Freeplane vs WiseMapping (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, WiseMapping grades higher than Freeplane: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
WiseMapping grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
WiseMapping
Free open-source online mind mapping with a self-hosted option
Free
Which one is for you
Pick Freeplane if
- Fits if you want formulas, scripts and rule-based formatting inside a mind map
- Works for Linux users, or anyone who wants a portable copy on a USB drive
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want your maps on a phone, in a browser or shared live, as it's a desktop app only
- Not for you if installing a Java runtime sounds like a chore, since some downloads need one
- Skip it if you just want a quick, simple map, because this one is built for power users
- Watch out: AI needs your own OpenRouter or Gemini key or an Ollama service, and map content may leave your machine
- Tight if your Mac runs anything older than macOS 14, which the bundled builds require
Pick WiseMapping if
- Fits if you want free mind maps without sign-up limits
- Works for schools or companies that want to host mind mapping themselves with Docker
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a whiteboard canvas, as it only does mind maps
- Not for you if you want phone apps, because none are listed
- Watch out: the site shows ads and asks for donations or code contributions
- Watch out: the project says it has no corporate backing, so there's no support promise
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAFreeplaneGood | 3.0GPAWiseMappingVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source, with no paid edition at all, in a category where the middle plan is $8.33 a month. Scripting, add-ons and the AI panel are all part of the one free download, though the AI needs your own provider key. | AFree with no limit on maps, and anyone can run it. The category's middle for paid plans is $8. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe full application on Windows, macOS and Linux, for nothing, with no cap to hit and no paid tier holding anything back, because there isn't one. You can even carry a copy around on a USB drive. | AUnlimited online maps, sharing and embedding at no cost. There's no cap a normal person would reach, but the site carries ads. |
| Features | CIt does mind maps completely, and that's a smaller job than this category's: keyboard-driven nodes, styles that apply themselves by rule, formulas computed inside a node, Groovy scripts shared as add-ons, password-protected maps and an AI panel. No shared canvas, no stickies, no collaboration. | CMind maps only, with import from Freeplane, XMind and MindManager. It does that job fully, but it's a smaller one than a whiteboard, and the AI feature is a ChatGPT GPT outside the editor. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record, and the project says plainly that it's for power users. Some downloads want a Java runtime installed separately, only certain Windows and macOS installers bundle it, and the extra parts, scripts, conditional styles, AI keys, all have to be learnt. | CNo store rating on record. You build each map yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | CA desktop program and nothing more. Windows, macOS and Linux are all covered, but there's no web version and no phone app, so your maps stay on the machine they're on. The bundled macOS builds also want macOS 14 or later. | BBrowser plus desktop apps for Mac, Windows and Linux, but no phone apps. |
| Best for | free mind maps with formulas and scripts | free mind maps in the browser |
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: Freeplane and WiseMapping. How we grade
Price against what you get
Freeplane has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. WiseMapping has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
WiseMapping scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other whiteboard and mind map tools on the chart, none scores higher than Freeplane for less, and none scores higher than WiseMapping for less.
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
Where they differ
- WiseMapping is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Freeplane also covers templates.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxOpen sourceAI featuresMind mapping
At a glance
| Freeplane | WiseMapping | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Freeplane is free and open source software with no paid edition. Installers for Windows, macOS and Linux are downloaded from the project's SourceForge page. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Freeplane team | WiseMapping LLC |
| Price read from | docs.freeplane.org | wisemapping.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Freeplane
- Freeplane is a desktop Java application: the documentation lists downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux and no web or mobile version.
- Some downloads need a separately installed Java runtime (versions 11 to 21 for the Linux packages); only certain Windows and macOS installers bundle Java.
- The bundled macOS builds require macOS 14 or later.
- AI features need the user's own OpenRouter or Gemini key or an Ollama service, and the docs warn that map content sent to a provider may leave the machine.
WiseMapping
- The website shows advertisements; the FAQ asks for donations or code contributions to sustain the project.
- The AI feature is a ChatGPT GPT, not a feature built into the editor.
- The tool focuses on mind maps and has no general whiteboard canvas.
- The project says it has no corporate backing.
Key features
Freeplane
- Keyboard-driven mind mapping
- Enter adds a node, Tab adds a child, the arrow keys move between nodes and Space folds or unfolds a branch. Nodes can also be dragged into place with the mouse.
- Styles and conditional styles
- Styles set a node's formatting, and conditional styles apply one automatically when a node matches a rule based on its content, attributes, icons or level.
- Formulas and Groovy scripts
- A node whose text starts with = shows a computed result instead of the formula. Groovy scripts automate repeated edits and can change how the application behaves.
- Add-ons
- Scripts are packaged and shared as add-ons. The documentation lists examples such as Freeplane|GTD for task planning, Study Planner and several import and export tools.
- AI integration and MCP server
- An AI panel can summarize, rewrite, inspect and edit map content through OpenRouter, Gemini or an Ollama service. An optional local MCP server lets apps such as Claude Desktop work with maps.
- Templates and protected maps
- A new map can start from a standard or user-defined template, or be created password-protected so that it cannot be opened or read without the password.
WiseMapping
- Unlimited online maps
- Create, share and collaborate on mind maps in the browser, with the vendor stating that the number of maps is not limited.
- Import and export
- Import maps from Freeplane, XMind and MindManager, and export to PDF, SVG or Freeplane among other formats.
- Embed and share
- Mind maps can be embedded in web pages, blogs and documentation.
- Desktop app
- A desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux works offline and keeps maps on the local machine.
- Self-hosted server
- The full platform can be run on your own infrastructure with Docker, for companies and schools that want control of their data.
- AI map creation in ChatGPT
- A Mind Map Copilot GPT turns prompts into mind maps inside ChatGPT.
Plans
Freeplane
Free$0
The full application for Windows, macOS and Linux, including scripting, add-ons and the AI integration. AI use needs the user's own provider key.
WiseMapping
Free$0
Unlimited mind maps online with no paid tier; the desktop app and self-hosted server are free too.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Freeplane or WiseMapping?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Freeplane and WiseMapping are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Freeplane or WiseMapping?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Freeplane and WiseMapping have a free plan.
Which platforms do Freeplane and WiseMapping run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only WiseMapping lists a web app. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. 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.