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Turn your notes into a free mind map with AI

Upload a PDF, slide deck, or photo of a page and get a mind map you can rename, rearrange, and explore branch by branch.

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

How to choose free mind map software for study

Plenty of free mind map software can draw boxes and lines, but the hard part is deciding what belongs on each branch. DeckOwl reads your lecture slides, PDF readings, or typed notes and builds a map of the main ideas and their subpoints, so you start editing instead of staring at a blank canvas.

Free plan: 3 generations per month, study in the browser
Plus adds unlimited generations and PDF, DOCX, Anki, and CSV export
Students get 40% off with a school email
Pro adds a stronger AI model, bulk upload, and QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export

Example mind map branches on climate and weather

Atmosphere layersTroposphere · Stratosphere · Mesosphere · Thermosphere

Weather vs. climateWeather is short-term conditions · Climate is the long-term average pattern · Weather is measured in hours and days · Climate is measured over decades

Drivers of atmospheric circulationUneven solar heating · Pressure gradients · Earth's rotation and the Coriolis effect · Surface friction

Greenhouse effectSunlight warms the surface · Surface re-emits infrared heat · Gases like CO2 and water vapor absorb it · Some heat stays trapped near the ground

Air masses and frontsCold front · Warm front · Occluded front · Stationary front

Generate the full set

Maps from your material

Upload PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, text notes, or photos of pages and get a mind map built from what they contain.

Editable and explorable

Expand or collapse branches and adjust the structure so the map matches how you think about the topic.

Start without a card

The free plan includes 3 generations a month, and no credit card is needed to begin.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, Word file, slide deck, notes, or a photo of a page.

Generate the map

Get branches for the main ideas and the supporting points under each one.

Edit and explore

Rename, move, or collapse branches until the structure fits the topic.

The free plan gives you 3 generations a month and lets you study in the browser. It does not include file exports, so if you need a file to share or print, that requires Plus at $39/year or $7.99/month.

The right choice depends on what you need: a quick hand-drawn map, a shared diagram, or a map built from your own material. For the last one, upload the source and check the result against your notes before you rely on it.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I organize climate and weather topics into a mind map?

Start with the big divisions, such as atmosphere layers, weather versus climate, and the drivers of circulation. Put the causes and examples under each one so the map shows how the ideas connect.

What should the main branches be for a weather unit?

Common main branches are air masses and fronts, pressure systems, precipitation, and forecasting tools. Each branch should hold a definition, a cause, and one example.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. The free plan includes 3 generations per month and lets you study in the browser, and no credit card is needed to start.

Can I export my mind map for free?

No. File exports are a paid feature, available on Plus at $39/year or $7.99/month.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.