Can you draw in Notion natively?

No. Notion does not have a built-in drawing or freehand sketching tool as of 2026. The closest native option is inserting image blocks, but that requires an external tool to create the image first. JotLayer fills this gap by adding a drawing overlay on top of your Notion pages directly in the browser — no embedding, no extra apps.

Does Notion have a drawing tool?

Notion doesn't include a native drawing tool. Many users resort to embedding Excalidraw, Miro, or other tools as iframe blocks, but these break the page flow and require a separate app. JotLayer is a Chrome extension that lets you draw on Notion pages as an overlay, making it the most seamless workaround available.

Can you draw on Notion on iPad or mobile?

JotLayer is a Chrome extension, so it works on desktop browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera) and on Chromebooks with a stylus. For iPad users, the native Notion iOS app doesn't support browser extensions. An Apple Pencil-compatible solution is on our roadmap — subscribe to our newsletter to be notified.

How is JotLayer different from embedding Excalidraw in Notion?

With embed workarounds, your drawing lives inside a Notion block — it's a separate app, in a box, with its own interface. JotLayer draws over the entire page as a transparent layer, so you can annotate any part of your Notion workspace, not just an isolated block. It's also significantly lighter and requires zero setup per page.

Yes — JotLayer has a free tier that supports drawing on up to 5 pages with local save. Pro ($3/month) unlocks unlimited pages, cloud sync, and advanced tools. There's also an annual plan at $25/year.

Notion Drawing Guide

Yes, you can draw in Notion — here's the easiest way

Notion doesn't have a native drawing tool — but JotLayer adds one. Draw, sketch, and annotate directly on any Notion page in seconds, without embedding anything.

Drawing directly on a Notion page using JotLayer

The problem: Notion doesn't have a native drawing tool

If you've ever wanted to sketch a quick diagram, annotate a passage, or brainstorm visually inside Notion, you already know the frustration. There's no built-in canvas. The typical workaround is embedding an external drawing tool like Excalidraw or Miro as an iframe block — but that opens a separate app inside a tiny box, breaks the flow of your page, and adds friction every single time. Notion drawing shouldn't be this complicated.

How to draw in Notion with JotLayer

Three steps. No configuration. No embed blocks. Just open Notion and draw.

Step 1

Install JotLayer from the Chrome Web Store

One click — no account required to get started. Works on Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Arc.

Step 2

Open any Notion page

Navigate to the Notion page where you want to draw. JotLayer works on every page in your workspace.

Step 3

Click the JotLayer icon → draw directly on the page

Hit the extension icon in your toolbar. A minimal drawing overlay appears instantly — pen, highlighter, shapes, and eraser ready to go.

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Demo video coming soon — install JotLayer to see how drawing in Notion works in real time.

What you can do with Notion drawing

Drawing in Notion isn't just for sketching — it unlocks a whole new way to work with your notes.

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Brainstorm visually on top of your notes

Draw mind-maps, connect ideas with arrows, and sketch quick diagrams right on the Notion page where your notes already live.

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Annotate documents and PDFs in Notion

Circle key passages, underline action items, and leave handwritten comments on any embedded content without leaving Notion.

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Sketch diagrams without leaving your workspace

From flowcharts to wireframes — rough it out right there, keep everything in one place, and iterate in seconds.

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Share visual feedback with your team

Mark up a shared Notion doc, save the drawing, and your team sees exactly what you mean — no screenshots, no switching apps.

Why JotLayer is better than embedding a drawing tool

Embedding tools like Excalidraw or notion-draw.art inside a Notion block is the old way. JotLayer is a fundamentally different approach.

FeatureJotLayerEmbed workarounds

No embed block needed

Works as an overlay — zero changes to your Notion page structure.

Draws over the page, not inside a block

Annotate anything on screen, not just inside a dedicated block.

Lightweight — no extra tab

One click on the extension icon. No loading a separate drawing app.

Works on every Notion page instantly

No need to insert a block, paste a URL, or configure anything.

Keeps Notion page clean

Drawings are stored as a separate layer — your Notion content is untouched.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about drawing in Notion.

Free forever on up to 5 pages

Start drawing in Notion today

No embed blocks. No extra tabs. No configuration. Just install and draw — directly on any Notion page.

Works on Chrome · Edge · Brave · Arc · Opera · Chromebook

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