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Three Web-Based Mind Mapping Tools Reviewed

March 8th, 2007 (8:21am) Anne Zelenka 120 Comments

Hand drawn mind map by Graham BurnettMind mapping, originated by Tony Buzan, aims at capturing what’s going on inside your head. In this video, Buzan calls it a “swiss army knife for the brain” and makes all sorts of claims about how you should do it in order to get your mind absorbed and intrigued in the ideas you’re mapping.

There are a bunch of desktop tools for mind mapping including the no-cost Java-based FreeMind, the popular and very expensive MindManager from Mindjet for both Windows and Mac, and ConceptDraw’s MindMap, also for Windows and Mac. For devoted mind mappers, it’s probably worth your time–and maybe some money too–to get a feature-rich tool on your desktop.

If you only mind map occasionally or if you want to collaborate in real-time with your colleagues, maybe you’d rather use an online mind mapper or brainstormer such as bubbl.us, Mindomo, or MindMeister. These tools don’t conform to Buzan’s principles of mind mapping in all respects, which call for free form curving branches and multiple colors, as shown in the hand-drawn mind map here, created by Graham Burnett. However, they’re still useful for collecting your thoughts, taking notes, or sharing your ideas with your colleagues.

bubbl.us

bubbl.us logoBilled as “the simplest way to brainstorm online,” bubbl.us doesn’t claim to support full-blown mind mapping. This Flash-based offering suffers from what you sometimes see in Flash applications–overuse of gradients and animated effects, but at least you can turn the effects off. The keyboard access is not entirely intuitive; hitting enter to create a new child node and tab to create a sibling node works well enough, but I wanted to use the arrow keys to move around the diagram and couldn’t. Also, the diagram moves around as nodes are drawn, disrupting the flow of thought. You can pick up the diagram and recenter it, but it will just start moving again as you add nodes.

bubbl.us diagrambubbl.us is early in its development and understandably rough around the edges. It has no import/export capability yet but does offer printing and sharing. Nodes are colored according to their level in the hierarchy, which makes sense if you’re creating an outline–and that’s probably how you ought to consider bubbl.us, as a graphical outlining tool less than a mind mapping or brainstorming tool.

Mindomo

MIndomo logoReleased in beta on February 22 of this year, Mindomo is aiming after the full mind mapping gestalt. It supports the curved connections favored by Buzan, though they are not organic and free form as Buzan suggests. Features include hyperlinks, rich text notes, customizable colors, and import from MindManager. The free version is ad-supported. Mindomo is based on Adobe’s Flash technology like bubbl.us.

You can customize the look of your mind map with different typefaces, line styles, and colors. However, drag-and-drop layout of nodes doesn’t seem to be available–you can only drag and drop nodes to connect them to a different parent. You can, however, choose from a variety of layout styles, which provides for some customization of the display.

Mindomo diagramMindomo’s keyboard access is unusable for those on a Mac, because it uses the insert key to add child nodes–but Macs don’t have one. This is a strange choice of key because even on a Windows machine “insert” doesn’t mean “add something new.” It toggles between overwrite and insert mode in applications like word processors. However, arrow keys work to navigate through the nodes and the enter key can be used for adding siblings.

Unfortunately, one of the key benefits that you’d hope a web-based mind-mapping tool would provide is collaborative map building, the ability for two people to edit a map at the same time, and Mindomo doesn’t offer this yet.

MindMeister

MindMeister logoUnlike the first two tools mentioned, MindMeister is Ajax-based, meaning it’s been implemented with HTML and JavaScript and doesn’t require a third-party player to run within a browser. Because it doesn’t have the fancy graphical effects of Flash available to it, the default display is more about the information you’re capturing and less about shapes and gradients and animated effects. In my mind, this is all to the better, but some users may want more visual excitement with their mind mapping.

MindMeister diagramMindMeister provides all the basic features you might look for in a web-based tool of this sort. I found the keyboard access mostly intuitive. The tab key adds a child, the enter key adds a sibling, and arrows navigate around the diagram smoothly. Saving happens automatically with no action required of the user. Nodes can be repositioned using drag and drop. You can share with write or view-only access. It offers import from FreeMind and Mindjet’s MindManager, as well as export to an RTF outline or a GIF image.

Conclusion

These tools don’t really support Tony Buzan’s free-form organic and colorful mind mapping techniques, but they can still be useful if you’d like to capture what you’re thinking about in a visual form.

MindMeister, with its smooth keyboard access, information-dense display, and export-to-outline capability, is my favorite of the three. I have a number of invitations to the beta; leave your email here if you’re interested in trying it out.

Comments (84)

  • Thanks for the great overview. I blogged a pointer – you saved me a task I had on my to do list. Brava!

    Nancy White8:47 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • Mindomo probably picked the Insert key to add child nodes because that’s consistent with the user interface of the Windows version of MindManager.

    Mike Gunderloy8:55 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I’d like an invite to the MindMeister beta if you still have one available. I used free map for a while but find that I have less time at my home computer than elsewhere, nowadays.

    Phil9:05 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I sent you an invitation, Phil. Let me know if you didn’t get it.

    Anne Zelenka9:19 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I would like an invite as well. Have been using bubbl.us and although handy, it is definitely in need of some improvements.

    Thanks

    Wes — 9:37 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I’d love one, Anne. And nice to “see” you here.

    Elizabeth9:41 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I would also like an invite to MindMeister if you ave any available. This looks exactly like what I need!

    toolfarm9:56 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • This review is very timely, as my demo version of MindManager is about to run out, and at €200 it’s a little expensive. I also tried MindMap, but prefer creating maps which are a little less ‘visual’ – MindMeister looks ideal. So please send me an invite!

    Peter Jennings — 10:00 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I tried mindmeister 2 days ago thanks to the Twitter Early Warning System, and well, maybe mind mapping tools aren’t for me, because it felt too unnatural. Of course, I like to doodle and make my own, and having a pencil and eraser and a bunch of 11×17 paper along with some capabilities to draw non-sucky lines makes the experience better than any software for me.

    Overall, though, nice review.

    Christopher Mahan10:06 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • Nice analysis…Have used Mindjet and Freemind. I agree with your sentiments that less is more…If you have an invite to mindmeister I would like to give it a go.

    Cheers

    Duncan Griffin — 10:10 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • Wes, Toolfarm, Peter, Duncan – I sent you all invitations. Let me know if you don’t get them and I’ll resend.

    Anne Zelenka10:14 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • Elizabeth – Nice to see you too! I sent you an invitation. Akismet had marked your comment as spam but I rescued it. I wonder how many real comments we’ve lost to that.

    Anne Zelenka10:26 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I would love an invite to the mindmeister beta.

    Jen — 11:43 AM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I’d like a Mindmeister beta invite, thanks!

    Mitch — 1:42 PM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • Hi Anne,

    Do you have any Mindmeister invites left? I’d definitely be interested!

    –Dks

    David Storrs4:07 PM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • Yes, I do, I have 12 or so left, I will send you one David.

    Anne Zelenka4:14 PM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I think both Mindomo and Mindmeister offer a great opportunity for MindManager users like myself to involve non-MindManager users in asynchronous collaborative mind or business map development. I work with a large number of associates on a range of product and service development programmes and projects. These tools lower the threshold for them to work the way many people recognise as being better than some existing alternatives. Perhaps later on they will recognise that some of the sophisticated desktop tools such as MindManager are also worth their price point.

    On other hand Mindomo and MindMeister may move forward very quickly. It is is going to be interesting part of the application world to watch over the next year.

    Andrew Wilcox4:48 PM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • I’ve used Freemind in the past with some success. I find it a bit clunky but the price is right. I’d love to find a decent online mind mapping solution. If you have any invitations for MindMeister please send one along.

    physio10:49 PM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • Well you certainly have a larger readership than me! If you run out of invites, send ‘em my way …

    Ric11:26 PM on March 8, 2007 Reply

  • Thanks for this summary; it was very helpful. I would appreciate an invitation to MindMeister. The import/export capabilities, coupled with the information focus, seems to the closest fit to what I need.

    Karl — 4:18 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • Hi! I’d really like an invite to MindMeister. I’ve been wanting to try it!!

    Tim4:55 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • I have sent invitations to everyone who asked so far. If you didn’t receive one by email, let me know and I’ll try resending. I have eight invitations left.

    Anne Zelenka5:59 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • Mind mapping is based on a hierarchical, tree-like organization. This is often too constraining, and unable to represent all useful associations among things and ideas.

    Concept mapping is a more general method of organizing ideas, and free of such limiting principles.

    The relevant Wikipedia entries show the contrast between mind mapping and concept mapping.

    A popular, Java-based, free concept mapping tool is Compendium.

    A enlightening essay on the limitations of hierarchical organizations is A city is not a tree, by Christopher Alexander.

    Nicola Larosa6:56 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • Hi Anne, I like the uncluttered look of MindMeister. I would appreciate an invite. New reader, new subscriber, here.

    have fun,
    pam

    MarillaAnne7:04 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • Hi pam, welcome! Always glad to have new subscribers. I’ve sent you an invitation to MindMeister. Let me know what you think after you try it.

    Anne Zelenka7:14 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • Hey, thanks for the write up… I’ve been looking for a way to organize my thoughts without a notepad (I always forget to bring it).

    Can I get a BETA invite? If you still have any.

    ALan — 7:26 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • These programs are great and I have used a few of them. However I prefer doing mindmaps on paper and created templates for mindmaps. See my URL and download for yourself.

    Cheers

    Richard7:50 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • I got the invite.
    Sposiba daragaja – Thank you Anne

    ALan — 8:00 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • If you still have one invite I would appreciate it.

    Thanks

    Thomas10:28 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • I ve received the invitation.

    Thanks again Anne

    Thomas10:40 AM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • I really enjoy WWD–just because you uncover new technologies like this.

    I’ve been trying out online mind mappers as a basis for structured collaboration, and none has yet hit the mark. If you have any invites to MindMeister still available, I would certainly appreciate one.

    Thanks.

    Brian Phipps1:27 PM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • I do have a few more invites, Brian. I’ll send you one right now.

    Anne Zelenka2:05 PM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • Can I get a BETA invite? If you still have any.
    Thanks!

    Fernando4:44 PM on March 9, 2007 Reply

  • Hi,

    I’m new to your blog, but now subscribed to your feed.

    If there are still any invitations going spare for MindMeister I woudl like the oppportunity to try it out.

    Best regards

    Allan

    Allan3:43 AM on March 10, 2007 Reply

  • Great review! Have read Buzan and ever since been a practictioner. However, perhaps I am just messy ’cause in agreement with Nicola Larosa, freeform and flow is what I need.

    I am new to all things techy and bumbled my way to your site and am impressed with the comments as well.

    Good work.

    justlearningman4:17 AM on March 10, 2007 Reply

  • Allan – I sent you an invitation, hope you got it. I have a couple invitations left.

    justlearningman — I tried doing a hand-drawn free form flowing mind map last night. I was pretty absorbing, I have to say. Now I’m yearning for a Wacom tablet so I can draw pretty pictures and get them onto my computer.

    Anne Zelenka7:03 AM on March 10, 2007 Reply

  • I would really like to get an invite to the beta :-)

    henrik s. andersen9:57 AM on March 10, 2007 Reply

  • If you any invitations left to MindMeister, I would love to try it out. Thanks!

    Charlie

    Charlie Epes — 12:15 PM on March 10, 2007 Reply

  • any invitations left for MindMeister? I love mindjet mindmanager for mac and would love to try a web-based tool.

    thanks,

    luis.cota@gmail.com

    - luis

    newbie731:50 PM on March 10, 2007 Reply

  • I tried to send everyone invitations–however, MindMeister didn’t like your email address, Luis, for some reason. I have one invitation left. If you didn’t receive the invitation and have another email address I can try, let me know, I’ll give it a go.

    Anne Zelenka6:18 PM on March 10, 2007 Reply

  • Please send me an invitation to Mindmeister

    Thank you Very much

    Joe Wehr

    Joe Wehr — 1:20 PM on March 11, 2007 Reply

  • Ahhh! just missed the last invite : If there is anyone out there with a spare I’d appreciate it- thanks!

    I work in the area of Human Factors and usually this involves getting a lot of people together from different disciplines and agreeing and discussing things in order to agree on a common viewpoint. This is a demanding situation to facilitate – where you need to make sure everyone participates AND record the comments AND have the ability to restructure the information easily AND do it in real time. I’ve been using Mindjet’s Mind Manager for about 7 years now and have to say it is the best software I’ve ever used for supporting this process, being both intuitive and engaging – people like moving things about in real time and many of my clients are converted mind mappers now :) BUT it can be an expensive ‘first step’ if you aren’t sure so these web based tools sound interesting.

    mark green — 1:01 AM on March 12, 2007 Reply

  • Any Mindmeister invites left? If so, please send me one.

    Thanks!

    Joel Walsh — 10:35 AM on March 12, 2007 Reply

  • Would appreciate an invite for Mindmeister if any left. Thank you!

    Maura Raffensperger11:36 PM on March 12, 2007 Reply

  • I’m all out of MindMeister invitations. Sorry ’bout that. You can go to the site and subscribe to the newsletter there–they may give you an invitation if you do so.

    Anne Zelenka5:07 AM on March 13, 2007 Reply

  • And where do you get invites for mind meister?

    Mary Deaton2:20 PM on March 13, 2007 Reply

  • would like an invite for mind meister if you still have it. thanks.

    iznan h — 12:11 AM on March 15, 2007 Reply

  • I too would like an invitation, if there are any left… Thanks in advance :)

    nmc — 9:38 AM on March 18, 2007 Reply

  • I have 20 invitations to offer.
    As with the generous actions of Anne Zelenka, I’d like to follow her lead, and in the spirit of web20-harmony, web20-togetherness, web20-love, etc etc … hahaha, I’ll send invitations to the first 20 emails listed.
    :D

    jamjammo — 12:39 PM on March 18, 2007 Reply

  • Can I have an invite?

    abenamer1:11 PM on March 18, 2007 Reply

  • One for me please

    maciek — 6:36 PM on March 18, 2007 Reply

  • As per my offer up above, http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/03/08/three-web-based-mind-mapping-tools-reviewed/#comment-26959, I have 20 invitations to MindMeister.

    Those interested please email me your invitation requests:
    jamjammo at gmail dot com

    IMPORTANT!!! please put mindmeisterinvite in your subject line.
    I’ve got my gmail filters set for that subject line. :)

    jamjammo — 4:30 PM on March 19, 2007 Reply

  • I have 17 invitations left.
    Email me your requests as stated above! :)

    jamjammo — 12:45 PM on March 21, 2007 Reply

  • Would love an invite to mindmeister is you still have any (I saw all the comments).

    This was a great article and very helpful to me. I’m currently trialing mindjet and I like what I see BUT I’ve moved to an all-web model for my applications with everything else I do so I’d hate to be legacy with mind-mapping and have to use a piece of client software. I will also try freemind because I love open source software and communities but still hesitate due to the same reasons I mentioned with mindjet.

    Thanks for the information!

    Julian

    Julian Seery Gude3:35 PM on March 22, 2007 Reply

  • I would love an invite to the mindmeister if there is still some aviable.

    iAdramelk — 1:12 AM on March 23, 2007 Reply

  • can i have an invite too? thanks!

    su.uncle at gmail dot com

    Uncle Su2:08 AM on March 23, 2007 Reply

  • Invite? thanks a lot!

    Colin — 7:11 AM on March 23, 2007 Reply

  • Please invite me too…
    Tnx!

    Yami9:05 AM on March 23, 2007 Reply

  • Could you please send me an invite too? Thanks in advance.

    rasheed — 4:57 PM on March 24, 2007 Reply

  • Hey,
    i would be very greatful if you could send me an invite as well

    thanks

    Jack10:33 AM on March 26, 2007 Reply

  • I’m a FreeMind user but was searching for an online tool, please send me a invite for the MindMeister .

    thanks a lot!.

    Imran — 10:52 AM on March 26, 2007 Reply

  • I am interested in one or two beta invitations to MindMeister. Thank you in advance for sharing.

    Yuwei Shi — 10:15 AM on April 6, 2007 Reply

  • Thank you for the informative review. Your emphasis on useability above aesthetics is especially helpful. Would you happen to have another MindMeister beta invitation?

    Dustin10:24 PM on April 8, 2007 Reply

  • Hi,
    i have been using Mindmanager from the beginning, never tried web-based mindmapping so far.
    Would be great, if you had a invitation for Mindmeister for me.

    have a nice day,

    Jakov

    Jakov — 1:54 AM on April 24, 2007 Reply

  • Hi there

    Thanks, I was looking for a review of web based mind mapping tools since my client wont allow the installation of software. Can I get an invitation to use the MindMeister tool?

    John

    John Mattos6:23 AM on May 8, 2007 Reply

  • I am actually looking for a mindmapping tool that has

    1. Task management with status update
    2. Gantt Chart based on the tasks
    3. More than 1 users using at the same time

    it seems like there is none that fit into this 3 features. Any help here?

    SimonWoo — 9:04 AM on May 17, 2007 Reply

  • If are you interesting, a new online mind map tool have been opened. It beta now.Look at http://www.mapul.com

    maxim11:39 PM on May 20, 2007 Reply

  • Instantly create thematic mind maps of any document or ebook!

    MS Word 2007 Add In allows you to create instant MindManager mind maps of your documents based on its thematic content. Themes are represented as Topic Nodes in the mind map. It also produces a Synopsis and Detailed Summary of the document, and allows you to locate every paragraph that contains that theme.

    Our partner Mindsystems has released the second and Business Edition of ThemeReader for $100 US. It’s a great product and incorporates Cirilab’s Knowledge Generation Engine technology, and works with XP, Vista, Word 2003 and 2007, WordPerfect X3, and the new MindManager 7. Free Trial. Give it a try!

    http://www.mindsystems.com.au/products/themereader/business.htm

    Word MindManager ThemeReader = Productivity Improvement

    Arnold Villeneuve
    Vice President
    http://www.cirilab.com
    http://knowledgeuser.typepad.com

    Arnold Villeneuve11:11 AM on June 24, 2007 Reply

  • I am a PhD student, recently stumbled upon this “mind mapping” idea, seems to be good for my work on organizing and creating ideas…

    Could you please send me an invite to mind mindmeister too.. if invites still available.

    thanks

    A. Khan
    University of Sydney

    Amer Khan — 10:06 PM on July 6, 2007 Reply

  • Great review, I loved it and bookmarked it in my blog dedicated to information visualization along with some review of PowerPoint, the other great visual tool for the knowledge worker. See

    A. de Buchet7:23 AM on July 17, 2007 Reply

  • The url link tags didn’t work out … the address is http://www.uswim.net

    A. de Buchet7:24 AM on July 17, 2007 Reply

  • Can I get a BETA invite? If you still have any.
    Thanks!

    Eric Schneider — 8:17 AM on September 4, 2007 Reply

  • Hi Guys,

    I suggest taking a look at http://www.wisemapping.com.

    Paulo

    Paulo Veiga4:35 PM on September 4, 2007 Reply

  • pls send me an invitation for mindmeister.
    thanks

    mohamed — 8:50 AM on September 11, 2007 Reply

  • Thanks for a balanced overview of the 3 tools. I’m still trying to decide which to use in instructional settings and distributed team projects; I found your article very helpful.

    Peter9:13 AM on October 2, 2007 Reply

  • I’d like a Beta invite to try MindMeister please. These are very interesting collaboration ideas.

    Anthony

    Anthony Russo12:41 PM on October 2, 2007 Reply

  • I POUNCED ON BUBBL.US FIRST. BEFORE REALISING THAT THE OTHER TWO WERE BETTER. BUT THIS IS A V.USEFUL ARTICLE. THANKS ^^

    QUINSTER — 11:35 AM on October 14, 2007 Reply

  • I’d like an invite for MindMeister please, if you have any left.

    scientaestubique5:56 AM on November 7, 2007 Reply

  • bubbl.us, mindmeister and mindomo are a good start. Here are some more browser-based applications that do mind mapping or concept mapping
    comapping.com :- Collaborative (but, for people who like free-format mind mapping, rigid) left-to-right mind mapping
    glinkr.net :- Concept mapping and mind mapping (shared but not collaborative)
    mindmaps.kayuda.com :- Collaborative mind mapping and concept mapping
    mappio.com :- Unusual mind mapper where the user edits indented text to change the mind map
    mapul.com :- Collaborative mind mapping with an organic flavour
    mind42.com :- Collaborative mind mapping
    wikimindmap.org :- Make mind maps from WikiMedia articles
    wisemapping.com :- Collaborative mind mapping
    webofweb.net :- Collaborative mind mapping

    Some of the diagramming tools can do it, as well:
    cumulatelabs.com/cumulatedraw/ :- Collaborative diagramming – can draw mind maps and concept maps
    flowchart.com :- Collaborative diagramming – can draw mind maps and concept maps
    gliffy.com :- Collaborative diagramming – can draw mind maps and concept maps
    thinkature.com :- Collaborative on-line whiteboard service – can draw mind maps and concept maps

    Regards
    Vic

    The master list of mind mapping sites

    vicgee — 6:34 AM on November 29, 2007 Reply

  • i’d like to try the mindmeister beta if you still have some invitations to pass along. Thanks for the great review.

    Patrick — 8:50 AM on February 25, 2008 Reply

  • Hey Patrick – MindMeister went out of beta a while ago. You can just head over to http://www.mindmeister.com/ to sign up if you’re interested.

    Mike Gunderloy9:08 AM on February 25, 2008 Reply

  • Do any of these mindmanagers allow you to download and run on a server. I am concerned about the security of the doscuments and would like to able to collaborate over a secure connection to my own server.

    zeigerpuppy8:15 AM on August 22, 2008 Reply

  • Mindomo looks a lot more organized and professional and is a better product because of it. The file folder view for maps is great. Both Mindmeister and Mindomo suffer from not offering drag and drop file attachments onto nodes in the web browser, they both involve lond winded upload processes. Mindomo wins with Mindmeister a close second IMO.

    Dad9:45 AM on June 29, 2009 Reply

  • Hi, I would like an invite to use Mind Meister. Thanks!

    Roan — 7:14 AM on August 18, 2009 Reply

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