Markmap vs WiseMapping (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Markmap and WiseMapping share a 3.0 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on which platforms you need.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Markmap
Free open-source tool that turns Markdown outlines into mind maps
WiseMapping
Free open-source online mind mapping with a self-hosted option
Which one is for you
Pick Markmap if
- Fits if you already keep notes in Markdown
- Works for putting mind maps into documentation or blog posts
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to drag nodes around, as maps come from text
- Not for you if you need real-time collaboration, which the page doesn't describe
- Too light for a whiteboard: there's no freeform canvas
- Watch out: very large maps need the canvas renderer to stay smooth
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
| 3.0GPAMarkmapVery good | 3.0GPAWiseMappingVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source under the MIT license, and anyone can run it. Nothing to set against the category's $8 middle. | AFree with no limit on maps, and anyone can run it. The category's middle for paid plans is $8. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with an online editor, a script, a command-line tool and a VS Code extension. No account or cap. | AUnlimited online maps, sharing and embedding at no cost. There's no cap a normal person would reach, but the site carries ads. |
| Features | CLayouts, themes, notes on branches, export, share links and embedding. It does the Markdown-to-map job fully, but it's a smaller job and has no freeform canvas or 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 store rating on record. You need to write Markdown, and some uses involve scripts or the command line. | CNo store rating on record. You build each map yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb editor, VS Code extension, command-line tool and an embeddable script. | BBrowser plus desktop apps for Mac, Windows and Linux, but no phone apps. |
| Best for | turning Markdown notes into mind maps | 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: Markmap and WiseMapping. How we grade
Price against what you get
Markmap has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. WiseMapping has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other whiteboard and mind map tools on the chart, none scores higher than Markmap 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.
- Markmap also covers Markdown and diagrams.
At a glance
| Markmap | WiseMapping | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | gera2ld | WiseMapping LLC |
| Price read from | markmap.js.org | wisemapping.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Markmap
- Maps are generated from text; the page does not describe drag-and-drop editing or real-time collaboration.
- It is a viewer and renderer, not a whiteboard: there is no freeform canvas.
- Large maps need the canvas renderer to stay smooth with thousands of nodes.
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
Markmap
- Markdown in, map out
- Write an outline the way you already do and the editor draws it as a mind map, with bold text, links, code, task lists, images and math on the nodes.
- Layouts and themes
- Choose a tree, two-sided or org-chart layout and a classic, cards or minimal theme, in light and dark.
- Notes on branches
- Paragraphs, tables and code stay attached to their branch and open in a popover.
- Export
- Export SVG and PNG images, or one offline HTML file that opens in any browser.
- Share links without a server
- A share link carries the document and the view inside the address, so nothing is stored on a server.
- Embed and script
- Add maps to a web page with an autoloader script, a web component for any framework, or a command-line tool for scripts and CI.
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
Markmap
Free$0
Open-source project with no paid plans; the editor, libraries and command-line tool are free to use.
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, Markmap or WiseMapping?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Markmap and WiseMapping are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Markmap or WiseMapping?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Markmap and WiseMapping have a free plan.
Which platforms do Markmap and WiseMapping run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only WiseMapping lists macOS, Windows and Linux 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.