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Mind map software that turns your PDFs into an editable map

Upload a lecture PDF, slide deck, or set of notes and get a mind map with main branches and sub-points. Edit any node, then follow the branches to see how ideas 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

From your notes to a map you can edit

Students and teachers comparing mind map software usually want one thing: a map that starts from their own material instead of a blank canvas. DeckOwl reads your PDF, slides, or notes and drafts a mind map with main branches and sub-points, so the first draft is already built around your course.

Main branches pulled from the headings and key terms in your source
Sub-points you can edit, reorder, or delete
A map you can explore branch by branch during review
Option to export to PDF or DOCX on the Plus plan

Example mind map branches from a cell biology unit

Cell membranePhospholipid bilayer · Selectively permeable · Embedded proteins · Cholesterol in animal cells

MitochondriaSite of cellular respiration · Double membrane · Produces most ATP · Has its own circular DNA

NucleusHolds chromosomal DNA · Bounded by nuclear envelope · Nucleolus makes ribosome subunits · Pores control transport

Passive transportDiffusion down a concentration gradient · Osmosis is water diffusion · Facilitated diffusion uses carrier proteins · No ATP required

Endoplasmic reticulumRough ER has ribosomes and makes proteins · Smooth ER makes lipids · Detoxifies some drugs · Connected to the nuclear envelope

Generate the full set

Built from your material

The map starts from the text in your own PDF, DOCX, PPTX, notes, or photo of a page, not from generic topics.

Editable nodes

Rename, move, or reorganize branches so the map matches how your course or textbook frames the topic.

Explorable structure

Expand and collapse branches to focus on one section at a time, then move back to the full picture before an exam.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes, or a photo of a page. Images are read with text recognition.

Generate the map

DeckOwl drafts a mind map with main branches and sub-points taken from your material.

Edit and study

Adjust the branches you want, then explore the map in your browser. Free accounts can study without exporting.

Drawing a map by hand in a general diagramming tool works, but the setup takes time before you learn anything. With a generated draft, your time goes into checking the connections, correcting what the AI got wrong, and adding the links your instructor emphasized.

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Frequently asked questions

How many branches should a study mind map have?

Most topics work well with 4 to 7 main branches, each holding 2 to 4 sub-points. If one branch needs more detail, move it into its own map so the overall structure stays readable.

Is a mind map better than an outline for exam review?

Mind maps help when you need to see how ideas relate, such as causes and effects across a unit. Outlines suit step-by-step or strictly ordered material, so many students use both.

Can I export my mind map?

Exports are a paid feature, and Plus includes PDF and DOCX export. The free plan lets you generate maps and study them in the browser, with 3 generations per month.

How is this different from drawing a map in Lucidchart?

Lucidchart is a general diagramming tool where you place every shape yourself. DeckOwl starts from your PDF, slides, or notes and drafts the map, which you then edit.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.