List of concept- and mind-mapping software
Concept mapping and mind mapping software are used to create diagrams of relationships between concepts, ideas, or other pieces of information. It has been suggested that the mind mapping technique can improve learning and study efficiency up to 15% over conventional note-taking.[1] Many software packages and websites allow creating, or otherwise supporting, mind maps.
File format
Using a standard file format allows interchange of files between various programs. Many programs listed below support the mm format used by FreeMind, which is an XML text format of tagged objects.
Free and open source
The following tools comply with the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) definition of free software. As such, they are also open-source software.
Software | License | Genre | Platforms | Online visualization | Online editing | Online real-time collaboration | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compendium | GNU GPL | Social science | Cross-platform | No | No | No |
|
FreeMind | GNU GPL | Project management | Cross-platform | Yes | No | No |
Written in Java |
Freeplane | GNU GPL v2+ | Mind mapping | Cross-platform | Yes | No | No |
Written in Java |
PGF/TikZ | GNU GPL or LPPL | Mind mapping | Cross-platform | Yes, needs ShareLaTeX | Yes, needs ShareLaTeX | Yes, needs ShareLaTeX |
|
Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) | Educational Community | Concept mapping | Cross-platform | No | No | No |
|
Freeware
The following is a list of notable concept mapping and mind mapping applications which are freeware, and available at no cost. Some are open source, and others are proprietary software.
Software | License | Genre | Platforms | Online visualizing | Online editing | Online real-time collaborating | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CmapTools | RAND-RF | Concept mapping | Cross-platform | Yes, needs CmapServer, Cmaps on servers generate urls-webpages | Yes, needs CmapServer | Yes, needs CmapServer |
|
Coggle | Proprietary, freeware, freemium | Mind mapping | Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
MindMup | Custom license[2] | Mind mapping | Web browser | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Qiqqa | Proprietary, freeware, freemium | Concept mapping | Windows | Yes | No | No |
|
XMind | Proprietary, freeware, freemium | Project management, knowledge management | Windows, OS X, Linux | No | No | No |
|
yEd | Proprietary, yEd[3] | Cmap tool | Windows, OS X, Linux, cross-platform | ? | ? | ? |
|
Proprietary software
The table below lists pieces of proprietary commercial software that allow creating mind and concept maps.
Software | Publisher, license | Platforms | Notes, features |
---|---|---|---|
3D Topicscape | 3D-Scape Limited | Windows | Desktop application that presents mind maps as a 3d scene where each node is a cone. Imports MindManager, Personal Brain, FreeMind, text and folders. |
ConceptDraw MINDMAP | CS Odessa LLC | Windows, OS X | Desktop mind mapping and brainstorming software, for business, education, or personal activities. Integrates with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Project, MindManager, FreeMind, and XMind. Compatible with Twitter, Skype, and Evernote services. |
Debategraph | Debategraph | Web application | Concept and argument mapping tool |
LucidChart | LucidChart, LLC | Web application | HTML5-based collaborative diagramming tool that can be used to map minds and concepts |
Microsoft Visio | Microsoft | Windows | Part of Microsoft Office product family, draws static diagrams including block diagrams, organization charts, maps, plans or workflows |
Mind42 | IRIAN Solutions | Web application |
|
Mindjet | Mindjet | Windows, OS X, Android | Desktop application comes in basic and pro versions; integrated with Microsoft Office, available Gantt chart add-in, built-in spreadsheet, Fluent UI, Current Version: MindManager 2017 |
MindMapper | SimTech Systems | Windows |
|
MindMeister | MeisterLabs GmbH | Windows, OS X, Linux | |
Mindomo | Expert Software Applications | Windows, OS X, Linux | |
OmniGraffle | The Omni Group | OS X, iOS | |
PersonalBrain | TheBrain Technologies | Windows, OS X, Unix, Unix-like | Graphically intensive and customizable GUI, extremely cross-platform. Notes, calendar, Microsoft Outlook features. Multiple parent node ability. |
Prezi | Prezi Inc. | Web application, Windows | Presentation software that supports free form placement and zooming on a single sheet. |
Qiqqa | Quantisle Ltd. | Windows | Minds maps for academics oriented around their research papers, notes, and annotations. |
Semantica | Semantic Research | OS X, Windows | Family of software to create, view, store, and share knowledge structures |
SmartDraw | SmartDraw Software, LLC | Windows | Visual processor used to create flowcharts, organization charts, mind maps, gantt charts, and other visuals |
Solina Mind Mapping Software | Insoft Oy | Windows | organic mind maps and activity maps |
SpicyNodes | IDEA.org | Adobe Flash | radial maps, viewer can move from node to node |
Tinderbox | Eastgate Systems | OS X | Content management system with concept and mind map abilities |
Visual Mind | Mind Technologies | Windows | Supports collaboration (client–server) mode. |
XMind Pro | XMind Ltd. | Windows, OS X, Linux |
See also
- Brainstorming
- Study software
- Mind map
- List of Unified Modeling Language tools
- org-mode of Emacs text editor to edit plain text hierarchical documents
References
- ↑ Farrand, Paul; Hussain, Fearzana; Hennessy, Enid (May 2002). "The efficacy of the 'mind map' study technique". Medical Education. 36 (5): 426–431. PMID 12028392. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2923.2002.01205.x.
- ↑ https://github.com/mindmup/mindmup/blob/master/LICENSE
- ↑ yEd Software License Agreement
External links
- Mind mapping software at DMOZ
- Grubb, Roy. "Mindmapping, concept mapping and information organisation software". mind-mapping.org. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
- "Most liked apps tagged with 'mind mapping'". alternativeto.net. AlternativeTo. Retrieved 2017-05-12.