17 Best Mind Mapping App for IT & Non-IT Businesses
Although there is a spike in Google Trends for Best Mind Mapping App , I haven’t really seen the on the internet — that is just my observation. It does not imply that mind mapping app is not in demand. It’s just that some companies and individuals are still oblivious to their use. Instead, people rely on directly jumping on to plan to initiate, executing, and deployment without giving the “brainstorming” element any thought.
Mind mapping makes brainstorming easier . It is like having your own “world’, a workspace where there are no constraints. All you have to do is visualize stuff, scribble down ideas, create flowcharts and do whatever it is necessary to set the cart in gear. Besides, mind maps are cool. You can understand the project’s underlying strategy long before it has even started.
I Don’t Know What a Mind Mapping App Is…
Mind mapping app is the revamped version of your old school whiteboard diagrams. Remember those days when you or a group of workers wanted to start a project? They would huddle around the whiteboard, create images and vice versa. Everyone would pitch in with their idea – except that it would be in the form of “mind maps”, block diagrams and other elements.
In that realm, developers took the same concept and applied them to a bunch of workable programs. These programs are known as mind mapping app. As of right now, the internet is brimming with tons of mind mapping app. In fact, “brimming” is a literal word descriptor because every few months, some nomad company releases something new.
These new companies do a standoff of so-called best mind mapping app at their official blog. Their only intent is to promote their own product or do an SEO roundup for getting organic traffic from the search engine.
That is okay; in understanding the need to promote rankings. But when there is an abundance of such mind mapping tools without any elaboration on how they work, how are they useful and what exactly does a mind mapping app do, it turns into a steaming pile of bull pizzle.
As a matter of fact, mind mapping phenomenon is so important that I think it should come before you write down a work statement at the start of a project. Some people call it a statement of intent, but it serves the same purpose when we look at it from the perspective of project management.
This theory also begs for another question to be answered. And that would be the actual application of mind mapping tools in project management. Such programs are not a necessity, but they are a “means to an end.” Not using a mind map won’t have any drastic effects on how your project finishes up in the long run. Or perhaps, it may have. Maybe you made a mistake during the planning phase and missed a few important elements that only a mind mapper could have lent.
On that note, this is a double-edged sword.
Coming back to why or why not a mind mapping app is essential to project management, it is all about perspective. Besides, technology is changing. Many companies and businesses shut down because they don’t innovate.
Others survive because they use modern technology; abide by whatever latest trends going on outside the organization and follow the rule of improvisation. Mind mapping is the same thing. I would say that it is a relatively “new” concept, and has a lot of potential on how your project could finish eventually.
From simple brainstorming to complex blocks visualization, a good mind mapping app has it all laid down. It eventually depends on your standard of what exactly defines the “best mind mapping app in 2022 and beyond.”
Since I am an Agile project manager at UDN Task Manager , I can say from a cursory analysis that the following features should be in a mind mapping app. On the issue of what makes it the “best” tool is a matter of choice, budget and actual client requirements vs. a number of features in the mind map software.
Some of the common/ essential features of a mind mapping app are appended below.
Canvases are your work boards where you shape your rough ideas. Some mind mapping software companies offer unlimited canvases. There could be size limitations but the unlimited canvas is a great way of kicking off some mind maps simultaneously.
Almost every mind mapping software comes with the ability to upload files. It is a basic level integration that you should look for when buying such a program for regular use. Some programs that lean extensively on the visual cue side, they allow for uploading and attaching image files. Others allow users to add text overlays through plain text files. It depends on what you are looking for.
If you are using a mind mapping program as a project manager, you will need the collaboration feature. Since many team members brainstorm at the same time when using these tools, communication is more of a necessity.
Ability to give feedback, comment and add suggestions to a mind map is a welcome perk. Likewise, if the mind mapping software is cloud-synced, users should be able to revisit archived/ old maps from anywhere in the world.
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Ultimately, a high-quality mind map needs to be exported. That’s where save file formats and extensions come into play. If software uses an exclusive file format for the sake of self-promotion, there is no point in using it.
Work teams normally use a mind map program that has compatible file extensions with other 3rd party apps. What’s the point of downloading software with exclusive file export format and extensions?
While there are a majority of users who get by with minimum image drawing features, others . For instance, engineering projects call for special flow chart and architectural diagrams that are essential to the mind mapping stage.
In that sense, make sure that your “best mind mapping software” of choice has an array of diagramming tools. In addition, if you can create wireframes and technical diagrams with just as much ease as drawing a simple shape, you’ve got yourself a win-win situation.
Additional perks of an ideal mind mapping tool would be the ability to import and create diagrams based on live data from business competitors. In other words, think about business intelligence incorporated into your favorite program for blowing the competition out of the water.
General Mind Mapping Tips for Starters:
Making a mind map is easy. I know the term is intimidating but it is all about scrapping down raw ideas into diagrammatic representations. Remember, it is your canvas and you get to draw whatever comes to your mind.
Most of the mind mapping software come with preset templates. But if you want to start from a blank canvas and work your way through to the final image, that’s up to you. Here are some general tips on how to make a mind map:
17 Best Mind Mapping App Recommended by Our Experts:
Before I begin, what makes for a great mind mapping app is all about your requirements. Therefore, do a little bit of research on the pros and cons of any given program before you run your credit card. A general rule of thumb is to use a program with simple UI, easy workflow, and feasibility to optimize your project management skills .
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On top of our list of the best mind mapping app is Canva. Canva is one of my personal favorites. As an Agile Project Manager, I have used Canva for a while now. It is not my exclusive go-to software, but Canva offers a lot of freedom and wiggle room for creativity. At first glance, it is an online tool with a compendium of images, both free and paid. You can create infographics, mind maps, flow charts, and an overall visually stunning work board.
Canva is more like an amalgamation of art, creativity and project management . As a free plan user, you will get 1Gb cloud storage by default, extensive drag and drop functionality for creating images and a collection of 8,000 visual pieces.
Larger groups can benefit from the exclusive ‘Canva for Work. Plan. This plan favors software companies, project managers and infographic creators who wish to give a detailed perspective to their tasks. If you are using the free plan, some of the images might have a “Canva” watermark. It can be removed with some Photoshop skills. However, you can pay as you go for per image rate if you want to auto-remove the watermark.
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MindMeister has a staggering user base of over 7 million people from all over the internet. Compared to Canva, MindMeister is second to best when it comes to .
While MindMeister offers a wide range of free tools to entry-level users, the majority of its users are from the business sector. People reportedly love to create mind map layouts, flowcharts, structured data diagrams, and strategic visuals to reflect their project planning phase.
The visual details in MindMeister are so rich that you can literally add vein-like lines as seen in cartographer software. On top of that, there are different options, templates and formatting styles to choose from. It is guaranteed that if two people are working on the same mind map, their final output will be visually different. It depends on how everyone uses the customized user experience for creating mind maps from blank canvases.
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For more details on “Edu” student plans, visit the official MindMeister website at the earliest.
Read this blog on how to use Mind Mapping Software for Project Management:
Here’s How Mind Mapping Tools Help to Jump-Start New Projects
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As a first-timer, if you need a no-fuss mind mapping software, FreeMind it is. The program has a very simple UI to help beginners with basic level brainstorming ideas. That doesn’t mean that professionals don’t use FreeMind – they do, but their user experience is completely different. I am talking about basic level individuals who wish to give a visual shape to their ideas.
Moving on, FreeMind comes with a drag and drop function. You can copy different nodes in different styles. Afterward, enter your text inside, outside or underneath the node for ready reference. You can also add tables and simple geometric shapes with color codes for some visual distinction.
FreeMind also offers a variety of integrations. The program can read HTML codes for URL redirects. It has more than enough tools to help shape a project idea from start to finish. However, if you are looking for next levels imaging options like Canva and MindMeister, this program lacks a little in comparison.
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If you are an Android user, you may not have heard of this mind mapping software. It is an iOS exclusive, which is a bit of a letdown for Windows and Android community. However, there is a workaround solution if you don’t have an iPad. You can use the Web-based version of Popplet by accessing their official website.
Popplet has a very select user base. It is an ideal mind mapping software for work at home moms, freelancers and especially school going kids who wish to hone their creative skills. You can pretty much organize, color code, capture and share your work easily. If you are looking to use such a tool as an individual business owner, or just a starter, Popplet is the right choice for you.
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Each pricing plan restricts the total number of users to it. If you want to add more users, you can do so with the addition of some extra cost. Please refer to Popplet’s official price chart available at their website.
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This one is another web-based best mind mapping app available to various businesses of different sizes. LucidChart is not everyone’s cup of tea. Most of the users are associated with Adobe, Amazon and such other companies where mind mapping is based on very complex technical diagrams. If you are such a user, you already know of this software. Chances are, you are probably using this program or some alternative customized version provided by your company.
LucidChart is lined up with real-time collaboration tools, various communication modes, and different tools to advance ideas from a single node. Top it all off with a wide range of integration support to embed different data sets from 3rd party apps. Likewise, you can also export your work in different file extensions for portable viewing experience across all range of devices.
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If you are an enterprise-level user, please contact the official LucidChart support staff for a customized quote.
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Another best mind mapping app is Scapple. If your hunt for a mind mapping software is centered towards simplicity and flexibility, Scapple is for you. The tool comes with a massive room for customization and allows you to freely construct mind maps the way you want.
When you launch the tool, you are welcomed with a clean slate that gives you the liberty to doodle away your thoughts — keeping the artist-y soul inside you at peace. Make connections just the way you do it on a simple paper, and make changes as many times as you want.
To further make things easy, Scapple comes with a simple drag and drop interface to help you quickly connect the ideas and make more sense out of them. In addition, you can stack the related ones together in the form of a column for easy retrieval whenever required.
The tool is deceptively simple, so if you’re looking for advanced mind mapping software, you may want to pass.
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Bubbl.us is an online brainstorming tool that is designed to help teams collaborate on ideas and one of the best mind mapping app. The name of the tool is derived from a simple fact that your thought bubbles need to be organized into a structure to help understand them better.
Solely focusing on ease and simplicity, Bubbl.us does not overwhelm you with a complicated feature set to structure your ideas. Which is exactly why it’s a perfect choice for small teams that are in the development phases.
The tool relies on simple mind map diagrams to generate ideas. These diagrams can be constructed on a board and then shared with team members to brainstorm on projects. Kind of just like a whiteboard, only virtual. You can also save your diagrams in the form of an image to further make sharing easy.
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This mind mapping software has plenty of advanced features to give your team the push it needs. Just like a whiteboard, you can use the platform for a quick brain-dump to start making connections. You can also include any extra notes, files, or links with them to add more context.
Instead of providing only the basic mind maps, MindManager takes it up a notch by giving you the ability to add due dates, priorities, and dependencies to make things crystal clear. These dependencies can be easily adjusted whenever required, through drag and drop.
The tool integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office, in fact, it resembles it too. This makes it a go-to choice for Office users, or for enterprises. The advanced functionality that unlocks with the Enterprise version of the tool makes it extremely professional looking and at par with industry standards.
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Coggle is yet another flexible mind mapping software that comes with the added benefit of team collaboration features to keep things aligned. Create a flowchart with multiple starting points and extend them into sub-branches without any hassle. It’s perfect for complex enterprise-level diagrams.
The tool comes with multiple editing options to help you make changes according to your requirements. For instance; when creating a diagram, you can add floating images or text to include additional information as a context.
In case you don’t want to create things from scratch, the tool’s built-in library of flowcharts and diagrams makes your work easy for you. Furthermore, invite as many team members as you want, to collaborate on ideas. The invited members also have the leverage to make changes to their mind maps.
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Microsoft Visio is a Microsoft backed one of the best mind mapping app which comes with pretty much everything you’d expect from a standard mind mapping tool. It comes with an option to integrate it with Office 365, in case you want to enhance the tool’s functionality.
The software gives users the ability to connect the flowcharts and diagrams to their data. That way, the changes made in data are automatically updated in the respective diagrams. You don’t have to do much of the work here. It’s a great way to visualize your daily KPIs or any data that varies on regular intervals.
The online version of the software allows you to work from anywhere and make changes on the go. So, you don’t have to worry about leaving your work behind anymore.
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11. Cacoo
Cacoo is a highly recognized and tested online drawing software used by more than 2 million users worldwide. It helps to create diagrams, mind maps, and lay down the groundwork for a multitude of projects.
Over the last few months, we have talked about Cacoo as more than just a reliable software for mind mapping and project management in general. It is the reason Cacoo is listed in our best mind mapping app list.
This tool offers integrations with other apps, such as; Confluence, Google Drive, and Dropbox. With additional 3rd party app integration, you can get by with flawless workflow within a matter of minutes. In that sense, Cacoo doesn’t restrict you to the program itself.
Alongside native features, this software offers free templates to easily incorporate your ideas into a workable template.
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12. MindGenius
Number 12 on our best mind mapping app list is MindGenius. This app helps you to create mind maps in a very simple manner. Start with block forms and elaborate from there as you move along. This tool also offers a wide range of templates that play a huge role in transitioning work to a practical form.
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13. SmartDraw
As obvious from the name, SmartDraw offers the best mind mapping app at its finest. You get a bunch of tools spanning over a very simple UI. The tool is easy to use because of a simple interface and all the important features are right where you need them to be.
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14. Milanote
Milanote is an incredibly easy-to-use and intuitive mind mapping application for your business that can help you visualize all of your thoughts, plans, tasks, processes, or overall projects onto visual boards easily.
The application is perfect for creative professionals like different creative directors, writers, designers, marketers, or other ad-agencies.
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15. Padlet
Padlet is an incredibly effective cloud-based mind mapping software that you can use on the go from anywhere around the world. The software doesn’t have a bias regarding company size and will work with your business even if you’re a small business or an enterprise-level entity.
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16. Ayoa
Ayoa is another one of our favorite mind mapping tools. The tool is designed with an aim to help teams improve their collaboration and work more efficiently. Its elaborate features play a critical role in simplifying the mind mapping process.
Ayoa offers three different solutions to help your growth and productivity. Along with the powerful mind mapping solution, it offers whiteboards and task management solutions to help you in ideation and project management.
The tool offers nine different views:
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17. XMind
XMind is another mind mapping software that will help you grow with your creative thinking. XMind software is developed with a simple yet thoughtful notion stating that ideas grow on mindmaps. The software is simple and easy to use.
The app aims to bring efficiency to your mind mapping and brainstorming practices. You can organize and manage your ideas and documents to get easy access whenever needed.
The software offers tree tables, logic charts, matrix, timeline, org charts, brace maps, and timelines to generate connections with complex ideas.
XMind also helps you in self-analysis by tracking your milestones and schedules in sequential order. The software allows you to make structures within a structure to be more accurate in your creative attempt.
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