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Turn your notes into an editable concept map

Skip drawing boxes by hand. DeckOwl builds a mind map from your lecture slides, chapter PDFs or photos of pages, and you can edit and explore every branch.

Create mind maps nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free account · 3 sets a month · Creates mind maps in seconds

What to look for in a concept map tool

Choosing among apps to make concept maps often comes down to one question: can it start from the material you already have? Many students still spend an evening drawing boxes by hand when their slides or chapter notes already contain the branches.

Accepts the files you already study from, including scanned pages through text recognition
Produces a map you can edit, not a static image
Lets you branch from the map into flashcards or quizzes
Starts free with no credit card required

Example Spanish present-tense verb concept map branches

Regular -ar verbsyo: -o · tú: -as · él/ella/usted: -a

Regular -er verbsDrop -er, add -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en · comer → como, comes

Stem-changing e→ie verbspensar → pienso, piensas · Change applies to all forms except nosotros and vosotros · Examples: querer, empezar

Irregular yo formshacer → hago · poner → pongo · salir → salgo

Ser and estarser: soy, eres, es (identity) · estar: estoy, estás, está (location and state)

Generate the full set

Starts from your material

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or photos of pages. Recognized text becomes the branches of your map.

Editable and explorable

Rename nodes, rearrange branches and drill into sub-topics so the map fits how your course is organized.

Study from the same map

Turn the same material into flashcards with spaced repetition or quizzes with explanations when you are ready to test yourself.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, Word file, slide deck, text file or a photo of a page. No credit card is needed to start.

Generate the mind map

DeckOwl finds the main ideas and organizes them into a central topic with linked branches.

Edit and explore

Adjust the layout, reword nodes and expand branches to see how each idea connects to the rest.

Take Spanish present-tense verbs as an example. A useful map puts present tense at the center, then splits into regular -ar, -er and -ir endings, stem-changing verbs and the irregular yo forms, so each group can be reviewed on its own.

DeckOwl reads PDFs, DOCX and PPTX files, plain text and photos of pages, then builds an editable mind map you can reshape. The free plan includes 3 generations per month for studying in the browser.

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Frequently asked questions

How many branches should a Spanish present-tense concept map have?

Most learners do well with one branch per verb group, such as regular -ar, regular -er, regular -ir and the main irregular stems. Keep sub-branches limited to the endings or stems you actually need to recall.

What is the best way to study Spanish present-tense verbs with a map?

Cover the endings on one branch, conjugate from memory, then check yourself against the map. Move on to stem-changing and irregular verbs once the regular endings feel steady.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. The free plan includes 3 generations per month and lets you study in the browser, but it does not include exports.

What do I need to export my mind map?

Exports such as PDF and DOCX are part of the Plus plan, which costs $99.90/year or $9.99/month and includes unlimited generations. Students get 40% off with a school email.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.