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Turn your PDFs and notes into a digital mind map

Skip the blank canvas. Upload lecture slides, a textbook chapter, or typed notes, and DeckOwl builds a mind map of the main ideas and how they connect.

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 build a mind map from your own material

If you are wondering how to make a digital mind map, the quickest method is to start from the material you already have rather than drawing one from scratch. A mind map built from your own lecture slides or chapter notes shows how your course actually groups its ideas.

Start with a single PDF or set of notes so the map stays focused on one topic.
Check that each main branch names a distinct idea before you study from it.
Use the sub-points as prompts: can you explain each one without looking?
Rebuild the map after you add new lecture material to keep it current.

Example mind map branches for renewable energy sources

Solar energyPhotovoltaic panels · Concentrated solar power · Solar water heating

Wind energyOnshore turbines · Offshore turbines · Output depends on wind speed

HydropowerDams and reservoirs · Run-of-river systems · Pumped storage for grid balancing

Geothermal energyHeat from the Earth's crust · Power plants and direct heating · Best where geology is active

BiomassWood and crop residue · Biogas from organic waste · Renewable when regrown or replanted

Generate the full set

Starts from your material

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text, or a photo of a page, and the map is built from what you actually need to learn.

Main branches and sub-points

Core topics become main branches, with supporting details nested beneath them so the structure matches your course.

Study it, not just look at it

Explore the map, then turn the same material into flashcards or quizzes when you are ready to practice recall.

How it works

Upload your notes or PDF

Add a lecture handout, textbook chapter, slide deck, or typed notes. Photos of pages are read with text recognition.

Generate the mind map

DeckOwl identifies the central topic, main branches, and sub-points, then lays them out as a map you can explore.

Review and refine

Follow each branch to check that the connections make sense, and rerun the generation with different material if you want a new map.

Drawing a map by hand works well for a few concepts, but it gets slow when a chapter has dozens of terms. Generating the map from your upload lets you spend the time checking the connections instead of placing every box.

Once the map exists, use its branches as a study guide. Test yourself on each main branch, then move the same content into flashcards or a quiz to lock it in.

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Frequently asked questions

How many main branches should a study mind map have?

Most useful maps have between four and eight main branches, each covering one major idea from the material. If you have more, split the source into smaller sections and make separate maps.

How do I know whether a sub-point belongs under a branch?

A sub-point belongs under a branch when it explains, gives an example of, or lists parts of that branch's idea. If it could stand on its own as a main topic, move it up a level.

Do I need a credit card to try it?

No. You can start without a credit card, and the free plan includes 3 generations per month with studying in the browser.

Is exporting included in the free plan?

No. Exports such as PDF, DOCX, Anki, and CSV are part of the Plus plan, which is $39/year or $7.99/month, and the free plan lets you study in the browser.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.