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Get a portable mind map app that runs in any browser

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text file or photo of a page and get an editable mind map you can explore branch by branch. No install and no credit card to start.

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

What a portable mind map app should do for your notes

A portable mind map app is useful when you study on different machines and cannot carry a desktop program around. DeckOwl runs in the browser, so the same map is available on a library computer or your own laptop once you sign in.

No installer or admin rights needed on shared computers
Works with PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text and photos of pages
Free plan includes 3 generations per month
Plus adds unlimited generations and PDF or DOCX export

Example biology mind map branches

Cell membranePhospholipid bilayer · Selective permeability · Embedded proteins

MitosisProphase · Metaphase · Anaphase · Telophase

PhotosynthesisLight-dependent reactions · Calvin cycle · Chloroplast location

EnzymesActive site · Substrate binding · Affected by temperature and pH

Nucleic acidsDNA · RNA · Nucleotide structure

Generate the full set

Works in any browser

Open DeckOwl on a laptop, tablet or school computer and start studying. Nothing to download or install.

Editable branches

Rename, move or add nodes so the map matches your course notes instead of a generic template.

Explore at your pace

Expand and collapse sections to focus on one topic at a time.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, notes file or a photo of a page.

Generate the map

DeckOwl reads the text and lays out the main ideas as branches.

Edit and explore

Adjust the layout, then click through branches to review each idea.

Because the map is generated from your own material, it reflects your course rather than a generic topic outline. Upload a lecture PDF or a photo of handwritten pages, and the text is read with recognition before the branches are built.

If you need a copy to print or share, note that PDF, DOCX and other exports are part of the Plus plan. The free plan lets you build and explore maps directly in the browser.

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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 many branches should a study mind map have?

Most study maps work best with 4 to 7 main branches, each with a few sub-points. Split a larger topic into a second map rather than crowding one page.

How do I make a mind map easier to memorize?

Keep each branch to one idea and label it with a short phrase. Close the map and rebuild it from memory to find the gaps.

Can I use it without installing anything?

Yes. DeckOwl runs in your browser, and the free plan lets you study there with no credit card needed.

Is exporting included for free?

No. Exports such as PDF, DOCX and Anki are part of Plus at $39/year or $7.99/month, and students get 40% off with a school email.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.