There are plenty of guides out there to help you get started with mind mapping. However, today we will be going through a list of the best mind mapping software out there, be it on windows or apple.

Contents [hide]

• Why Use Mind Mapping Software
• What Should You Look For in Mind Mapping Software?
  • Ease of use
  • Customizability
  • Cost
• The Best Mind Mapping Apps and Software for Microsoft Windows
  • #1 Taskade
    • Mind mapping with Taskade
    • Taskade Select Features 🌟
    • Taskade Pricing 💸
  • #2 ClickUp
  • #3 Miro
  • #4 Ayoa
  • #5 MindMeister
  • #6 Lucidchart
• The Best Mind Mapping Apps and Software for Mac
  • #1 Taskade
  • #2 Mindnode
  • #3 Mindomo
  • #4 Scapple
  • #5 XMind
  • #6 MindManager
• Frequently Asked Questions About Mind Mapping Software for Windows and Mac

Why Use Mind Mapping Software

Mind mapping is a way of thinking that helps you to organize your information visually. Today, there are plenty of mind mapping software that can help you to create digital mind maps. By using them, you will be able to visualize your ideas and organize your information on a mind map. 

Traditionally, mind maps would be drawn by hand using pen and paper. Technological advancements in the 21st century have eventually led us to a point where we can create mind maps digitally. 

Arguably, nothing beats the feeling and customizability that a hand-drawn mind map gives you. The best mind mapping software would be tools that closely replicate the feeling of mind mapping with pen and paper. 

What exactly should you look out for if you're in the market for mind mapping software?

What Should You Look For in Mind Mapping Software?

There's no shortage of mind-mapping software out there. We think that the perfect mind mapping tool comes down to 3 things which are: ease of use, customizability, and cost.

Ease of use

It's easy to load an app with features. However, how many features is exactly one too many? The optimum mind mapping tool should be relatively simple for you to use and require minimal onboarding.

If the tool feels like it's too complicated for you then you should probably give it a pass. There's no point in spending more time learning to use a tool than actually being productive with it.

Customizability

The perfect mind mapping software should mimic or closely resemble the feeling of mind mapping by hand. You should be able to use it the way that you want to, with the ability to highlight key points and create branches from your focal topic. 

It's even better if you can effortlessly switch between views. Taskade allows you to effortlessly do this, giving you the ability to switch between outlining information or taking structured notes with the list view and getting a bigger picture of things via a mind map view.

At the end of the day, the mind mapping tool that you choose should be customizable enough to allow you to be creative.

Cost

Taskade offers you the ability to create beautiful mind maps and more, all for free. Regardless if you're a seasoned mind mapper or a newbie, Taskade has plenty of features available to help you be more productive. Why pay for a mind mapping tool when you can get it for free?

The Best Mind Mapping Apps and Software for Microsoft Windows

Now, let's dive in and take a look at the best mind mapping software for Microsoft Windows users.

#1 Taskade

Taskade is an online productivity and collaboration tool that was founded by John Xie, Dionis Loire, and Stan Chang in 2017. The Y Combinator-backed startup aims to help remote teams and individuals get work done faster and smarter.

Taskade is where remote teams get work done. With Taskade, you can chat, plan, manage projects, assign tasks, and---wait for it---create beautiful mind maps!

You can use Taskade's mind mapping component to engage in non-linear, out-of-the-box thinking, accentuate connections between ideas, deal with information overload, and organize knowledge in a simple and effective way.

Everything you do in Taskade is stored in a hierarchical tree-structured database. And that means every project, be it a mind map, kanban board, outline, or an ordinary list, can be reshaped and transformed according to your needs.

Two (or more) heads are better than one! Mind maps in Taskade are wired for collaboration. You and your team can work and chat in the same window, without having to patch several apps together. Taskade is a complete creative stack!

Mind mapping with Taskade

Taskade offers a structured approach when it comes to mind mapping. Outline your notes and map information out in a writing tool and switch back and forth between an outliner and a mind map to help you digest information better.

Why Taskade Replaces ALL Other Productivity Apps!

Taskade Select Features 🌟

• Project Views. Visualize your projects in several different ways. Cycle between the List, Mind Map, Org Chart, and Board views to work the way you want. 
  • List View. This is the default view on Taskade. Create new lists here.
  • Board View. This view lets you work horizontally like a Kanban board. Visualize your workflow and tasks in this full-width view.
  • Mind Map View. This view lets you work in a horizontal tree-structured manner and map out what you have in mind.
  • Action View. Work in table view and stay organized with your task due dates, and more.
  • Org Chart View. Break down larger tasks into smaller ones to help you get things done.

• Zoom In, Zoom Out. Get a bird's-eye view of the workflow by zooming out on all project views, or zoom in to focus on a specific area.
• Fold/Unfold. Fold (collapse) a parent task/bullet element to hide its subtasks. Indent outline elements with ⌨️ Tab and unfold lists with ⌨️ Shift+Tab.
• Real-time Communication. Chat and video conference with your team while collaborating in real-time on the same page. 
• 500+ Templates. Choose from 500+ templates across 26 categories to improve your productivity and workflows. Customize existing templates or create new ones across your workspaces.
• Multi-Select. Select and format multiple blocks or bulk assign them as tasks to other team members. Additionally, you can also copy, paste, or indent selected blocks.

• Customize Sub-Tasks. Customize the format of your sub-tasks at individual levels. Choose from headings, numbered lists, shapes, and more.
• Recurring Tasks. Add due dates with start and end times to tasks within your project and set them to repeat daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly.
• Move Tasks. Move and copy selected tasks to other projects across any workspace. You'll receive a pop-up notification on completion.
• User Roles & Permissions. Manage collaborators and assign user roles/editing privileges (Owner, Admin, Editor, Checker, Viewer).

• Sort Tasks. Sort sub-tasks/children elements by completed/uncompleted stats or the due date. Task sorting can be accessed from a convenient pop-up menu.
• Search. Search within projects or globally across workspaces and subspaces. Instantly browse and jump between projects anywhere in the Taskade.
• Keyboard Shortcuts. Navigate projects, create content blocks, reorder elements, and complete tasks using a set of handy keyboard shortcuts.

• Team Calendar. Aggregate all tasks and projects in a shared calendar. The Taskade calendar integrates with Google (two-way), Apple, and Outlook. 
• Reorder Tasks. Lists in Taskade aren't set in stone. Reorder tasks and find them a new home with intuitive drag-and-drop mechanics.
• Project History. See all the changes made by you and other collaborators. Click on the entries to navigate to the edited items within the project.
• Version History. Taskade saves snapshots of your project so that you can restore a previous version of your project with a single click.

• Export and Print. You can export your projects as plain text or markdown files. Attach them to emails, presentations, or for print.

• Cloud File Upload. Share files directly from Google Drive, Dropbox, Instagram, and Box in your projects with our integrations.
• Breakdown Larger Tasks. Organize your thoughts with Taskade's unlimited hierarchy to break down large projects into tasks.
• Quick Search. Use CMD / CTRL + K to jump between any projects within Taskade web and apps.

For an exhaustive list of Taskade's features, click here.

Taskade Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free (forever!)
  • Unlimited mind maps, projects, collaborators, and guest users
  • 500MB of storage for files and projects (up to 25MB per file)
  • Chat, calls, video conferencing, and screen sharing
  • Real-time syncing across web, desktop, and mobile
  • Backgrounds, dark mode, and customization
  • Push notification, project history, and activity feed
  • Cross-linking, mind map sharing, and task management
  • 500 + quality templates across 26 categories
  • Mind maps, org charts, kanban boards, and lists
  • Export/print mind maps as images
• 🔵 Unlimited ($5/month per user billed annually)
  • Everything in the Free plan +
  • Unlimited storage (up to 250MB per file)
  • Sorting options, recurring tasks, and bulk assign
  • Upload custom logos and workspace backgrounds
  • Priority support and custom onboarding
  • Email, Dropbox, Google Drive, and One Drive integrations
  • Advanced reporting, permissions, and revision history
  • SAML, 2FA, and Single Sign-On (SSO)

#2 ClickUp

ClickUp is a unified project management and productivity platform that combines to-do lists, wikis, spreadsheets, a CRM, and team communication. On ClickUp, you can build mind maps from scratch or visualize existing workflows in a mind map view.

ClickUp Select Features 🌟 

• To-do list and task management
• Mind map search and filtering options
• Several project views/workflows
• Communication, chat, and direct emails
• Calendar, reminders, and scheduling
• Goal and progress tracking
• Screen recording and sharing

See how ClickUp compares to Taskade (click). 👈

ClickUp Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free
  • 100MB for file storage
  • 5 spaces and 100 views
  • Two-factor authentication
  • 50+ integrations and time tracking
  • Real-time collaboration
  • 100 automations/month
• 🔵 Unlimited ($5/month per user billed annually)
  • Everything in the Free plan +
  • Unlimited storage, tasks, views, and spaces
  • Guest accounts and editing permissions
  • 7-day activity view
  • Time tracking and additional views
  • 1,000 automations/month
• 🟣 Business ($9/month per user billed annually)
  • Everything in the Unlimited plan +
  • Branding & customization
  • 10,000 automations/month
  • Mind mapping and unlimited activity view
  • Google Single Sign-On (SSO)
• 🟡 Enterprise (custom)
  • Everything in the Business plan +
  • More Single Sign-On (SSO) options
  • Custom roles and permissions
  • Priority support and onboarding

#3 Miro

Miro is a collaborative digital whiteboard with mind-mapping capabilities. The platform comes with a complete set of collaboration features like video chat, screen sharing, real-time editing, and more. Miro is a solid match for all kinds of creative projects.

Miro Select Features 🌟

• Customizable templates & frameworks
• Infinite canvas for unlimited design space
• Screen sharing and presentation features
• Visual cues like sticky notes, shapes, arrows, and more
• Integrations with Google Drive, Zapier, and others
• Real-time collaboration features
• Video conferencing, chat, and comments
• High-resolution mind map export

See how Miro compares to Taskade. 👈

Miro Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free 
  • Unlimited team members
  • 3 active editable boards
  • Access to premade templates
  • A set of core integrations
• 🔵 Team ($8/month per user billed annually)
  • Everything in the Free plan  +
  • Unlimited boards and editors
  • Video chat, meeting timer, and voting
  • High-resolution mind map exports
  • Access to custom templates
  • Additional integrations
• 🟣 Business ($16/month per user billed annually)
  • Everything in the Team plan  +
  • Single Sign-On (SSO)
  • Adding external editors
• 🟡 Enterprise (custom pricing)
  • Everything in the Business plan  +
  • Multi-team management features
  • Data governance and advanced security
  • Personalized onboarding and premium support
• 🟤 Consultant ($12/month per user billed annually)
  • Everything in the Team plan  +
  • Private workspaces for clients
  • Control accesses

#4 Ayoa

Ayoa is a visual-first online workspace and mind mapping software for teams and individuals. The app offers a user-friendly UI, collaboration features, and several visual workflows, including mind maps, radial maps, boards, and flowcharts.

Ayoa Select Features 🌟

• A range of mind mapping templates
• Video chat and instant messaging
• Public mind map sharing
• Sync via Google, Evernote, and Dropbox
• Calendar and progress tracking
• Multi-device sync for desktop and mobile
• Due dates and filtering options

Ayoa Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free/Basic
  • 5 boards/50 elements per board
  • Real-time collaboration and chat
  • Personal planner and whiteboards
• 🔵 Pro ($10/month per user annually)
  • Everything in the Basic plan +
  • Unlimited boards and elements
  • File storage (20MB per file)
  • Gantt timeline view
  • Task assignment, tags, and filters
  • Priority support
• 🟣 Ultimate ($13/month per user annually)
  • Everything in the Pro plan +
  • File storage (60MB per file)
  • Team pulse/live share
  • User groups and Zoom integration

#5 MindMeister

MindMeister is web-based visual ideation and mind mapping software. The app helps with planning projects, managing knowledge, brainstorming ideas, taking notes, and running meetings. What's more, MindMeister also has a built-in collaboration component for teams.

Features of MindMeister 🌟

• Chat, commenting, and voting 
• Change history, sharing, and sync
• Presentation mode and embed
• A library of mind map templates
• Customization and formatting options
• File upload (images, videos, documents)
• Import & export functionality

MindMeister Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free/Basic

  • Create up to 3 mind maps
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Email customer support

• 🔵 Personal ($4.99/month)

  • Everything in the Basic plan +
  • Create unlimited mind maps
  • File upload and attachments
  • Mind map export and printing

• 🟣 Pro ($8.25/month)

  • Everything in the Personal plan +
  • Word and PowerPoint export
  • Admin account and multiple collaborators
  • GSuite domain and sign-on
  • Custom styles and themes

• 🟡 Business ($12.45/month)

  • Everything in the Pro plan +
  • Team groups and custom team domain
  • Compliance export and backups
  • Multiple administrators
  • Priority support

#6 Lucidchart

LucidChart is an "intelligent diagramming" tool for teams and individuals. The app lets you tackle work using diagrams, charts, mind maps, and other visual formats, ultimately helping you to better organize your information.

Features of LucidChart🌟 

• Shapes for visual mapping
• Drag-and-drop navigation
• Keyboard shortcuts 
• Integrations GSuite and others
• Real-time, collaborative editing
• Chat and commenting features
• Pre-made templates

LucidChart Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free
  • Up to 3 editable documents
  • 100 pre-made templates
  • Basic collaboration features
  • Basic integration services
• 🔵 Individual (starting at $7.95)
  • Everything in the Free plan +
  • Unlimited editable documents
  • 1000 + pre-made templates
• 🟣 Team (starting at $9.00 per user)
  • Everything in the Individual plan  +
  • Advanced collaboration features
  • Chat, comment, and revision history
  • Password-protected sharing
  • Advanced integrations
• 🟡 Enterprise (custom)
  • Everything in the Team plan  +
  • Advanced data and automation
  • Single Sign-On (SSO

The Best Mind Mapping Apps and Software for Mac

If you're an Apple user, fret not! Here are some of the best mind mapping tools for you to use on Apple.

#1 Taskade

Good news, Taskade is available on Mac as well! Download Taskade for your Mac today and increase your productivity. Seamlessly toggle between list and mind map project views to outline and digest information.

#2 Mindnode

MindNode lets you create mind maps, brainstorm ideas, and solve problems visually. A user-friendly UI, customization options, and distraction-free mode make for a compelling mind mapping software candidate. Mind map alone or in a team.

MindNode Select Features 🌟

• Task management features
• Side-by-side outlining
• Stickers, themes, and visual tags
• Distraction-free and dark mode
• Multiformat mind map export
• Quick Entry widgets
• Customizable themes
• Synchronization via iCloud

MindNode Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free Editor
  • Create and edit nodes
  • Fold and reorganize
  • Import and export 
  • Apple Watch support
• 🔵 MindNode Plus ($2.49/month or $19.99/year)
  • Everything in the Free plan +
  • Outlining, visual tags, and Focus Mode
  • Quick entry and multiple layout options
  • Images, stickers, themes, and styling

#3 Mindomo

Mindomo is a dedicated mind mapping software for work, education, and personal use. The app helps with brainstorming ideas, organizing information, and managing projects and is a solid choice for businesses, teachers, and academics.

Mindomo Select Features 🌟

• Support for hyperlinks and attachments
• Upload videos, icons, documents, and images
• Printing and presentation mode
• Undo/redo and keyboard shortcuts
• Import and export features
• A catalog of templates and layouts

Mindomo Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free
  • Up to 3 mind maps
  • Sharing and publishing
  • Collaboration features
• 🔵 Premium ($5.5/month, one user)
  • Cloud, mobile, and desktop access
  • Unlimited mind maps, outlines, and charts
  • Business mind map templates 
  • Mind map printing and export
  • File uploads and attachments
  • Password protection
• 🟣 Professional ($13.5/month, one user + guests)
  • Everything in the Premium plan +
  • Invite up to 5 guests with editing privileges
  • Mind map sharing with all features
  • Google, Dropbox, and OneDrive backup
  • 12 mind map export formats
• 🟡 Team ($16.6/month per user)
  • Everything in the Professional plan  +
  • 3+ team members
  • Admin interface
  • Shared team folder

#4 Scapple

Scapple is an artsy take on mind mapping from the creators of Scrivener. The idea behind scapple is simple: to recreate the feel of pen & paper note-taking and organize thoughts in a visual way. It's a good choice for planning, ideation, and note-taking.

Scapple Select Features 🌟

• Freeform drag-and-drop mind mapping
• Stacking and grouping notes
• Customizable visuals
• Export and print features 
• Synchronization with Scrivener
• Drag-and-drop file import

Scapple Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Standard license ($18 one-time purchase)
  • Free 30-day trial (all features)
  • Educational license for $14
  • Works on Mac and Windows

#5 XMind

XMind is a dedicated mind mapping tool. It packs essential mind-mapping features like folding/unfolding branches, free-positioning, color coding, hyperlinking, stickers, icons, and more. XMind lets you mind map solo or collaborate with others.

XMind Select Features 🌟

• Color themes and custom graphics
• Outlining, distraction-free mode, and dark UI
• Projects views including a timeline and an org chart
• Import/export functionality
• Sync across desktop and mobile devices

See how XMind compares to Taskade (click). 👈

XMind Pricing 💸

• 🟢 Free Trial
  • For personal use
  • Limited to 2 devices (Mac, PC)
  • Most features included in the Full version
  • Export images and PDFs are watermarked
• 🔵 Full Version ($39.99/6 months or $59.99/year)
  • All Trial features +
  • 5 desktop (Mac, PC) + 5 mobile devices (iOS, Android)
  • Filter and show branch only
  • Password-protected mind maps
  • Insert links, attachments, audio, and images
  • Access to customizable themes
  • More export options
  • For commercial use

#6 MindManager

MindManager is mind mapping software cut out for the corporate world. The platform offers a professional set of brainstorming, data visualization, and problem-solving tools. The MindManager app comes in several flavors depending on your needs.

MindManager Select Features 🌟

• Project cost tracking
• Mobile mind map preview
• iCloud synchronization
• Flowchart and Gantt workflows
• Task management and tracking
• 25+ pre-made templates 
• Sharing and online publishing

MindManager Pricing 💸

• 🟢 $169 annual plan
• 🔵 $349 one-time purchase

Frequently Asked Questions About Mind Mapping Software for Windows and Mac

How do I make a mind map in Windows?

You can make a mind map in Windows by using a mind mapping software such as Taskade. Try Taskade for free today.

How do I make a mind map on Mac?

You can use a mind mapping software such as Taskade to help you create mind maps for free.

How can I create easy mind maps?

Taskade offers a wide range of mind map templates for free. Simply select a template and click 'use template' to get started!

How can I collaborate on mind maps?

Simply use Taskade's ready-made mind map brainstorming template to start brainstorming ideas with your team!