Free Mind Mapping Software
Which mind mapping tools a startup can map ideas, plans and product roadmaps with for free today, how many maps and exports the free plan allows, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs, read from each provider's own page.
Free allowances read on each provider's own pages, all checked on or after . Mind mapping tools change their free plans from time to time: confirm the terms on the provider's page before you rely on it.
Mind mapping tools a startup can use for free today include Coggle (Free forever, 3 private diagrams), WiseMapping (100% free, no restrictions), XMind (Free plan: 10 online maps), Freeplane (Free and open source), and GitMind (Basic plan: free, 10 mind maps). Each of the 11 free plans below links to the provider's page that states it, with its main limit, its map limits, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs.
A mind map turns a messy brainstorm, a product plan or a pitch outline into a structure the whole team can follow. Most mind mapping apps have a free plan, and open-source mind mapping software is free with no limits.
The headline rarely tells you how far it goes. Free plans cap the number of maps, private maps or exports, and keep AI features and attachments for paid plans. Each tool below shows what is free, its main limit, its map and export limits, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs, quoted from the provider's own page with the date we read it.
Which tools we picked and the order they appear in are our editorial choices; the terms are the providers'. Some of these providers pay us a referral commission when someone signs up through our link: those links are labeled, and they play no part in which tools are listed or where.
Mind mapping apps with a free plan
Map ideas in the browser or on your phone, free to start.
- 1
Coggle
Mind maps shared by link, with 3 kept private
Coggle's free plan has 3 private diagrams and unlimited public ones, and it is free forever. The Awesome plan is $5 a month.
- Main limit
- 3 private diagrams (source: coggle.it)
- Maps and exports
- Unlimited public diagrams (source: coggle.it)
- First paid plan
- Awesome: $5 a month (source: coggle.it)
- 2
XMind
Individuals who keep a few maps online
XMind's free plan allows 10 online maps and PNG export of one map at a time, with 50 AI credits to try. Pro starts at US$4.92 a month.
- Main limit
- 50 AI credits to try (source: xmind.app)
- Maps and exports
- 10 maps; one map exported at a time (source: xmind.app)
- First paid plan
- Pro: $4.92 a month (source: xmind.app)
- 3
GitMind
Light mapping, up to 10 mind maps
GitMind's Basic plan is free for up to 10 mind maps, with regular-format export. The monthly plan is $9 a month.
- Maps and exports
- Regular-format export only (source: gitmind.com)
- First paid plan
- Monthly: $9 a month (source: gitmind.com)
- 4
Ayoa
Basic mind mapping for one person
Ayoa's free plan keeps up to 10 mind maps, with no AI features. Ayoa Ultimate is $13 a user a month when billed annually.
- Maps and exports
- 10 mind maps; whiteboards view-only (source: ayoa.com)
- 5
Mindomo
Beginners who map in a few diagrams
Mindomo's free plan allows 3 diagrams and includes one AI credit to test. Premium is $7 to $8.5 a month.
- Maps and exports
- Up to 3 diagrams (source: mindomo.com)
- First paid plan
- Premium: $7 to $8.5 a month (source: mindomo.com)
- 6
MindMeister
Teams trying out shared mind maps
MindMeister's free plan includes 3 mind maps, with 2 attachments per map. Its paid plans are priced in euros, so no dollar price is listed.
- Maps and exports
- Up to 3 mind maps (source: mindmeister.com)
Start free at MindMeisterTerms read on mindmeister.com on MindMeister: the free allowance and how to start - 7
MindNode
Apple users who want a free mind map app
MindNode is free to use, and it upgrades to Plus for outlining, themes and collaboration. Plus is $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year.
- First paid plan
- Plus: $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year (source: mindnode.com)
- 8
Mapify
Turning a few PDFs or videos into mind maps
Mapify gives 30 AI credits once, with no credit card needed. Its Basic plan is US$5.99 a month billed yearly.
- What's free
- 30 AI credits, one-time (source: mapify.so)
- Payment card
- No credit card needed (source: mapify.so)
- First paid plan
- Basic: $5.99 a month, billed yearly (source: mapify.so)
Open-source mind mapping software
Download a full mind mapping app, free.
- 1
WiseMapping
Teams that want unlimited maps, or to self-host
WiseMapping is free without any restrictions, and it says its maps are truly unlimited forever. It also has a desktop app that works offline.
- Maps and exports
- Unlimited maps, forever (source: wisemapping.com)
Start free at WiseMappingTerms read on wisemapping.com on WiseMapping: the free allowance and how to start - 2
Freeplane
Desktop mind maps on your own computer, with Java
Freeplane is free and open source, and it runs on any operating system that has a current version of Java installed.
- What's free
- Free and open source (source: freeplane.org)
Start free at FreeplaneTerms read on freeplane.org on Freeplane: the free allowance and how to start - 3
Markmap
Turning Markdown notes into a mind map
Markmap is released under the MIT license, which permits use free of charge.
Also useful for founders
Referral links, picked for fit and ordered by fit (70%) and what a signup earns us (30%), at no cost to you. They never change this page's ranking.
Compare the top options
How this comparison is built
The list covers mind mapping software a founder can use for free today without applying to a program. The order and the "best for" notes are our editorial reading of each tool's terms. Every term comes from the tool's own pricing or help page on the date shown, never from a third-party list; follow each link for the full conditions. A cap on mind maps, exports or collaborators, AI features kept for paid plans, a watermark on exports can matter more than the headline, so the comparison quotes them wherever the provider states them. Some of these tools pay StartupPerks a referral commission, and their links are labeled as referral links; that decides neither whether nor where a tool appears, and no tool pays for a placement on this page.
Read the full methodologyCommon questions
What is the best free mind mapping software?
By the terms each provider states, XMind's free plan allows 10 online maps, GitMind and Ayoa 10 mind maps, Coggle 3 private diagrams with unlimited public ones, and WiseMapping is 100% free with unlimited maps.
Is XMind free?
XMind's free plan includes 10 online maps and 50 AI credits to try, exporting one map at a time. Pro is $4.92 a month.
Is MindMeister free?
MindMeister's free plan includes up to 3 mind maps, with 2 attachments per map.
Is there open-source mind mapping software?
Yes. Freeplane is a free and open-source desktop app that needs Java, Markmap is free and open source under the MIT license, and WiseMapping is 100% free with unlimited maps.
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