Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Guides
  4. Products

The best mind-mapping software

By

Brainstorming sessions are great, but sometimes you can drown in a thicket of ideas, half-concepts, and free-floating words. If that sounds familiar, you might want to consider a mind-mapping tool. Mind maps are digital flow charts that can be used to describe ideas and list possibilities.

Recommended Videos

In more advanced forms, they can also be used to describe complex structures and concepts so your entire team can better understand them. Here are the best mind-mapping software options available, their most impressive strengths, and how you can download them for your next big meeting.

Related

MindMeister (free)

Mindmeister
Image used with permission by copyright holder

MindMeister is a web-based mapping tool, and one of the best options if your team is utilizing multiple operating systems or works remotely.

The map works in real time, which makes it ideal for long-distance brainstorming, and the presentation functions allow you to display complex ideas in a natural way, which is great for strategy development. If you’re looking for more features, the software also works well with MeisterTask to create a workflow-oriented solution. MindMeister now offers a free version of its mind-mapping service, Basic, which includes: up to three mind maps, email support, and real-time collaboration. The premium service plans for MindMeister start at $5 per month per user.

Learn more at:

MindMeister

Coggle (free)

Coggle
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Coggle is a Chrome-based extension that’s focused on collaboration, so if you need to build a mind map with other people, this is the first option you should consider. The maps are simple, with a few different formats to choose from, though you can add images as necessary. The app also lets you make comments, chat, and view revision history, making it a fantastic collaboration tool if you’re working with a large team.

It also features robust compatibility with Google Drive and Google contacts, making it an easy choice for those already invested in Google’s ecosystem.

Learn more at:

The Chrome Store

Wisemapping (free)

Wisemapping
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Wisemapping is a free, web-based mind-mapping option that’s been around for years and remains a solid choice for building maps from the ground up. If you need a many-forked or detailed map for your work, you’ll appreciate the many customization tools that Wisemapping provides, allowing you to turn simple tree-based maps into complex constructions.

However, expect to spend a little time learning how to use all the Wisemapping tools, as they aren’t as intuitive as some available options.

Learn more at:

Wisemapping

Bubbl.us (free)

Bubbl.us
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bubble.us no doubt got its name from the friendly, bubble-like node shapes that it uses to build diagrams. It’s one of the friendly tools on our list for pure, personal brainstorming, allowing you to rapidly connect a bunch of thoughts before they vanish. They also have a fun collection of quick map templates for building websites, creating organizational charts, and so on.

There aren’t many customization options, but it’s very easy to get started, and everything is free unless you want to pay $5 per month for teamwork and sharing capabilities.

Learn more at:

Bubbl.us

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Tyler Lacoma
Tyler Lacoma
Former Digital Trends Contributor
If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
Best Acer laptop deals: From Chromebooks to gaming laptops
Acer Nitro V

If you're looking to pick up a new laptop, then you may want to consider the Acer lineup, especially considering it's one of the best laptop brands when it comes to budget-oriented computers. That even includes gaming laptops. Even better, you can find a lot of great deals on Acer's laptops, meaning that the already budget-friendly laptops become even cheaper, which is why we've gone out to find our favorite deals and list them for you below. That said, if you can't find what you're looking for below, be sure to check out some of these other great laptop deals as well, since there is some crossover between this list and our picks for the best Chromebook deals, 2-in-1 laptop deals and gaming laptop deals.
Aspire 1 -- $200, was $300
 

If you need something very basic just to get online and do some general productivity and day-to-day stuff, then the Acer Aspire 1 is a good budget option. It has a 15.6-inch screen with an FHD resolution, which is nice to see at this price point, and the screen bevels are actually relatively thin for a budget-oriented product. Of course, it does come with a lower-end Intel Celeron N4500 and only 4GB of RAM, which means Windows 11 is in the reduced S mode, but the lower spec does mean the price can stay really low too.

Read more
Best 2-in-1 laptop deals: Turn your laptop into a tablet for $349
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 7 laptop sits on a small desk folded like a tent.

If you find that your traditional laptop isn't quite doing it for you in terms of workflow, then you might want to consider taking some of what the best tablets and the best laptops have and combining them together in the form of 2-in-1 laptops. These can offer a ton of versatility to your workflow, such as being able to use them in handheld mode for drawing or presenting, as well as the fact that most, if not all, are touch-enabled, so you don't even have to use a mouse if you don't want to.
There are, of course, a ton of great choices out there, but some of the best 2-in-1 laptops can get quite expensive, especially when you're buying them from some of the best laptop brands out there. That's why we've gone out and looked for our favorite 2-in-1 laptop deals to help save you some effort. We've pulled from HP laptop deals, Dell laptop deals, the classic 2-in-1 Surface Pro deals, and more. Check them out below.

Asus Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 -- $349, was $499

Read more
The best 17-inch laptop deals from HP, LG, Razer, and more
An HP Omen 17 laptop on a desk.

Long ago, 17-inch laptops were quite rare, and the only times you'd find them was on the best gaming laptops, and that usually meant you were buying a very expensive Alienware machine. Luckily, a lot has changed since then, and there are a plethora of pretty solid 17-inch laptop deals for you to pick from, whether you want something budget-friendly or one of the best laptops on the market. Not only that, but pretty much all the best laptop brands have 17-inch laptop options, so if you want to stay within a specific ecosystem or brand, then you can easily do that.

To that end, we've gone out and found some of our favorite 17-inch laptop deals out there, including HP laptop deals, Dell laptop deals (and Dell XPS laptop deals), and gaming laptop deals.
HP 17.3-inch laptop — $329, was $550

Read more