One app for mind mapping and note taking from your own files
Upload a PDF, slides, or typed notes and get an editable mind map you can explore branch by branch.
Why a mind map and your notes belong in one place
Most students already have the material: lecture slides, a textbook chapter, a stack of scanned pages. The hard part is seeing how the ideas connect. A mind mapping and note-taking app that starts from your own files saves the step of copying everything by hand.
- Mind map built from a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, or plain text file
- Printed pages photographed and read with text recognition
- Flashcards with spaced repetition made from the same notes
- Free plan with 3 generations per month and browser study
Upload any source
Drop in PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, plain text, or photos of printed pages. Photos are read with text recognition.
Editable mind maps
Rename, move, and reorganize branches after the map is generated so it matches how you think about the topic.
Flashcards and quizzes too
The same notes can become spaced repetition flashcards or quizzes with explanations when you are ready to study.
How it works
Upload your material
Add lecture slides, a textbook chapter, or typed notes in PDF, DOCX, PPTX, or plain text.
Explore the mind map
Open the generated map, follow each branch, and edit anything that is out of place.
Study from the map
Turn the same material into flashcards or a quiz and review the branches you keep missing.
Mind maps work best when the central topic is specific and each branch holds one idea with its supporting details underneath. Notes work best when you rewrite them in your own words. DeckOwl gives you a starting map from your material, and you edit it from there.
The free plan lets you study in the browser with 3 generations per month. Plus adds unlimited generations and exports, and Pro adds bulk upload for larger course folders.
Explore related topics
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Frequently asked questions
How do I take notes that connect ideas instead of running as a list?
Start with one specific central idea, then add one branch per main point and keep supporting details as sub-branches. Keep each branch to a few words so you can scan the whole map at once.
How many branches should a mind map for one lecture have?
Most lectures fit well into a handful of main branches, often somewhere around five to nine. If the topic needs more, split it into two maps instead of crowding one.
Is there a free mind mapping and note-taking app?
DeckOwl has a free plan with 3 generations per month and studying in the browser. Exports require a paid plan, and Plus is $99.90/year or $9.99/month.
Do I need a credit card to start?
No. You can start on the free plan without a credit card, and students get 40% off with a school email.
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