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Turn your notes into an editable mind map board

Upload a PDF, Word file, slide deck or photo of a page and get a mind map you can rework, extend 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 map your material before you study it

Most students who want a mind map board app are trying to see how the pieces of a lecture fit together before they memorize any single fact.

Start from a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file or a photo of your notes
Edit each branch so the map follows your lecture outline
Explore one branch at a time, then step back to see the whole topic
Export to PDF or DOCX on Plus, or study in the browser on the free plan

Example mind map branches for cell biology (study topic)

Cell membranePhospholipid bilayer · Embedded proteins · Selective permeability

MitosisProphase · Metaphase · Anaphase · Telophase

PhotosynthesisLight-dependent reactions · Calvin cycle · Chloroplast · Produces glucose and oxygen

Cellular respirationGlycolysis · Krebs cycle · Electron transport chain · Produces ATP

OsmosisWater movement · Across a semipermeable membrane · Toward higher solute concentration

Generate the full set

Editable branches

Rename labels and add your own branches after generation so the map matches your course, not a generic template.

Explorable structure

Move through the map one branch at a time to focus on a single topic, then step back to see how everything connects.

Works from your files

Start from PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or a photo of handwritten or printed pages read with text recognition.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a lecture PDF, slide deck, Word document, text file or photo of a page.

Generate the map

DeckOwl identifies the main ideas and places them on a board with a central topic and branches.

Edit and explore

Adjust labels and structure, then move through each branch to study the topic in order.

DeckOwl reads your source file, pulls out the key concepts, and lays them out as a central topic with connected branches. You can rewrite labels, reorder sections and add branches where your instructor went deeper, so the board reflects the way your course is organized.

The free plan lets you build maps and study them in the browser. Exporting to PDF or DOCX is part of Plus, so you can bring a finished map into your notes or print it for review.

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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.

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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 should I arrange a mind map for a biology unit?

Put the unit's main theme in the center, then give each major concept its own branch. Add key terms and examples as sub-branches so you can quiz yourself by covering one level at a time.

How many branches should a study mind map have?

Most lecture topics work well with 4 to 7 main branches, each holding 2 to 4 sub-points. Fewer branches can hide structure, and many more becomes hard to scan.

Is a mind map board app free to use?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and lets you study in the browser. Plus, at $39 per year or $7.99 per month, adds unlimited generations and PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export.

Can I export my mind map?

Exports are part of paid plans, so the free plan is for studying in the browser only. Plus includes PDF and DOCX export, and Pro adds QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export for teaching platforms.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.