Cmap vs Graph Commons (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cmap grades higher than Graph Commons: 3.0 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cmap 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.
Graph Commons
AI-assisted network maps of people, groups and ideas
Free plan
Which one is for you
Pick Cmap if
- Fits if you teach or study with concept maps and want a free program
- Works for researchers who link maps to images, videos and other maps
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want live shared editing without a server, since that needs a CmapServer
- Skip it if you want a polished phone app: the iPad app lists iOS 7 or later and charges for sync and export
- Not for you if you need the browser version on a tablet or phone, as it is meant for desktops and laptops
- Watch out: the installer asks for your name, organization type and country first
- Watch out: the vendor describes commercial use as a free beta test
Pick Graph Commons if
- Fits if you map who is connected to whom, such as partners or funders
- Works for a researcher who starts from a spreadsheet of links
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need private graphs: those start on Professional
- Tight if you stay free: 100 nodes a graph and 100 AI credits that never refill
- Watch out: no paid plan price could be read, so you cannot judge the cost before signing up
- Not for you if you want sticky notes or freehand sketching
How we grade them
| 3.0GPACmapVery good | 2.2GPAGraph CommonsFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to download and run, for education, personal and commercial use, with donations requested. | CNo paid price could be read on the page, so it sits where unpublished prices sit. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with no cap a normal person would reach, though the vendor describes commercial use as a beta test. | CStarter has unlimited public graphs of up to 100 nodes and a one-time 100 AI credits. Most AI actions cost 10 credits. |
| Features | CConcept maps linked to other maps and resources, a cloud account and a viewer. Gaps the listing shows: simultaneous editing needs a CmapServer, and on iPad syncing and export are in-app purchases. | CGraph from a prompt or file, editable nodes and edges, network insights, sharing and embeds. The listing says it maps relationships and is not a general whiteboard. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. A registration form comes before the installer, and shared editing means setting up a server. | CNo store rating on record. Building the graph is the work, which means a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Linux, an iPad app and a browser version. No Android app and no API or integrations list. | BWeb, with Google Sheets and Excel import. No desktop or phone app. |
| Best for | free concept maps for classrooms and research | mapping relationships as a network |
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: Cmap and Graph Commons. How we grade
Where they differ
- Cmap also covers mind mapping.
In commonFree planWebReal-time collaborationDiagrams
At a glance
| Cmap | Graph Commons | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | Not published |
| Free plan | CmapTools is free for educational, personal and commercial use; the vendor asks for donations. | Starter: unlimited public graphs, up to 100 nodes per graph and a one-time 100 AI credits. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) | Graph Commons |
| Price read from | cmap.ihmc.us | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Cmap
- The desktop download asks for registration with name, organization type and country before the installer is released.
- The vendor says the basic software is free for education and US federal agencies, and is offered free as a beta test to other users, including commercial ones.
- On iPad, syncing with the Cmap Cloud and export are in-app purchases, and the listed requirement is iOS 7 or later.
- The browser version is meant for desktops and laptops, not for tapping on tablets and phones.
Graph Commons
- Paid plan prices could not be read; the pricing page did not load, so the site lists none.
- Starter graphs are public to anyone with the link; private graphs start on Professional.
- Most AI actions use 10 credits, and Starter's 100 credits are a one-time grant.
- It maps relationships and is not a general whiteboard for sketching or sticky notes.
Key features
Cmap
- Concept maps linked to resources
- Users link a concept map to other maps and to resources such as images and videos, and can publish the result on the web.
- Cmap Cloud
- A free cloud account stores maps and shares them among CmapTools, CmapTools in the Cloud and the iPad app. A viewer embeds a map in a web page.
- Browser version
- CmapTools in the Cloud runs in Chrome, Safari and Firefox on a desktop or laptop, and exports to CXL, JPG and SVG.
- Synchronous editing on a CmapServer
- Two or more people can edit the same map at once on a CmapServer, with folder-level permissions to view, annotate or edit.
- Many interface languages
- The single download includes 18 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese.
Graph Commons
- Graph from a prompt or file
- Describe a topic, paste notes or a list, or import Excel, Google Sheets, CSV or JSON and the AI structures it into a network.
- Editable nodes and edges
- Add, merge or rewrite nodes, edges and attributes by hand, or ask the AI to expand a region of the graph.
- Network insights
- The AI points out bridges, clusters and leverage points and answers questions about the network.
- Sharing and co-editing
- Invite people by email to view or edit a graph on any plan; the Organization plan adds a team workspace with roles and permissions.
- Export and embed
- Export to image, CSV, JSON, GraphML, Cypher or Excel, or embed an interactive graph in a website.
Plans
Cmap
Free$0
CmapTools for desktop, CmapTools in the Cloud and a free Cmap Cloud account; donations are requested.
Graph Commons
Pricing could not be confirmed. See graphcommons.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cmap or Graph Commons?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cmap is free, and Graph Commons has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Cmap or Graph Commons?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cmap and Graph Commons have a free plan.
Which platforms do Cmap and Graph Commons run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Cmap lists macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.