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A mind map and brainstorm tool that starts from your notes

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, or your own notes and get an editable mind map you can expand, reorganize, and explore one branch at a time.

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 account · 3 sets a month · Creates mind maps in seconds

How a mind map and brainstorm tool helps you think

Good ideas rarely arrive in a straight line, which is why a mind map and brainstorm tool suits the way most people think through a topic. Instead of a list that runs top to bottom, you see one idea branching into related ones.

Start with one central topic and add main branches before writing detail.
Use short keywords on each node so the map stays easy to scan.
Group similar ideas together and rename branches as your understanding changes.
Review the map from the outside in, testing whether you can explain each branch from memory.

Example brainstorm and mind map branches

Brainstorming rulesDefer judgment · Aim for quantity · Build on others' ideas · Welcome unusual ideas

Mind map layoutCentral topic in the middle · Main branches as keywords · One idea per node · Colors to group related themes

Ways to sort brainstormed ideasGroup similar ideas · Rank by impact or feasibility · Mark open questions · Pick next actions

Mind mapping vs. outliningMind maps radiate from a center · Outlines follow a strict hierarchy · Mind maps suit early idea capture · Outlines suit final drafts

Revising a mind map before a testRecall each branch from memory · Merge duplicate nodes · Add examples under weak branches · Review again after a few days

Generate the full set

Starts from your material

Drop in a PDF, Word file, slide deck, plain notes, or a photo of a page. The tool reads the text and builds the first map from it.

Editable branches

Rename nodes, move ideas between branches, and add your own thoughts so the map reflects how you think, not just what the source says.

Explore at your own pace

Collapse and expand branches to focus on one area, then zoom out to see how the main themes connect.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a file or paste text. Scanned pages work too, since photos are read with text recognition.

Review the first map

Check the central topic and main branches, then adjust anything that is missing or out of place.

Brainstorm and expand

Add new ideas as sub-branches, group related points, and keep going until the map covers the topic.

A map is also useful after the first pass. When you return to your notes, you can see which branches are thin, which ideas repeat, and where two themes meet. Those gaps are often the best places to study or to brainstorm next.

Keep the first version rough. Capture ideas quickly, then group and label them once the list is long enough to need structure.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I start a mind map when I have too many ideas?

Write the central topic in the middle, then sort the ideas into four to six main branches before adding any detail. You can split those branches later once the structure is clear.

What makes a useful brainstorming branch?

A useful branch names one distinct theme in a few words, and its sub-points support that theme directly. If a branch holds unrelated items, split it into two.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. The free plan includes three generations per month and lets you study in the browser, and you do not need a credit card to start. Exporting files is a paid feature.

Can I export my mind map?

Exports such as PDF and DOCX are included in the Plus plan, which costs $99.90/year or $9.99/month. Pro adds bulk upload and QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.