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Turn your notes into a concept map you can explore

Ready-made maps rarely match your course. Upload your own material, and DeckOwl builds an editable map you can explore on screen.

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

Why a map from your own material beats a generic download

Ready-made concept maps are written for a generic syllabus, so they often skip the details your professor covered. A free concept map built from your own notes matches your course. Upload the material and DeckOwl maps its main ideas and how they connect, which you can edit and explore on screen.

  • Built from your own PDFs, slides, or notes
  • Editable branches you can rename, move, or add
  • Free plan: three generations a month, studied in the browser
  • PDF export and unlimited generations on Plus
Example cell biology concept map branches
OrganellesNucleus · Mitochondria · Endoplasmic reticulum · Golgi apparatus
Membrane transportDiffusion · Osmosis · Active transport · Facilitated diffusion
Cell divisionInterphase · Mitosis · Cytokinesis · Cell cycle checkpoints
Cellular respirationGlycolysis · Krebs cycle · Electron transport chain · ATP production
Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cellsCell wall composition · Membrane-bound organelles · Location of genetic material · Typical size
Generate the full set

Built from your material

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text file, or photo of a page and get a concept map drawn from its main ideas.

Editable and explorable

Rename, move, or add branches, then click through the map to see how each idea connects to the rest.

Study from the same source

Turn the same material into flashcards and quizzes with spaced repetition when you are ready to practice.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file, or a photo of a page.

Generate the map

DeckOwl builds a mind map with main branches and sub-points drawn from your material.

Edit and export

Refine the branches in the browser. PDF export comes with Plus.

The free plan includes three generations per month and lets you study in the browser, so you can test the map before deciding anything. Saving a file for printing needs Plus, which adds PDF export and unlimited generations.

Explore related topics

Frequently asked questions

Can I download a concept map for free?

The free plan lets you build and study maps in the browser, but exporting files is a paid feature. Plus includes PDF export, and students get 40% off with a school email.

How do I make a good concept map for cell biology?

Start with one central idea, such as the cell, then add main branches like organelles, membrane transport, and cell division. Keep each sub-point short and link related branches to show how they affect each other.

Can I make a concept map from a photo of my notes?

Yes. Photos of pages are read with text recognition, and that text becomes the basis for the map. Check the branches afterward, since handwriting can occasionally be misread.

How many branches should a concept map have?

Most maps work well with 3 to 6 main branches, each holding 2 to 4 sub-points. If you need many more, the topic is usually better split across two maps.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.