Mind Mapping Tools

Sometimes, the best way to flesh out a project is to start with a singular idea and then branch out in many directions with related descriptors and other pieces of key relevant information. The best way to handle situations like these is by making a mind map. Mind maps start with a central idea and then branch out in different directions. Software on this page assists in making organized and easier-to-follow mind maps and concept diagrams.

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  1. Obsidian icon
     931 likes

    Obsidian is a note-taking app that lets you create a personal knowledge graph with ease. It is designed for non-linear thinking and allows you to easily link your notes together wiki-style.

    91 Obsidian alternatives
    Obsidian screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Safari
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Obsidian screenshot 1
    Obsidian screenshot 2
    +4
    Obsidian screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Local Storage
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Graph view
    5.  Bidirectional links
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Personal Information Manager (PIM)
    8.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    9.  Knowledge Management
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Syntax Highlighting
  2. draw.io icon
     967 likes

    Privacy-focused diagramming software supporting real-time collaboration, offline mode, and cloud storage without ads or registration.

    121 draw.io alternatives
    Use the diagram editor in dark mode. Go to app.diagrams.net/?splash=0&ui=dark

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Notion
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft SharePoint
    • Microsoft OneDrive
    • PortableApps.com
    • Google Drive
    • Google Docs
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Google Slides
    • Google Sheets
    Windows Desktop App
    Whiteboarding example
    +9
    draw.io screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Flow Chart
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Export to PDF
    4.  Web-Based
    5.  Sync with Google Drive
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Hierarchical Structure
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Support for Layers
    12.  No Coding Required
  3. Logseq icon
     259 likes

    Local-first, privacy-focused notebook supporting Markdown and Org mode, offline use, encrypted backup, extensible with plugins, and more.

    118 Logseq alternatives
    Logseq screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Bidirectional links
    2.  Graph view
    3.  Local Storage
    4.  Outliner
    5.  Backlinks
    6.  Support for MarkDown
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Full-Text Search
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  PDF annotation
  4. LibreOffice - Draw icon
     298 likes

    Draw lets you produce anything from a quick sketch to a complex plan, and gives you the means to communicate with graphics and diagrams. With a maximum page size of 300cm by 300cm, Draw is a an excellent package for producing technical drawings, general posters, and much else.

    95 LibreOffice - Draw alternatives
    LibreOffice - Draw screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Export to PDF
    2.  Portable
    3.  Sequence Diagrams
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Export to SVG
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Auto Layout
    10.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    11.  Import CSV Data
    12.  Drawing Board
  5. yEd Graph Editor icon
     435 likes

    yEd is a powerful diagram editor that can be used to quickly create diagrams manually or import external data for analysis and auto-magically arrange even large data sets by just pressing a button. You can use yEd to quickly create flow charts, BPMN and UML diagrams...

    113 yEd Graph Editor alternatives
    yEd Graph Editor screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    yEd Graph Editor screenshot 1
    yEd Graph Editor screenshot 2
    +2
    yEd Graph Editor screenshot 3

    Top yEd Graph Editor Features

    1.  Export to SVG
    2.  Flow diagram visualisation
    3.  BPMN diagrams
    4.  Flow Chart
    5.  Auto Layout
    6.  Portable
    7.  XML import / export
    8.  Modules
    9. Microsoft Excel icon  Import From Excel
    10.  Grid layout options
    11.  ER Diagrams
    12.  Layout
  6. Excalidraw icon
     71 likes

    Excalidraw is an open-source whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. Available directly online as a web app and also through CodeSandbox to easily see how the code works, and the app is available for self-hosting.

    73 Excalidraw alternatives
    Excalidraw screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Excalidraw screenshot 1
    Excalidraw screenshot 2
    +1
    Excalidraw screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Interactive Whiteboard
    2.  Shared whiteboard
    3.  Real time collaboration
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Export to SVG
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Free hand drawing
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Support for Layers
    11.  Cloud Sync
    12.  WYSIWYG Support
  7. TreeSheets icon
     138 likes

    A "hierarchical spreadsheet" that is a great replacement for spreadsheets, mind mappers, outliners, PIMs, text editors and small databases.

    49 TreeSheets alternatives
    TreeSheets screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    TreeSheets screenshot 1
    TreeSheets screenshot 2
    +5
    TreeSheets screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Hierarchical Structure
    2.  Nested Notes
    3.  List management
    4.  Freeform notes
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Kanban Board
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Outliner
    12.  Class inheritance
  8. Xmind icon
     390 likes

    Full-featured tool for mind mapping and brainstorming, supported on multiple platforms. It's been downloaded over 100 million times, with high user satisfaction.

    117 Xmind alternatives
    Curated features for you to generate ideas, inspire creativity, and bring efficiency both in work and life.

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    We offer more than traditional radial mind map structure for particular subjects. Empower your thoughts by using the right structure.
    When you want to make a mind map with a proper color scheme and style that matches your need, Smart Color Theme never lets you down. Choose the one you like and achieve a consistent look throughout your map instantly.
    +1
    Presenter gives you more control to your presentation. Navigate your slideshow with your original mind map and jump to any topic you want.

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Brainstorming
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Knowledge Management
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Handwritten Notes
    6.  Import/Export OPML Feeds
    7.  Support for MarkDown
    8.  Real time collaboration
    9.  Hierarchical Structure
    10.  Icon sets
  9. Freeplane icon
     248 likes

    Freeplane is a powerful and free software for building mind maps. It is a redesigned version of the well known FreeMind , and is created by one of FreeMind's key developers.

    80 Freeplane alternatives
    Freeplane screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Java
    Organization of contacts
    Editing a node
    +1
    Freeplane screenshot 3

    Freeplane Features

    1.  Knowledge Management
    2.  Summary Nodes
    3.  Project Tracking
    4.  Support for scripting
    5.  Portable
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Hierarchical Structure
    8. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    9.  Conditional styles
    10.  Shared Nodes
  10. FreeMind icon
     472 likes

    Free and open source, Java-based mind-mapping app for the desktop featuring a hierarchical editor that emphasizes folding.

    106 FreeMind alternatives
    Example: Computer

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    FreeMind Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Brainstorming
    3.  Simple installation
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Hierarchical Structure
    6.  Mind Map view
    7.  Shortcut keys
    8.  Java based
    9.  Knowledge Management
    10.  Minimap
    Discontinued

    Last version from 2016. See https://sourceforge.net/projects/freemind/files/

  11. DeepNotes icon
     32 likes

    DeepNotes is an open source, end-to-end encrypted visual note-taking app with deep page navigation and live collaboration. Create mind maps, diagrams, kanban boards, among others. Infinite nesting of infinite canvases.

    48 DeepNotes alternatives
    Family tree

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Diagram
    Kanban
    +5
    History

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Scrum Boards
    3.  Two-factor Authentication
    4. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    5.  Visual Pinboard
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Encrypted Backup
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
  12. Miro icon
     109 likes

    A scalable tool for real-time and asynchronous team collaboration across devices with an infinite canvas, suitable for strategy planning and real-time feedback.

    97 Miro alternatives
    Miro screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Miro screenshot 1
    Miro screenshot 2
    +5
    Miro screenshot 3

    Top Miro Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Interactive Whiteboard
    3.  Mind Map view
    4.  Shared whiteboard
    5.  Visual planning
    6.  Kanban Board
    7.  Online collaboration
    8.  AI-Powered
    9.  Brainstorming
    10.  UX Design
    11.  Visual-thinking
    12.  Concept Mapping
  13. Lucidchart icon
     534 likes

    Cloud-based tool for diagramming and collaboration, with 20M users globally, supports Visio import/export and features UML modeling and more.

    47 Lucidchart alternatives
    Lucidchart Templates and Examples: With hundreds of template examples to choose from, you can start diagramming in no time.

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Connect Lucidchart to all your favorite industry-leading apps.
    Import data seamlessly from your org charts (CSV), entity relationships (SQL), UML sequence markup, mindmaps, AWS architecture diagrams, and process diagrams (CSV). With our data linking capabilities, you can also import data from Google Sheets, Excel, and CSV.
    +6
    Import your existing diagrams from Microsoft Visio, Omnigraffle, Gliffy, and Draw.io!

    Top Lucidchart Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Flow Chart
    3.  Web-Based
    4.  Export to PDF
    5.  General-purpose diagramming
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Support for @mentions
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  AI-Powered
    10.  Charts
    11.  Scalable UI
    12.  Online collaboration
  14. Obsidian Canvas icon
     24 likes

    A plugin to make your canvas work like a mindmap.

    15 Obsidian Canvas alternatives
    Obsidian Canvas screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Visual Pinboard
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Hierarchical Structure
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  File Tagging
    8.  Infinite canvas
  15. TheBrain icon
     138 likes

    TheBrain helps you organize all your Web pages, contacts, documents, emails and files in a context-driven visual map.

    127 TheBrain alternatives
    TheBrain screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    TheBrain screenshot 1
    TheBrain screenshot 2
    +2
    TheBrain screenshot 3

    TheBrain Features

    1.  Visual timeline
    2.  Visual-thinking
    3.  Visual bookmarks
    4.  Brainstorming
    5.  Cloud Sync
    6.  Portable
    7.  Interactive map