Bubbl.us vs MindMeister (2026): which should you pick?

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 MindMeister if

• Fits if your team brainstorms together and wants everyone on the same map at once
• Works for MeisterTask users who want to turn map topics into tasks

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you're staying free, since 3 mind maps is the limit and you can't export or print them
• Not for you if you want a desktop app, because outside the phone apps it runs in a browser
• Skip it if you like paying month by month, as billing is in 6-month or 12-month cycles only
• Pricey if you need Word or PowerPoint exports or Google Workspace, which wait for Pro at €10.50 a month
• Watch out: prices vary by region, and SAML SSO needs Business plus a request to sales

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.

MindMeister

• The Free plan stops at 3 mind maps and has no file exports, printing, attachments or version history.
• Plans are billed in 6-month or 12-month cycles with no monthly option, and prices vary by region; the figures here are the vendor's EUR reference prices.
• Word and PowerPoint exports, custom branding and Google Workspace need Pro; SAML SSO needs Business and a request to the sales team.
• No desktop apps are listed: outside the iOS and Android apps, MindMeister runs in a browser.

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.

MindMeister

Mind map editor

Topics are arranged by drag and drop and can carry links, notes, emojis and images. Layouts include mind maps, org charts and lists, with themes and color schemes.

Real-time collaboration

Collaborators invited by link edit the same map at once, comment on topics and @mention each other. Every plan, including Free, allows unlimited collaborators.

Presentation mode

A map can be shown as a presentation directly from the editor, so a team can be walked through the ideas without building separate slides.

Outline and focus modes

Outline mode switches a map to structured bullet points, and focus mode hides menus, toolbars and icons in the editor.

AI map creation (beta)

A prompt or an uploaded file such as a PDF, presentation, spreadsheet or image produces a map, which AI can then expand or tidy. It is listed as beta on every plan.

Exports and integrations

Topics convert into MeisterTask tasks on any plan. Image and PDF exports and Microsoft Teams start at Personal; Word and PowerPoint exports and Google Workspace at Pro.

Bubbl.us

Pricing could not be confirmed. See bubbl.us.

MindMeister

• Free€0

  Up to 3 mind maps, unlimited collaborators, templates, presentations, outline and focus modes, the MeisterTask integration and AI map creation in beta.

• Personal€6.50

  per user / month, billed yearly (€7.50 on 6-month billing)

  Unlimited mind maps, PNG, JPG and PDF exports, printing, 2 attachments per map, 7-day version history and the Microsoft Teams integration.

• Pro€10.50

  per user / month, billed yearly (€12.50 on 6-month billing)

  Unlimited attachments, all-time version history, multiple admins, Word and PowerPoint exports, custom branding and the Google Workspace integration.

• Business€15.50

  per user / month, billed yearly (€19 on 6-month billing)

  Group sharing, compliance exports and backups, IP restriction, SAML SSO on request, priority email and phone support and a customer success manager.

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.

MindMeister

• Annual discount

  13 to 18% lower on 12-month billing

  MindMeister's pricing file says the 12-month billing cycle costs approximately 13 to 18% less than the 6-month cycle, for example €6.50 against €7.50 per user a month on Personal.

• Education

  50% off for students and educators

  Students, educators and educational institutions get a 50% discount, applied by contacting the support team.

• Nonprofit

  50% off for nonprofits

  The same 50% discount is listed for non-profit organizations, also arranged through the support team.

• By country

  Lower price shown to buyers in India

  MindMeister says it uses geo-based pricing. On 9 October 2026 its pricing page showed Personal to a reader in India at $3.50 per user a month on yearly billing, against a reference price of €6.50 for most of Europe.