Alternatives · Whiteboards
Mindly alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Mindly alternative for most people is Xmind (3.0 GPA), second in our ranking of whiteboard and mind map tools. It's also the best free one. The catch, in its listing's words: "Up to 10 manually created online maps."
Mindly compared with 4 alternatives: SimpleMind, MindNode, Xmind and Coggle.
Mindly is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $3.99 per month (App Store in-app purchase), $34.99 per year. All 4 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Mindly sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| MindlyThis tool | Free trial · from $3.99/mo | Trial only | iOS, Android |
| SimpleMind | Free plan · from $10.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| MindNode | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Xmind | Free plan · from $4.92/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Coggle | Free plan · from $5/mo | Yes | Web |
Price against what you get
Mindly starts at $2.92 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 3 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: MindNode.
Xmind and Coggle score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Mindly
SimpleMind
Mind mapping app sold as a one-time purchase per platform
- SimpleMind starts at $10.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 for Mac or Windows.
- SimpleMind has a free plan, which Mindly lacks.
- SimpleMind also lists macOS and Windows apps.
- SimpleMind can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SimpleMind does not cover notes, which Mindly does.
Suits: People who want to buy a mind mapping app once, not subscribe
MindNode
Mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices
- MindNode starts at $2.99 per month, or $24.99 per year.
- MindNode has a free plan, which Mindly lacks.
- MindNode also lists a macOS app.
- MindNode lists no Android app, which Mindly has.
- MindNode is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Suits: People who work across a Mac, an iPhone and an iPad
Xmind
Mind mapping app with AI, Gantt charts and a presentation mode
- Xmind starts at $4.92 per month, billed yearly ($59 a year).
- Xmind has a free plan, which Mindly lacks.
- Xmind also lists a web app and macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Xmind also covers templates, Gantt & timelines and presentations.
- Xmind does not cover notes, which Mindly does.
Suits: People who think in mind maps and want an app on every device
Coggle
Collaborative mind maps and flowcharts in the browser
- Coggle starts at $5 per month.
- Coggle has a free plan, which Mindly lacks.
- Coggle also lists a web app.
- Coggle lists no iOS and Android apps, which Mindly has.
- Coggle is self-hostable, according to its own site.
Suits: Students and teams making quick collaborative mind maps
Limits worth knowing in Mindly
- The App Store lists iPhone and iPad only, and the site links Google Play; no desktop app is named.
- There is no free plan; the app is free to download and the subscription starts with a trial of unstated length.
- The subscription is bought through the app stores; the pages read do not describe a one-time purchase.
- The Mindly 2 App Store listing shows a 2.0 average from 7 ratings, while the vendor's site cites 4.6 for the earlier app.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Mindly?
The alternatives to Mindly in this directory are SimpleMind, MindNode, Xmind and Coggle. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Mindly.
Is there a free alternative to Mindly?
Yes. SimpleMind, MindNode, Xmind and Coggle have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Mindly alternatives work on Windows?
The Mindly listing does not include a Windows app. SimpleMind and Xmind list one.
Which Mindly alternatives work on macOS?
The Mindly listing does not include a macOS app. SimpleMind, MindNode and Xmind list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 6, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.