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Turn your notes into a concept map you can edit and explore

Upload a chapter, lecture slides, or typed notes and get a mind map with the main ideas on top and the supporting details branching out below.

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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 a generated map beats starting from a blank page

Most students spend more time laying out a diagram than thinking about the material. A concept map maker that starts from your own chapter, lecture, or notes puts the effort where it helps: deciding how ideas connect. Because the map is built from your source, the branches reflect what your course actually covers.

Works with PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text, and photos of pages read with text recognition
Produces an editable mind map you can reshape after generation
Lets you explore branches one at a time instead of reading a single dense diagram
Free plan includes 3 generations a month and studying in the browser

Example cell biology concept map branches

Cell membranePhospholipid bilayer · Selectively permeable · Embedded proteins

MitochondriaSite of cellular respiration · Produces ATP · Contains its own DNA

NucleusHolds chromosomal DNA · Enclosed by nuclear envelope · Controls gene expression

Endoplasmic reticulumRough ER has ribosomes · Smooth ER makes lipids · Transports newly made proteins

Golgi apparatusModifies and sorts proteins · Packages materials into vesicles · Ships products to targets

Generate the full set

Starts from your material

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text, or a photo of a page, and the map is built from what you actually need to learn.

Editable after generation

Rename branches, rearrange ideas, and adjust the structure so the map matches how your course organizes the topic.

Explorable layout

Move through the map branch by branch, so you can review one idea at a time instead of scanning a crowded diagram.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, Word file, slide deck, or photo of handwritten pages. No formatting is needed.

Generate the map

DeckOwl pulls out the central idea and its main branches from your material.

Edit and study

Adjust the branches, explore each one, and turn key links into flashcards or quiz questions.

If you were looking for a design-style tool to draw a concept map from scratch, DeckOwl works differently. It reads your material first and proposes the structure, so you edit a draft instead of building one. The map stays editable, so you can correct anything the first pass gets wrong.

Maps work best when you test yourself on them. Cover a branch, explain it aloud, then check whether your explanation matches the map. Repeat this a few times a week and the connections will hold up better on exam day.

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Frequently asked questions

How many branches should a concept map for one chapter have?

Aim for one central idea with four to six main branches, and two to four sub-points under each. If a map runs longer than that, split it into two linked maps by subtopic.

How do I study a concept map instead of memorizing it?

Cover one branch and explain its links out loud, such as how mitochondria produce ATP for the cell. Then redraw the map from memory and note which connections you missed.

Can I edit the map after it is generated?

Yes, the mind map is editable and explorable, so you can adjust branches after the first draft. You can keep refining it as your course material changes.

Is exporting my concept map free?

Export is part of the paid plans, which cost $39 a year or $7.99 a month, with students getting 40% off using a school email. The free plan lets you generate 3 maps a month and study them in the browser.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.