Best Mind Mapping Software 2019
This is a comparison of the top mind mapping tools on the market that are evaluated by defined criteria.
1. MindMeister
1.1. Technical Details
1.1.1. Web-based
1.1.1.1. Runs in any standard browser & on all operating systems
1.1.2. Free mobile apps for iOS and Android
1.2. Pros
1.2.1. Intuitive, simple and beautiful
1.2.2. Lets you collaborate with unlimited number of people in real-time
1.2.3. Many export options
1.2.3.1. Dynamic presentations
1.2.3.2. Agile project boards
1.2.3.3. Word documents
1.2.4. Great data security
1.3. Cons
1.3.1. No Gantt charts supported
1.3.2. No offline apps for desktop
1.3.2.1. Only for mobile
1.4. Pricing
1.4.1. Free plan
1.4.1.1. includes 3 mind maps
1.4.1.1.1. But: users can get up to 10 additional free maps by inviting friends to MindMeister
1.4.2. Paid plans
1.4.2.1. € 4.99 - 12.49 per user/month
1.4.2.2. Offers 50% discount for Education and NGOs
2. FreeMind
2.1. Technical Details
2.1.1. Java-based, open-source software
2.1.2. Not web-based > needs to be downloaded
2.1.3. Runs on almost any system with a Java runtime environment
2.2. Pros
2.2.1. Completely free
2.2.2. Very fast (faster than MindManager)
2.2.3. Works offline
2.3. Cons
2.3.1. Ugly interface and mind maps
2.3.2. No collaboration
2.3.3. No mobile apps
2.3.4. Only supports very basic features
2.4. Pricing
2.4.1. Free
3. Coggle
3.1. Technical Details
3.1.1. Web-based
3.1.2. Free mobile apps for iOS and Android
3.2. Pros
3.2.1. Lets you create flow charts
3.2.2. Supports sharing and collaboration
3.3. Cons
3.3.1. Only lets you sign in with Google account
3.4. Pricing
3.4.1. Free plan
3.4.1.1. includes 3 private mind maps
3.4.1.2. includes unlimited public mind maps
3.4.2. Paid plans
3.4.2.1. $ 5-8 per user/month
4. XMind
4.1. Technical Details
4.1.1. XMind: Zen is available for Win, Mac & Linux
4.1.2. XMind mobile runs on iOS and Android
4.2. Pros
4.2.1. Supports various diagram structures and combinations of different structures in one map
4.2.1.1. Matrix, Timeline, Fishbone etc.
4.2.2. Ability to create good-looking maps
4.3. Cons
4.3.1. No real-time collaboration
4.3.2. Company based in Hong Kong
4.3.2.1. Bad translation to EN
4.3.2.2. Security concerns?
4.3.3. Mobile version only works with paid subscription
4.4. Pricing
4.4.1. XMind: Zen
4.4.1.1. $27.99 per 6 months
4.4.1.2. Edu discount available
4.4.2. XMind mobile
4.4.2.1. $9.99 per 6 months
4.4.3. XMind 8 Pro
4.4.3.1. $129
4.4.3.1.1. Lifelong use
5. Mindomo
5.1. Technical Details
5.1.1. Desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, but also offers online account for collaboration and sharing
5.1.2. Free mobile apps for iOS and Android
5.1.3. Strongly focused on education market
5.2. Pros
5.2.1. Integrations with the most popular LMSs
5.2.2. Supports real-time collaboration
5.3. Cons
5.3.1. Cloud sync is only available to subscribers and feels buggy
5.3.2. UI is not very intuitive
5.4. Pricing
5.4.1. Freemium
5.4.2. Free plan
5.4.2.1. includes 3 mind maps
5.4.3. Paid plans
5.4.3.1. €36 - 142 per 6 months
5.4.4. Education discount available
6. MindMup
6.1. Technical Details
6.1.1. Web-based
6.1.2. No mobile apps available
6.2. Pros
6.2.1. Multiple root topics possible
6.2.2. Lets you create maps without creating an account
6.3. Cons
6.3.1. Rudimentary feature set
6.3.2. Maps are not very good looking
6.3.3. Real-time collaboration only available for paid users
6.3.4. Free maps are always public, cannot be deleted and are only stored for 6 months
6.3.5. Login with Google or O365 only available for Organisational Gold
6.4. Pricing
6.4.1. Free plan
6.4.1.1. Create unlimited public maps
6.4.1.2. Store and publish maps of up to 100KB for up to 6 months
6.4.2. Personal Gold
6.4.2.1. $2.99 per month
6.4.2.2. Adds real-time collaboration
6.4.3. Organisational Gold
6.4.3.1. $100 per year
6.4.3.2. Unlimited number of users
7. Mindjet MindManager
7.1. Technical Details
7.1.1. Separate desktop apps for Win and Mac available
7.1.2. 'Mindjet Maps' apps available for iOS and Android
7.1.3. Maps can be shared via Mindjet Files - this enables collaboration between users
7.2. Pros
7.2.1. Offers advanced task and project management features
7.2.2. Offers many features important for large enterprises
7.3. Cons
7.3.1. Complicated interface
7.3.2. Maps look professional but ugly
7.3.3. Maps can only be shared with people who have also bought the software
7.3.3.1. And the software is expensive to buy
7.4. Pricing
7.4.1. MindManager for Windows: €349
7.4.2. MindManager for Mac: €179
7.4.3. Special prices for enterprises, NGOs and educational institutions
8. Bubbl.us
8.1. Technical Details
8.1.1. Web-based app that runs on all platforms (including mobile)
8.2. Pros
8.2.1. Lets you create (but not save) a map without creating an account
8.2.2. Runs on all platforms
8.3. Cons
8.3.1. No native apps available
8.3.1.1. No offline mode
8.3.1.2. Can only work in browser, even on mobile
8.3.2. Editor is very unintuitive
8.3.3. Only offers very basic features
8.3.4. Only USD prices and only credit cards accepted
8.3.4.1. No PayPal, no purchase orders etc.
8.4. Pricing
8.4.1. Free plan
8.4.1.1. includes 3 maps
8.4.2. Premium plan
8.4.2.1. $4.91 per month
8.4.3. 50% discount for NGOs and educational institutions
9. iMindMap
9.1. Technical Details
9.1.1. Desktop software that runs on Mac and Windows
9.1.2. Mobile apps only available for iOS
9.2. Pros
9.2.1. Offers different layouts like radial maps, org charts, Gantt charts, flow charts and a simple white board
9.3. Cons
9.3.1. Maps look almost too artsy, too childish
9.3.2. Doesn't let you collaborate on maps with other users in real-time
9.4. Pricing
9.4.1. Home & Student
9.4.1.1. €80
9.4.1.2. Install on one computer, basic mind map features
9.4.2. Ultimate
9.4.2.1. €190
9.4.2.2. Install on 2 computers, adds more formats and features
9.4.3. Ultimate Plus
9.4.3.1. €250
9.4.3.2. Adds 6 months of DropTask & a book by Tony Buzan
10. MindNode
10.1. Technical Details
10.1.1. Native apps for Mac and iOS
10.1.2. Interactive maps can be shared via MyMindNode
10.2. Pros
10.2.1. Simple, clean interface
10.2.2. Offers outline view
10.2.3. Works well on mobile devices
10.3. Cons
10.3.1. Very basic feature set
10.3.2. No real-time collaboration
10.3.3. No apps for Windows and Android
10.3.4. Every time an app update is released, you have to pay for the upgrade
10.4. Pricing
10.4.1. Mac app: €43.99
10.4.2. iOS app: €14.99
11. SimpleMind
11.1. Technical Details
11.1.1. Native apps for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android
11.1.2. Maps can be synced across platforms via Dropbox or Google Drive
11.2. Pros
11.2.1. Multiple maps on one page
11.2.2. Different map layouts
11.3. Cons
11.3.1. No free versions available of desktop apps
11.3.2. Very basic feature set
11.3.3. No real-time collaboration on maps
11.4. Pricing
11.4.1. Windows or Mac app: €24.99 per user
11.4.2. Site license (unlimited users on one site): €449
12. Criteria for Best Mind Mapping Software
12.1. Intuitiveness
12.1.1. Ease of use