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Take class notes as a mind map you can explore and edit

Upload a PDF, Word file, slide deck, or photo of your notes and get a branched mind map you can rearrange, expand, and review.

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 account · 3 sets a month · Creates mind maps in seconds

How a mind map note taking website helps you study

Most lecture notes end up as a long wall of text, and a mind map note-taking website gives that material a shape. You start with the course topic in the center, add a branch for each section the instructor covered, and hang the details off those branches. The result is easier to review because you can see which ideas belong together.

Upload a PDF, slide deck, Word file, or photo of handwritten pages
Edit branches, rename nodes, and reorganize the structure
Explore one branch at a time instead of scanning a full page
Start on the free plan with 3 generations per month and no credit card

Example note-taking branches for a mind map

Cornell note-taking methodCue column · Notes column · Summary at the bottom

Outline methodMain topics as headings · Subtopics indented under each · Details as sub-bullets

Charting methodColumns for topic, date, and key details · Works well for many similar facts

Active recall while taking notesPause every few minutes · Write a question from the last section · Answer without looking back

Spaced review of notesReview soon after class · Revisit after a few days · Test yourself before rereading

Generate the full set

Works from your own material

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text, or photos of pages. Images are read with text recognition.

Editable maps

Rename, move, or add branches so the map matches how your class organizes the topic.

Explorable structure

Follow a branch from the main idea down to supporting details without losing your place.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, document, slides, or a photo of handwritten pages.

Generate the map

DeckOwl drafts a branched mind map from the main ideas in your material.

Edit and explore

Adjust branches to fit your course, then study by expanding one branch at a time.

DeckOwl reads PDF, DOCX, and PPTX files, plain text notes, and photos of pages, then drafts a mind map from the material. The map stays editable, so you can rename branches, move them, or add your own observations after class. You can also explore it branch by branch when you want to check how one idea connects to another.

If you already have a rough draft from class, start there and let the map fill in the gaps. Keep each label to a short phrase rather than a full sentence so the structure stays readable at a glance.

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Turn lecture notes and PDFs into an editable AI mind map for better study notes.

Mind map note taking method guide

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Mind map style note taking with AI

Turn PDFs and lecture notes into an editable, explorable mind map to study from.

Mind Map vs Note Taking Comparison

Compare linear notes and mind maps, then turn your own material into an editable mind map with AI.

Mind mapping for note taking

Learn what mind mapping is and how to use it for lecture and reading notes.

Mind Mapping Method of Note Taking

How mind mapping works for notes, plus an AI tool to map your own PDFs and notes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I take notes as a mind map?

Put the course topic in the center, then add a main branch for each section of the lecture. Attach supporting details as sub-branches and keep every label to a few words.

Is a mind map better than linear notes for studying?

Mind maps show how concepts connect, which helps with topics that have many related ideas. Linear notes work better for step-by-step processes or dated sequences, so many students use both.

Is DeckOwl free to use?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, and no credit card is needed to start. Exports to PDF, DOCX, Anki, or CSV require Plus, which costs $99.90/year or $9.99/month.

Is there a student discount?

Students with a school email get 40% off, and you can start on the free plan without entering a credit card.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.