The Vani Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Vani in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Vani
The Insider’s Guide
Infinite-canvas whiteboard with built-in video catchups
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from Vani’s own pages.
Made by Zoho · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Vani’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Vani’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 58 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
Vani is a visual collaboration platform built around an infinite canvas with sticky notes, shapes, connectors, mind maps and kanban views. Teammates can talk and work together in video Catchups without leaving the board. The free plan allows unlimited Spaces and collaborators.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Vani, taken from its own pages and our grades.
A web app where you build the board yourself.
- 1
Best for a team whiteboard with video catch-ups
Vani is a web whiteboard with an infinite canvas, video catch-ups and templates.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $4 per person / month, billed annually.
- 3
There is a free plan
Unlimited Spaces and collaborators, 3 Zones per Space, 100 AI credits for the team, 25 MB uploads and 15 days of version history.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Infinite canvas
Shapes, connectors, sticky notes, tables and mind map, stack and kanban views sit on one board called a Space.
- 6
Video Catchups
Teammates see and talk to each other on the canvas. Free-plan calls are capped at 30 minutes; Team has unlimited in-app meetings with recording.
- 7
AI on the canvas
Generate mind maps, flowcharts and content from prompts, using credits: 100 per team on Free, 100 per user on Team and 200 on Business.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 58 of 98
That is against the other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Vani you could make: mind mapping and kanban boards. What surrounds it you could not. The 6 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Vani at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4 per person / month, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial of the Team and Business plans, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Zoho
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a team whiteboard with video catch-ups
Vani is a web whiteboard with an infinite canvas, video catch-ups and templates. The free plan has 3 Zones a Space, shares only with the whole team, and caps video calls at 30 minutes, and there is no desktop or phone app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Team is $4 a person a month billed annually, under the $5 cheaper quarter. Business is $8. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free has unlimited Spaces and collaborators, 100 AI credits for the team and 15 days of version history. 3 Zones a Space and whole-team sharing only are the limits, and the paid trial is 30 days without a card. |
| Features | C | Canvas, video, AI, templates, widgets and an API. The listing names gaps: free sharing is whole-team only, and guests are free only on Business. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. A web app where you build the board yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with Zoho Projects, Microsoft Teams and Zoho WorkDrive, an API and an MCP server. No apps listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Vani is for
- Fits if your team already uses Zoho and wants a shared canvas
- Works for small teams that start free and add people later
Who it is not for
- Tight if you stay free: 3 Zones a Space and video calls stop at 30 minutes
- Skip it if you share with chosen people, because that needs Team at $4 a person a month
- Pricey if you invite guests, as they are free only on Business at $8 a person
- Not for you if you want an app: only a browser version is listed
Good to know
Good for
- Small teams that want whiteboarding and video calls in one place
- Teams that want free unlimited collaborators on the basic plan
- Groups already using Zoho Projects or Microsoft Teams
Worth knowing
- The free plan shares Spaces with the whole team only; sharing with selected people needs Team.
- Free-plan video calls stop at 30 minutes and each Space is limited to 3 Zones.
- Vani runs in a web browser; the site lists no desktop or mobile apps.
- Guests are free only on Business, and they must sign in.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
Vani has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4 per person / month, billed annually.
Free
$0
Unlimited Spaces and collaborators, video calls up to 30 minutes, 100 AI credits for the team.
Team
$4
per person / month, billed annually
Adds sharing with selected people, external links, database tables, 100 AI credits per user monthly.
Business
$8
per person / month, billed annually
Adds multiple teams, free guest seats, admin controls and 200 AI credits per user monthly.
The free plan
Unlimited Spaces and collaborators, 3 Zones per Space, 100 AI credits for the team, 25 MB uploads and 15 days of version history.
Trying it first
30-day free trial of the Team and Business plans, no credit card required
Read from vanihq.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 20% with annual billing
The pricing page toggle labels annual billing as saving 20% compared with monthly billing.
Stated on vanihq.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Infinite-canvas whiteboard with built-in video catchups. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, real-time collaboration, whiteboard, kanban boards, mind mapping, diagrams.
Canvas, video, AI, templates, widgets and an API.
- Infinite canvas
- Shapes, connectors, sticky notes, tables and mind map, stack and kanban views sit on one board called a Space.
- Video Catchups
- Teammates see and talk to each other on the canvas. Free-plan calls are capped at 30 minutes; Team has unlimited in-app meetings with recording.
- AI on the canvas
- Generate mind maps, flowcharts and content from prompts, using credits: 100 per team on Free, 100 per user on Team and 200 on Business.
- Templates and Kits
- Ready-made templates and Kits cover product, marketing, design and sales work, plus interactive smart templates on database tables from Team up.
- Collaboration widgets
- Live cursors, comments, mentions, voice notes, pins, reactions, timers and polls; polls and voting need the Team plan.
- API and MCP server
- The Vani API and an MCP server are listed on the Free plan, for connecting spaces to other tools and AI agents.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Zoho Projects
- Microsoft Teams
- Zoho WorkDrive
Vani is made by Zoho.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
58/98
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
Vani's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 58 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 16.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 71 of 98) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $4 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 8 of the 69 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 99 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Vani’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 59 of 98
- BFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 98
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 98
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 98
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 35 of 98
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 88 whiteboard and mind map tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Vani is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Vani you could make: mind mapping and kanban boards. What surrounds it you could not. The 6 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $48 a year.
What you could make
- Mind mapping and kanban boards: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- An endless canvas that stays smooth with hundreds of things on it.
- A diagram editor.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, Zoho Projects, Microsoft Teams and Zoho WorkDrive among them, and has an API.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets.
What this rests on. Vani’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Miro, Mural, Microsoft Whiteboard, Lucidspark and Conceptboard
The 5 tools Vani is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Miro
Free plan · from $8/mo
Online whiteboard for team brainstorming, diagrams and planning.
- Only Miro lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Vani also covers kanban boards.
- Miro also covers templates.
- 2.6GPA
Mural
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Online whiteboard with built-in facilitation tools for workshops.
- Only Mural lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Vani also covers kanban boards.
- Mural also covers templates.
- 3.4GPA
Microsoft Whiteboard
Free
Free collaborative canvas built into Microsoft 365 and Teams.
- Only Microsoft Whiteboard lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Vani also covers kanban boards, mind mapping and diagrams.
- Microsoft Whiteboard also covers templates.
- 2.4GPA
Lucidspark
Free plan · from $9/mo
Virtual whiteboard for team brainstorming and workshops.
- Only Lucidspark lists iOS and Android apps.
- Vani also covers kanban boards and diagrams.
- Lucidspark also covers templates.
- 2.2GPA
Conceptboard
Free plan · from €5/mo
Online whiteboard with task management, hosted in Germany.
- Vani also covers mind mapping and diagrams.
- Conceptboard also covers templates and tasks.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Vani free?
Vani has a free plan. Unlimited Spaces and collaborators, 3 Zones per Space, 100 AI credits for the team, 25 MB uploads and 15 days of version history.
How much does Vani cost?
Vani lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Vani work on?
Vani is available on Web.
Does Vani offer any discounts?
Vani publicly lists the following: Save 20% with annual billing.
Does Vani have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Vani is listed for Web.
Does Vani have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Vani is listed for Web.
Is Vani open source?
Vani is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Vani have an API?
Yes. Vani offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Vani integrate with?
Vani's listing names Zoho Projects, Microsoft Teams and Zoho WorkDrive.
Does Vani have a free trial?
Yes. 30-day free trial of the Team and Business plans, no credit card required.
Who makes Vani?
Vani is made by Zoho.
What are the alternatives to Vani?
The closest alternatives to Vani in our directory are Miro, Mural, Microsoft Whiteboard, Lucidspark and Conceptboard.
How does Vani compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
Vani's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 58 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 16.
Is Vani good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Vani B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 8 of the 69 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Vani?
The plain part of Vani you could make: mind mapping and kanban boards.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Vani’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Vani's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Zoho. Prices change, so check vanihq.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Vani, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/vani
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Vani: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/vani
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/vani/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after Vani, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 99 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Whiteboard Insider's GuideFree collaborative canvas built into Microsoft 365 and Teams3.4 GPA
- draw.io Insider's GuideFree diagram editor that saves files to storage you choose3.2 GPA
- tldraw Insider's GuideFree online whiteboard with a local desktop app3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Vani’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Vani is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Zoho. Prices and plans change: check vanihq.com before you buy.