Free Online Whiteboard for Brainstorming
An open canvas for every brainstorming technique — sticky note clustering, mind mapping, rapid idea dumping, affinity diagrams, and visual idea boards. No login, no template to fit into. Just open and generate ideas.
Brainstorming Techniques — And How to Do Each One
Each technique uses different whiteboard tools — here's what works best for each.
Sticky Note Dump
The fastest technique: add sticky notes as quickly as possible, one idea per note. Don't evaluate — just generate. Use the Sticky Note tool and click anywhere to place a note. Move and cluster them after the dump phase is complete. Best for: overcoming blank-page paralysis and solo idea generation.
Mind Mapping
Place your central topic in a sticky note, then branch outward using arrows to connect related ideas. Colour-code each branch. Use multiple boards to explore different branches in depth. Best for: exploring a topic from a central starting point.
Affinity Clustering
Start with a full sticky note dump across the canvas, then drag related notes close together to form clusters. Draw a circle or rectangle around each cluster using the shapes tool and label it. Best for: discovering patterns and categories in a large set of ideas.
How Might We (HMW)
Write a central challenge in large text or a sticky note. Add HMW questions as branches — "How might we solve X?" — then add potential answers under each. A reframing technique that generates solution-oriented ideas rather than problem descriptions.
Visual Mood / Idea Board
Upload images using the Image Upload tool and arrange them on the canvas with notes and annotations. Build a visual reference collection for creative projects — useful for design, writing, product planning, and any visual discipline.
Two-Axis Prioritisation
Draw two crossing lines with the Shapes → Line tool to create a 2x2 matrix — for example Impact vs Effort. Move sticky note ideas into the quadrant where they belong. Best for: prioritising a long list of ideas after a brainstorm session.
Brainstorming Solo vs. with a Group
How the whiteboard works for individual and team brainstorming sessions.
Solo Brainstorming
Open the whiteboard and work through ideas at your own pace. The infinite canvas means you never run out of space. Save the project file as you go and return to it across multiple sessions — building on yesterday's ideas in tomorrow's session.
Team Brainstorming (Screen Share)
Start a Zoom or Meet call, share the whiteboard tab, and facilitate live. As participants call out ideas, you add sticky notes. For bigger groups, participants can also open the whiteboard on their own device — each contributing independently while you screen-share the main canvas for group review.
From Brainstorm to Actionable Output
What to do with your whiteboard canvas after the brainstorm.
Cluster and Label
After generating ideas, group related sticky notes together by dragging them close. Draw a shape around each cluster and label it with a heading using the text tool. This is affinity mapping — turning a scattered dump into organised themes.
Vote and Prioritise
Mark the highest-priority ideas by adding a coloured dot (small circle shape) next to the best sticky notes, or change their background colour to a standout shade. This gives a quick visual indication of where the group's consensus sits.
Export as a Record
Export the final organised canvas as PDF — this becomes the permanent record of the session. Share it with anyone who was present or absent. The visual format communicates far more than meeting notes in a list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this better than sticky notes on a wall for brainstorming?
It depends on context. Physical sticky notes on a wall are excellent for in-person sessions — the physical movement and social energy are powerful. A digital whiteboard excels when the team is remote, when you want to archive the session as PDF, or when you need to quickly reorganise and export the output.
Is there a limit to how many sticky notes I can add?
No limit — the canvas is infinite and there's no cap on the number of sticky notes, boards, or drawing elements. Add as many ideas as you generate.
Can I use templates for brainstorming?
The whiteboard is a blank canvas — you set up your own structure. You can create a template (e.g. a 2x2 matrix or HMW prompt) and save it as a project file, then reopen it as your starting point for future sessions.
What's the best way to save a brainstorm session?
Save the project file (.owb) to preserve the full editable session. Export a PDF as a shareable record. Do both — the project file is for future editing, the PDF is for sharing and archiving.