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Turn your notes into a free mind map on your MacBook

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, or photo of a page and get a mind map you can rearrange, expand, and explore branch by 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 · First set needs no signup · Creates mind maps in seconds

Why a free mind map app helps on a MacBook

Lecture slides and scattered notes are hard to see as a whole, and a free mind map app for MacBook can turn them into a branching map you can rearrange as you study.

Turn a chapter of lecture notes into a map of the main concepts before the exam.
Rearrange branches when your instructor's structure differs from the textbook's.
Expand a single branch into sub-points when you need more detail on one topic.
Use the map as an outline to check what you still need to review.

Example Mac keyboard shortcut mind map branches

Screenshot shortcutsCmd+Shift+3 captures the full screen · Cmd+Shift+4 captures a selected area · Cmd+Shift+5 opens capture options

Spotlight searchCmd+Space opens Spotlight · Type an app name and press Return · Use it for files, calculations, and unit conversions

Finder navigationCmd+Shift+G goes to a folder path · Cmd+Delete moves selected items to the Trash · Cmd+Up Arrow opens the enclosing folder

Switching and quitting appsCmd+Tab switches apps · Cmd+Q quits the front app · Cmd+H hides the current app's windows

Basic text editingCmd+C copies · Cmd+X cuts · Cmd+V pastes

Generate the full set

Editable mind maps

Rename nodes, rearrange branches, and expand any idea without starting over.

Explorable structure

Open each branch to see how the main topics connect to their supporting details.

Built from your own files

Start from lecture slides, class notes, textbook PDFs, or a photo of a page.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes, or an image of a page.

Generate the map

DeckOwl reads the text and builds a branching map of the main topics and subtopics.

Explore and edit

Click through the branches, fix anything that looks off, and study the map in your browser.

A map built from your own material keeps the structure of your course intact. Main topics sit at the first level, and the details you need for exams hang underneath them, so you can see what connects to what before you memorize anything.

DeckOwl runs in the browser, so you can open it in Safari or Chrome on your MacBook. The free plan includes 3 generations per month with studying in the browser, which is enough to test the idea on one set of notes.

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Free mind map app for notes and PDFs

Turn PDFs and notes into an editable mind map. Start free, 3 generations a month.

Free mind mapping app for students

Turn lecture notes and PDFs into an editable mind map, free to start, with no credit card needed.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I turn lecture notes into a mind map?

Paste plain text or upload a DOCX or PPTX of your notes, and DeckOwl builds a branching map of the main topics and subtopics. You can then edit the branches so the structure matches how your course is organized.

How many branches should a study mind map have?

Most useful maps have four to seven main branches, each with two to four sub-points. If a branch holds much more than that, it usually needs to be split into two topics.

Is the free plan enough to try it on my MacBook?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, so you can test it on your own notes first. Exports such as PDF and DOCX are part of Plus, which costs $39/year or $7.99/month.

Does it work in Safari on a MacBook?

DeckOwl runs in the browser, so you can open it in Safari or Chrome on your MacBook. No credit card is needed to start.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.