Bubbl.us vs Mind42 (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Mind42 grades higher than Bubbl.us: 2.8 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Mind42 grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Bubbl.us if
- Fits if you want a throwaway mind map without making an account
- Works for a team that wants one licence payment point and manager roles
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need prices up front: none could be read from its page
- Tight if you rely on an unsigned map, because it lives only in your browser and clearing browser data can lose it
- Skip it if you want a phone or desktop app, as none is listed
- Watch out: the trial length is not stated in the help centre
- Watch out: refunds are decided case by case by email
Pick Mind42 if
- Fits if you want a free browser mind map and can live with ads
- Works for plain hierarchical outlines shared with a classmate or colleague
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want branches linked across the map, as none are supported
- Skip it if you want a phone app, since the FAQ says the editor is not built for touch screens
- Watch out: the blog says no new features are planned, only maintenance
- Watch out: ads are shown, and the ad-free account has no price on the pages read
- Watch out: images can only be added by web address, not uploaded
How we grade them
| 2.0GPABubbl.usFair | 2.8GPAMind42Good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price could be read, which the ladder puts in the middle. Team pricing is by licence count and quoted on a separate page. | AFree to use with ads and no stated limit on the number of maps. An ad-free account exists, but no price is shown. |
| Free plan and trial | CA map can be started with no account, but the listing says it is kept only in the browser unless you register. Paid plans have a trial of unstated length. | AFree outright, with no cap on the number of mind maps on the page. |
| Features | CBubbles, layouts, attachments, live shared editing, export to image or PDF and revision history on premium. The listing records no plan limits at all. | CMind maps with shared editing and PDF export. The listing shows gaps: no free node placement, no links between branches and no second main topic. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You build each map by hand. | CNo store rating on record. You build each map by hand, and the editor is not made for touch screens. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, with no apps and no integrations listed. | CWeb only, with no apps and no integrations listed. |
| Best for | a quick mind map with no sign-up | free browser mind maps with a fixed layout |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Bubbl.us and Mind42. How we grade
Where they differ
- Bubbl.us also covers templates.
In commonFree planWebReal-time collaborationMind mapping
At a glance
| Bubbl.us | Mind42 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | Not published | Free |
| Free plan | A mind map can be started without an account, but the work is saved only in the browser unless you register. | Free to use with advertising, with no stated limit on the number of mind maps. |
| Free trial | Free trial on paid plans; the end date is shown on the payment page and its length is not stated in the help center | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | LKCOLLAB LLC | Stefan Schuster |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | mind42.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Bubbl.us
- Plan names, limits and prices could not be read: the pricing page loads its figures with JavaScript and nothing printed from it, so none are listed.
- A map made without signing in is saved only in your browser and can be lost if the browser data is cleared.
- Team pricing is by number of licenses, with volume discounts, and is quoted on a team pricing page.
- The help center describes refunds only as a case-by-case request by email, with a reminder email three days before each charge.
Mind42
- No mobile apps, and the FAQ says the editor is not built for touch screens or small phone screens.
- The layout is strictly hierarchical: no free positioning of nodes, no connections between branches and no second main topic.
- The blog archive says no new features are planned for the current version, only maintenance.
- The site shows advertisements and offers a paid ad-free account, but no price for it appears on the pages we read.
Key features
Bubbl.us
- Bubble-based editing
- Maps are built from bubbles and connections, with text formatting, colors and file attachments.
- Layouts
- Bubbles can be arranged in different layouts, with an option to reset the layout and connect bubbles.
- Real-time sharing
- Several people can edit a map at the same time, and a map can be embedded in a blog.
- Export and print
- Maps can be saved as images or PDFs, or printed.
- Team accounts
- Team subscriptions give each member premium features, one payment point, transferable licenses, custom sign-in domains and manager roles.
- Revision history
- Premium access includes revision history and the ability to copy a map or turn it into a template.
Mind42
- Automatic hierarchical layout
- Maps use a strictly hierarchical layout, and the lines and positions are drawn automatically. Nodes cannot be placed freely.
- Joint editing and publishing
- Signed-in users can be invited to edit a map together, and a published map can be viewed by anyone with the link.
- Export and import
- Maps export to PDF for printing, and the Mind42 format can be exported and imported again, which is also the way to copy a map.
- Images by web address
- Images are added from a public web address. There is no upload from the computer.
- Emoji as symbols
- The FAQ points to emoji as the way to add symbols that the editor does not provide.
Plans
Bubbl.us
Pricing could not be confirmed. See bubbl.us.
Mind42
Free$0
Full editor and sharing, supported by advertisements.
Ways to pay less
Bubbl.us
- Education
50% off for students, faculty and nonprofits
Bubbl.us says students, faculty and nonprofit organizations get 50% off, requested through a form linked from the Plans page.
Mind42
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Bubbl.us or Mind42?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Bubbl.us has no price we could confirm, and Mind42 is free.
Which has a free plan, Bubbl.us or Mind42?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Bubbl.us and Mind42 have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.