Zoom's Annotation feature (via Participants → More → Allow Annotate on my Shared Screen), participants can draw temporary annotations over your shared screen using Zoom's own annotation toolbar.
How do I enable Zoom annotation for participants?
While sharing your screen, click Annotate in the Zoom toolbar. Select Settings in the annotation bar and choose Allow Participants to Annotate. Participants can then draw over your shared canvas using Zoom's tools.
Can I share the whiteboard with students who don't have Zoom?
Students just need to be in the Zoom call to see your screen. They need no whiteboard account. After the call, export the canvas as PDF and share it via Google Classroom or email.
Can I use this whiteboard with Zoom Breakout Rooms?
Yes — open the whiteboard before creating breakout rooms. In each room, the facilitator can screen share their own whiteboard canvas for that group's work.
Does this work on Zoom for iPad?
Yes — open the whiteboard in Safari on iPad, join Zoom via the Zoom iOS app, and share your screen. Draw with Apple Pencil for a natural teaching or presenting feel.