Turn your notes into a free mind map you can edit
Upload a PDF, Word or PowerPoint file, plain notes, or photos of pages, and get an explorable mind map you can edit. Start on the free plan with 3 generations a month and no credit card.
How a free mind map drawing tool fits into studying
Sketching a mind map by hand works well for a short topic, but a full lecture or textbook chapter quickly outgrows a blank page. A free mind map drawing tool helps by starting from your own material, so the main ideas are already organized when you sit down to study.
- Upload PDFs, slides, notes, or photos of pages
- Edit branches and sub-points after the map is generated
- Study by exploring each branch in the browser on the free plan
- Export to PDF or DOCX with the Plus plan
Starts from your material
Skip the blank canvas. Upload your lecture slides, textbook chapter, or handwritten notes photographed on your phone, and the main branches are already sketched out.
Editable and explorable
Rename branches, move nodes, and expand or collapse sections as you study. The map stays yours to reshape as your understanding grows.
Study in the browser
The free plan lets you open and work with your mind maps right in the browser. Exports to PDF, DOCX, and other formats are part of the paid plans.
How it works
Upload your notes
Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file, or a clear photo of a page. Text recognition reads the photo for you.
Generate the map
DeckOwl organizes the material into a central topic with branches and sub-points you can follow.
Edit and explore
Reorder branches, add your own drawings or labels, and click through each section as a study path.
DeckOwl reads PDFs, Word and PowerPoint files, plain notes, and photos of pages. It then builds a map you can rearrange, rename, and explore branch by branch, which is useful for drawing courses where concepts like perspective, value, and composition connect to each other.
The free plan covers 3 generations a month and studying in the browser. Plus adds unlimited generations and PDF, DOCX, Anki, and CSV export for $39 a year or $7.99 a month, and students get 40% off with a school email.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I export my mind map on the free plan?
No. The free plan lets you study in the browser with 3 generations a month but does not include exports. Plus at $39 a year or $7.99 a month adds PDF and DOCX export.
How do I map out a drawing topic like perspective?
Put the core idea, such as one-point perspective, in the center, then add branches for the horizon line, vanishing point, and common mistakes. Keep each sub-point short so you can recall it while sketching.
How many branches should a drawing mind map have?
Five to seven main branches is a good range for one lecture or chapter. If a branch grows past four or five sub-points, split it into its own map.
Does DeckOwl work with photos of my sketchbook notes?
Photos of printed or handwritten pages are read with text recognition, so typed or clearly written labels come through best. Sketches themselves are not converted into shapes.
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