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Turn your PDFs and notes into a free mind map on iPad

Upload a PDF, Word file, slide deck, or photo of a page, and DeckOwl builds 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 mind map works well on an iPad

Mind maps help most when you can drag branches around and add detail as you understand more, and an iPad suits that kind of hands-on work. This DeckOwl page covers a free mind map app for iPad that starts from your own material: upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file, or a photo of a page, and get an editable, explorable map in your browser.

Works with PDFs, Word and PowerPoint files, plain text notes, and photos of pages
Editable maps you can reshape to match your course outline
Explorable branches so you can zoom into the details you need
Free plan includes 3 generations per month with no credit card required

Example mind map branches for cell biology

Cell membranePhospholipid bilayer · Selective permeability · Transport proteins

NucleusNuclear envelope · Chromatin · Nucleolus · Ribosome assembly

MitochondriaSite of cellular respiration · Double membrane · Produces ATP · Own circular DNA

Endoplasmic reticulumRough ER has ribosomes · Smooth ER makes lipids · Detoxifies drugs in liver cells

Golgi apparatusModifies and sorts proteins · Packages them in vesicles · Ships molecules to their destinations

Generate the full set

Starts from your own material

Drop in PDFs, DOCX and PPTX files, plain text notes, or a photo of a textbook page. Text recognition reads the photo so you can map it too.

Editable and explorable

Open any branch to see the detail under it, then reshape the map to match how your course organizes the topic.

Free to start

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in your browser. No credit card is needed to begin.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text file, or photo of a page from your iPad.

Generate the map

DeckOwl pulls out the main ideas and arranges them into branches and sub-points.

Explore and edit

Expand the branches you need to review, rename or move nodes, and study from the map.

Generated maps are a starting point, not a finished product. Rearrange the branches your instructor emphasized, delete what you do not need, and expand the sections you find confusing. The map then becomes a study tool you shape yourself.

Free use covers 3 generations per month. Plus, at $39 per year or $7.99 per month, removes the generation limit and adds PDF and DOCX export for your files.

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

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Frequently asked questions

How do I organize a biology chapter into a mind map?

Start with the chapter's main headings as your primary branches, such as cell membrane, nucleus, and organelles. Then add key terms and short definitions under each branch, and link related ideas across branches.

How many branches should one mind map have?

Most useful maps have 4 to 8 main branches, each with 2 to 4 sub-points. If a branch grows much larger, split it into two maps so each one stays easy to review.

Is the free plan really free?

Yes, the free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in your browser. Exports such as PDF and DOCX require a paid plan, which starts at $7.99 per month or $39 per year.

Can I export my mind map or use it offline?

Export options such as PDF and DOCX are included with Plus, and students with a school email get 40% off. The free plan lets you study in the browser without exporting.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.