Top 10 mind mapping tools
Mind maps - also known as concept maps - are visual diagrams used to represent ideas and tasks relating to a given topic. They come in especially handy when you need to generate and manage ideas for a work project, because having a visual representation of all available concepts helps you organize the necessary workflow in a more optimized way.
There are several ways to create mind maps, being the most traditional one a notebook and a pencil. White boards are also quite popular, mainly in companies and other working environments. But in a software-ruled world like ours, we prefer to pay attention to software and web tools that can help you create and handle those mind maps in a comfortable, practical way. Check out this list with the best mind mapping software apps out there.
- MindManager - capture ideas from several sources and create mind maps with them
- MindGenius - easy, intuitive mindmapping tool for everyone
- FreeMind - a mind map tool based on Java
- MindPad - create colorful, complete mind maps
- Visual Mind - mind map tool with a flexible graphic interface
- NovaMind - conduct brainstorming sessions and create mindmaps with their outcome
- CMapTools - free mindmapping tool with exporting capabilities
- Cayra - an open-source mind map program with basic functionalities
- ConceptDrawMindmap - professional tool to create concept maps
- Mindomo - online mind map tool in two flavors: Basic (free) and Premium ($6/month)
Posted at 5:41 pm on Jun 17th
you missed a new mind mapping software MindVisualizer, for windows only, very fast and full featured.
Posted at 7:56 am on Jun 18th
Thanks for the suggestion, Edwin. I’ll try that one out as well.
Posted at 9:56 am on Jun 19th
I like the mindmap at the head of your post. Which software did that? Looks like a good one for encouraging students, with an attractive presentation.
You might like to know that there’s a comprehensive list of all mind mapping and concept mapping software at the link in my sig. There are about 117 currently-available programs.
You mention Mindomo as an online mind mapping tool. When I last checked, that was the most expensive of the web-based mind mapping applications. Here’s a link to four pages of information about these - many are completely free, not just for the basic account:
http://www.mind-mapping.org/web-based-mindmappers/graphical.html The one that’s ahead of the crowd, in my observation is MindMeister. It’s not free, but the subscription is $4/mth, so it costs less than Mindomo has off-line functionality as well as on-line, and can export to FreeMind, which Mindomo doesn’t.
My favourite for an elegant and simple user interface design is Bubbl.us and that is completely free.
Vic
http://www.mind-mapping.org
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software
Posted at 7:21 pm on Jun 20th
You are missing an awesome tool on your list. http://www.TheBrain.com, is by far the best mind-mapping software! I love it. TheBrain.com not only lets me map my thoughts, but I can associate my files, web pages and applications with it. It’s all linked the way I think! Here’s a review on this awesome tool http://www.shermanlive.com/2007/10/11/mindmap-software-review-ep14-sl20071010/.
Posted at 10:24 am on Jun 25th
[…] clipped from en.onsoftware.com […]
Posted at 1:51 am on Jun 28th
[…] clipped from en.onsoftware.com […]
Posted at 2:16 pm on Aug 2nd
I think it is telling and disturbing that most of these developers don’t even bother to show screencaptures of their visual solutions! At least to me it is a ‘visual solution’. Maybe conceptual folks see the problem as conceptual. I think I am more interested in a visual solution by a visual developer with solid programming back end rather than by programmers who begrudgingly visualize their product and website … But for a scattered person like me this is all a great idea.
Posted at 1:07 pm on Dec 29th
You forgot Buzan’s iMindMap. In my opinion that is the best - the most organic software. I find the others all ugly. They just seem like spider diagrams to me.
But I think iMindMap is badly priced.
Posted at 5:59 pm on May 16th
[…] [upmod] [downmod] Top 10 mind mapping tools - OnSoftware (en.onsoftware.com) 1 points posted 11 months ago by SixSixSix tags imported tools saved by […]