Over the years I’ve used most of the major apps, including MindManager, MindMeister, XMind, iThoughts, and MindNode. Using mind maps on the iPad is a more tactile experience, and works well, though adding thoughts can be slower. On the Mac, I like to get my ideas down quickly using the keyboard and use the mouse to move ideas around and create some structure. Now I use mind mapping software on both my Mac and iPad. I also found mind mapping on paper to be a quick way to get started on a new article or project.

I started with the open-source app FreeMind, one of the only apps available at the time. Why Trust Me for This XMind Review?Īround ten years ago, I discovered mind maps and realized how useful they are when planning and brainstorming. He popularized the concept in his book “Use Your Head”. Because it activates the right brain and makes it easy to show the relationships between ideas, it’s a useful practice for note-taking, brainstorming, problem-solving, outlining writing projects, and more.ĭiagrams have been used to visually organize information for centuries, and in the 1970s Tony Buzan coined the term “mind map”. No cloud sync between devices.Ī mind map is a diagram with the central idea in the middle, and related ideas radiating out like a tree. What I Don’t Like: Subscription-based model won’t suit everyone. What I Like: Mind maps are easy to create using the keyboard. You never know, XMind may offer the right balance of features and usability to sway you. I recommend you add it to your shortlist, then evaluate the trial versions of several apps to see which best meets your needs. There are more fully-featured apps (at a price) if you need them, and other alternatives offer similar features at a cheaper price, but also include cloud sync. However, it is not substantially better than its competitors. XMind offers a smooth workflow, a responsive graphics engine, a distraction-free mode, and all the basic features you’ll need to create and format mind maps. By spreading ideas over the page rather than in a straight line, new relationships become apparent, aiding understanding. Mind maps are like outlines that engage the creative right brain.

Ithoughts subscriptions