Concept mapping and mind mapping software is 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. Many software packages and websites allow creating or otherwise supporting mind maps.
File format
See also: DOT (graph description language), GraphML, OPML, and XOXO (microformat)Using a standard file format allows interchange of files between various programs. Many programs listed below support the OPML file format and the XML file format used by FreeMind.
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 | Written in | Notes |
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Compendium | GNU GPL | Social science | Cross-platform | No | No | No | Java | An email address is required to receive a download link |
Dia | GNU GPL | General purpose | Cross-platform | No | No | No | C. | |
diagrams.net (formerly draw.io) | Apache 2 | General purpose | Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | HTML5 JavaScript |
|
FreeMind | GNU GPL | Project management | Cross-platform | Yes | No | No | Java | |
Freeplane | GNU GPL v2+ | Mind mapping | Cross-platform | Yes | No | No | 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 | Java | Can also be used to build presentations |
View Your Mind (Open Source) | GPL | Concept mapping | Cross-platform | No | No | No | C++ | Uses Qt |
Freeware and other proprietary software
The following is a list of notable concept mapping and mind mapping applications which are proprietary software (albeit perhaps available at no cost, see freeware).
Software | License | Genre | Platforms | Online visualizing | Online editing | Online real-time collaborating | Written in | Notes |
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CmapTools | RAND-RF | Concept mapping | Cross-platform | Yes, needs CmapServer, Cmaps on servers generate urls-webpages | Yes, needs CmapServer | Yes, needs CmapServer | Java |
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Coggle | Proprietary, freeware, freemium | Mind mapping | Cross-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | JavaScript, Node.js, jQuery and Backbone.js |
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MindMup | Custom license | Mind mapping | Web browser | Yes | Yes | Yes | HTML5, JavaScript, Ruby |
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Qiqqa | Proprietary, freeware, freemium | Concept mapping | Windows | Yes | No | No |
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XMind | Proprietary, freeware, freemium | Project management, knowledge management | Windows, OS X, Linux | No | No | No | Java |
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yEd | Proprietary, yEd | Concept mapping, Mind mapping | Windows, OS X, Linux, cross-platform | ? | ? | ? | Java |
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Mind42 | Proprietary | Mind mapping | Web browser | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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SimpleMind | Proprietary, commercial software | |||||||
3D Topicscape | 3D-Scape Limited | Windows |
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ConceptDraw MINDMAP | CS Odessa LLC | Windows, OS X |
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Creately | Cinergix Pvt. Ltd. | Windows, OS X, Linux |
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Debategraph | Debategraph | Web application | Concept and argument mapping tool | |||||
Google Drawings | Web application |
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LucidChart | Lucid Software, Inc | Web application | ||||||
Microsoft Visio | Microsoft | Windows |
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MindManager | Mindjet | Windows, OS X, Android |
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MindMapper | SimTech Systems | Windows |
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MindMeister | MeisterLabs GmbH | Windows, OS X, Linux | ||||||
Mindomo | Expert Software Applications | Windows, OS X, Linux | ||||||
MindView | MatchWare | Windows, OS X, Web application |
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OmniGraffle | The Omni Group | OS X, iOS | ||||||
Prezi | Prezi Inc. | Web application, Windows | ||||||
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 | |||||
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 | |||||
TheBrain | TheBrain Technologies | Windows, OS X, Unix, Unix-like |
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Visual Mind | Mind Technologies | Windows | Supports collaboration (client–server) mode | |||||
XMind Pro | XMind Ltd. | Windows, OS X, Linux |
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See also
- Brainstorming
- Graph drawing § Software
- List of Unified Modeling Language tools
- Outliner
- Study software
- Tree structure § Representing trees
References
- Farrand, Paul; Hussain, Fearzana; Hennessy, Enid (May 2002). "The efficacy of the 'mind map' study technique". Medical Education. 36 (5): 426–431. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2923.2002.01205.x. PMID 12028392. S2CID 29278241.
- "Mindmup/Legacy-mindmup". GitHub. 29 January 2022.
- yEd Software License Agreement