Mind mapping software can make it easy to put together diagrams of ideas, workflows, actions, and more, helping you get a visual of your project plans. Sometimes it is hard to visualize how an idea will fit together, but with mind mapping software, you can get everything down and connect your concepts so that you can easily show everyone involved in the project how it works. In addition, mind mapping software often comes with collaborative tools so that you can work with your team more easily when it comes time to execute the project. There are a lot of options open for mind mapping software, so here we will look at the best software available.
Scapple
Scapple was developed by writers for writers. It is now one of the best mind mapping software options available, and it supports importing other files like PDFs, images, and text files.
You can initially create notes in small blocks to brain dump everything in your head and then begin piecing everything together. This is great for writers who have tons of ideas in their heads for their books, and they just need to get them out before figuring out how to use them.
Scapple is well known for being simple to master. However, it does not have some of the advanced features other software on this list has.
There is a free 30-day trial, and those 30 days only count for the days you use Scapple! The standard license is only $18 a month, and the educational license is $14.40 a month.
Mindomo
Mindomo is a mind mapping software that makes it easy for a team to collaborate on the go. It offers a variety of features to allow you to get creative with the look and design of the mind maps so that they can be tailored to your business with ease.
Mindomo has a free version that allows you to create up to three mind maps and publish, share, and collaborate on them.
The Premium version of Mindomo comes with a lot of extra features, including syncing your projects through the cloud so that they can be accessed on Android and iOS phones, and they can be backed up in Dropbox. In addition, you can export your mind maps into eight different formats, depending on what you need them for. Pricing for the Premium plan starts at $5.50 per month.
The Professional subscription adds on an option to have five guest users on your projects and 5GB of storage. Pricing starts at $13.50 per month.
There is also a Team version for more collaboration and a shared user interface. You get 15 GB of storage with this version, and its pricing starts at $16.50 per month, per user.
XMind
XMind has been operating since November 2008 and now has over one million users. XMind is focused mostly on enterprises, not so much on the individual users. This software makes it easy for you to make complicated maps and keep them organized. XMind needs to be installed on your computer, and it is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems.
You can create free accounts online to share your mind maps with others, which makes it easy to send your team your plans.
XMind has a simple, minimalist interface so you can create your mind maps easily, and it offers templates to make things even easier. It also comes with day and night modes, so you can dim your screen to protect your eyes.
Pricing plans for XMind start at $39.99 for a six-month plan and $59.99 for a year.
Bubbl.us
Bubbl.us is a cloud-based mind mapping software, and you can use it from any device that is connected to the internet. Bubbl.us is designed only for mind mapping, so no unnecessary features are getting in the way. Furthermore, since it is cloud-based, you do not have to download Bubbl.us. According to the website, its users include musicians, writers, teachers, artists, and people with dyslexia.
Bubbl.us comes with a free version that allows you to have three mind maps and some of the basic features. It also has a Premium version that starts at $4.91 a month, that unlocks unlimited mind maps, real-time collaboration, version history, and more. A Team subscription is also available for $59 per year per user. In addition, you get more collaboration features, an admin account, and more.
MindManager
MindManager is designed for business and is used by some big names like Proctor and Gamble. Since MindManager is mostly intended for enterprises, it can integrate with Microsoft Office so that you can connect it to Word documents and PowerPoint presentations related to your project. As a result, you can work together with your team in real-time.
MindManager does not give you all of the features at once; you are given time to get used to the software first. It also has some easy tutorials. The finished mind maps have a polished and professional look to them so that you can use them for formal presentations. You can use templates to build your mind maps, or you can make your own from scratch. You can even add algebraic calculations and other mathematical functions.
MindManager is not cheap; its price plans start at $411.82 for an organization. However, there is a free 30-day trial, so you can decide if you want to use it for your business before committing to the price.
ClickUp
ClickUp is considered to be one of the best project management software options available, and it includes mind mapping. You can use ClickUp to create beautiful mind maps that look professionally polished and share them with your team easily. You have the option of creating your own mind maps from scratch or using the templates included. You can also turn the different points on the map into tasks to share with your team to get them working on it right away.
ClickUp has a free version that includes 100MB of storage, unlimited tasks, unlimited members, and two-factor authentication. It also has an Unlimited version that is $5 per user per month. This comes with unlimited storage, guest users, portfolios, unlimited integrations, and more. There is a free trial available for the Unlimited version, so you can decide if you need all of the extra features before committing to purchasing it.
Blurb:
Many people turn to paper when creating a mind map because it seems easier than a computer. However, there are mind mapping software solutions out there that can make mind mapping easier for you.
In this article, we look at some of the best mind mapping software in 2021. We will highlight the significant features of each program and the pricing plans for them.