Top Free/Open-Source Tools to Accomplish Mind Mapping

According to a Research, mind mapping can boost productivity by about 23%, on average

Organizing and executing ideas into real life is much difficult than one may think. Statistically, a human mind gets about 60,000 thoughts in one day, including several improvement ideas & plans. However, the problem lies in execution and organizing these ideas. That’s where mind mapping software tools come into picture.

A mind mapping software is a tool to brainstorm and convert your ideas into visual diagrams. Mind-mapping tools can range from simple to complex depending upon the need to visualize and diagram the situation. The article, below, will cover top mind mapping tools available that have proven their worth in the market with their robust features and top notch results.

What are the various ways in which Free Mind Mapping Software can be useful?

• Idea into a Visual Sketch: They can help brainstorm and sketch out a solution by converting an idea into a visual design.
• Engineering + Software Development And Design: Mind Mapping tools also help create engineering diagrams, wireframes, and project timelines, and architectural plans/drawings, site-map diagrams.
• Business Intelligence: Mind-Mapping tools can be used to import and visualize live data from business applications in form of charts/diagrams etc.

Simple Steps to Make a Mind Map

The elements like the map’s central idea, branches, colours, keywords, images must be considered while creating a Mind Map. These work as binary or tertiary trees and grow proportionally. The basic steps to create these are as follows:

• Think of a main theme/category/idea around which you wish to create your application (e.g. Let’s assume that it is food)
• Then think of all sub-themes/sub-modules/all the factors concerned with this main idea (e.g. Types of food like bakery, dairy, cooked, raw)
• Make use of single words or very short phrases
• Add suitable images to complete your idea and understand it better
• Try to figure out two sub-points for each sub-category

Various mind-mapping software are available to accomplish this in less amount of time, with accuracy and relevant details.

Let’s have a look at the best free mind mapping software:

Compendium

This tool provides a flexible visual interface to manage the connections between ideas and information. Ideas can be converted into wireframes by adopting a certain methodology to support structured working. Compendium works well for projects of all sizes. Compendium helps in dragging and dropping the documents and websites onto a map. It enables freedom to arrange icons, tag keywords, map and label the connections between concepts to illustrate links, create dialogue maps to display links between the group projects, create argument maps collaboratively, editing each other’s writing.

Pricing: Free

Freeplane

It is a free and open-source application to a mind map that analyzes the information, creates the script, applies formulas and structures out the node format. It features: Simple script invocation, Simple Hotkey Assignment, Add-ons (packaged scripts), Format Panel, Formulas, Node formats, Attributes Panel.

Pricing: Subscription

Wisemapping

Wisemapping comes along with features like Flexible Deployment, Open Source Software, Full-Featured Mapping, Private & Public Workspaces, Security Integration, Drag-and-Drop Function, Text and Style Formatting, Icons, Notes, HTTP Links, Zoom In & Out, Autosave, History Recovery, Personal Workspace, Collaborative Workspace and Maps Import & Export etc. It is open-source, web-based compatible with all modern browsers and vector graphics animation technology.

Pricing: Free/Subscription-based

Semantik

Semantik is a mind-mapping application for KDE to create documents, reports, presentations. It can be used to edit flat trees, tables, text, pictures and convert into flat documents like presentations or reports. The interface is easy to use. This tool allows adding text/attachments for each item, add diagrams, support pictures, generate several documents – LaTex reports, LaTex slides, OpenOffice.org documents, HTML and plain text.

Pricing: Free

Xmind

It features a centralized image that radiates branches comprising key images or key words on associated lines. These are referred to as ‘Twigs’ and form a connected nodal structure.

Pricing: $39.99/6 months, $59.99/year

Coggle

It is an online tool to create and share mind maps and flow charts. It comes with an initial price per annum and is a browser-based application for taking notes, brainstorm, plan, document, research; report an idea or any other undertaking. Coggle also features Brainstorming, Publishing/Sharing, Flowchart, Project Planning and Templates.

Pricing: Pricing starts at $50.00 per year. But there is a free version as well. It also comes along with 3 free private diagrams, upgrade for unlimited private & advanced features.

Mindmeister

This mind-mapping tool includes everything from quick keyboard shortcuts to the ability to embed live videos inside the application. It comes along with some collaboration features to add members to the mind map, upvote, downvote the ideas and leave comments. It is widely used by businesses, academic institutions and creative consumers. It features: Activity/Newsfeed, Idea ranking, Mind Map, Workflow, Collaboration, Ideation, Status Tracking, Brainstorming, Presentation Tools, Publishing/Sharing, Project Planning, Templates.

Pricing: Its pricing starts at $4.99 per month, per user; however a free version is also available.

Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visio is a cloud-based mind mapping software for creating flowcharts and diagrams that connects real-time data with corporate procedures and facilitates collaboration. The platform makes it possible to communicate complicated information using flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, and data-linked diagrams, among other visual aids.

A variety of pre-built templates are available in Visio, and they can be altered and tailored to meet specific business requirements.

Pricing: Pricing starts at $5/Month Subscription and goes upto $530 One time Fees

Lucidspark

A web-based whiteboard tool called Lucidspark was created to facilitate idea sharing and teamwork across teams. A variety of tools for brainstorming and collaboration are available with Lucidspark, including as sticky notes, commenting, freehand sketching tools, an integrated timer, up-votes, dot voting, and more. Teams can organize their brainstorming sessions using Lucidspark’s pre-built project templates, which include a 2×2 matrix, customer journey map, and project roadmap.

Pricing: Free Plan Available; Paid Plan starts at $7.95/User per month

Miro

With the help of Miro, remote teams of any size can collaborate to imagine, create, and construct the future. With Miro, remote teams may collaborate to quickly make decisions, simplify complicated concepts, and synthesize information. Diagramming, real-time data visualization, workshop facilitation, and integrated support for standard product development methods, such as agile techniques like estimate and retrospectives, are just a few of the innovative features that Miro offers.

Pricing: Free Plan Available; Paid Plan starts at $10/User per month

Conclusive: How to choose amongst the best Stats software?

Custom software development companies use mind mapping to reframe the ideas and get information that can be creative + logical. Every mind map makes use of lines, symbols, words, colour, and images and put them into brain-friendly concepts. These convert the idea of observation into pen and paper, giving it a colourful, memorable, and highly organized diagrammatic representation in a natural way. It can be compared to creating a city map where the city centre or city hub is connected to various roads and various landmarks like parks, schools, hospitals, cafes, hotels, playgrounds, museums are represented by picture icons or thumbnails.

Top FAQs – Open Source Mind Mapping Software

What is a mind mapping software tool?

A mind mapping software facilitates users to build, manage, and edit mind maps digitally, majorly used by project managers, students, and teachers. The tool is useful in building diagrams & charts to display useful information in an organized way with each idea/concept connected to each other.

What are top features of mind mapping software?

Some of the top features to include in mind mapping software are –
Template Library Having an in-built template library helps move things fast. Different types of templates can include concept maps, flowcharts, org charts, UML diagrams, etc.
Keyboard ShortcutsKeyboards shortcuts are the better way to perform basic tasks such as commenting, inserting shapes, or attaching anything
CollaborationFacilitating collaboration features such as note-taking, sharing, uploading, etc., help teams build things simultaneously
Organic Mind MapsOrganic mind maps allow users to draw free hand, like a whiteboard, and boosts create an approach to planning

What are the top benefits of using mind mapping software?

Mind mapping software has several benefits such as –

• Increased Creativity
• Enhanced Productivity
• Structured Problem Solving
• Engaging Learning
• Saves Time & Efforts
• Improved Critical Thinking