Mindly vs SimpleMind (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Mindly if

• Fits if you map ideas mostly on a phone or tablet
• Works for people who find a full-screen map too cluttered

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a computer app, as no desktop version is named
• Skip it if you want a free plan, since only a trial of unstated length exists
• Watch out: the App Store rating is 2.0, from 7 ratings only
• Watch out: the subscription is bought through the app stores, and no one-time purchase is described
• Watch out: the vendor's site cites 4.6 for the older Mindly app, not this one

Pick SimpleMind if

• Fits if you'd rather pay once than pick up another subscription
• Works for keeping maps as your own files, not on a vendor's servers

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to edit a map with someone live, as there's no co-editing
• Not for you if you work in a browser, because there's no web version
• Tight if you're staying free, since sync, images, notes, printing and search are all Pro
• Pricey if you use several devices, as each platform is bought separately and Mac plus Windows alone is $54.99
• Watch out: Windows has no free edition, only a 30-day Pro trial, and there's no built-in AI

Mindly

• The App Store lists iPhone and iPad only, and the site links Google Play; no desktop app is named.
• There is no free plan; the app is free to download and the subscription starts with a trial of unstated length.
• The subscription is bought through the app stores; the pages read do not describe a one-time purchase.
• The Mindly 2 App Store listing shows a 2.0 average from 7 ratings, while the vendor's site cites 4.6 for the earlier app.

SimpleMind

• Each platform is a separate purchase: a Mac or Windows license does not include the iPhone, iPad or Android app.
• The free edition leaves out cloud sync, images, notes, sharing, printing and search, and it is not listed for Windows, which gets the 30-day trial.
• There is no browser version, and the feature list has no co-editing: maps are files synced through a cloud service the user picks.
• SimpleMind has no built-in AI, which the vendor presents as a privacy decision.

Mindly

Progressive focus

Maps open one idea at a time, so a branch can be explored step by step without the whole map on screen.

Real-time collaboration

Mindly 2 lets teammates, classmates or clients work on the same map together.

Online sharing

Interactive maps can be published and opened by anyone in a browser.

Images, emojis and files

Nodes can carry images, emojis and supporting files.

Visual clipboard

A clipboard for quickly reorganizing and restructuring parts of a map.

SimpleMind

Free-form and auto layouts

Place topics anywhere on the page or use the horizontal auto layout. Pro adds six more: vertical, top-down, linear, radial, matrix and list.

Maps stored as your own files

Mind maps are files that are never stored on the vendor's servers. Pro syncs them across platforms through a cloud service such as Dropbox.

Notes, images and checkboxes

Pro topics can hold notes, images, photos, icons, labels, call-outs, checkboxes and progress bars, and any two topics can be joined with a crosslink.

Sharing and slideshows

Pro shares a map as a PDF, an image, or an HTML or text outline, prints it, and builds a slideshow to present it on tablets and desktops.

Style sheets

More than 15 style sheets, including dark ones, change the look of a map. Pro lets you create your own and style borders, lines and colors in detail.

Tools for large maps

Collapse branches, focus on one part with autofocus and switch to an outline. Pro adds hiding topics, group borders, folders and search.

Mindly

• Monthly Subscription$3.99

  per month, in-app purchase

  Access to all Mindly features on all platforms, as the App Store listing describes it.

• Yearly Subscription$34.99

  per year, in-app purchase

  Same access as monthly. Works out to about $2.92 a month.

SimpleMind

• SimpleMind Free$0

  For Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android: basic mind mapping with free-form and horizontal auto layout, style sheets and outline. No sync, sharing or printing.

• Pro for iPhone & iPad$10.99

  one-time purchase

  Full feature set on iPhone and iPad, bought on the App Store. The vendor's page lists it as from US$10.99.

• Pro for Android$11.99

  one-time purchase

  Full feature set on Android, bought on Google Play at the US price. The vendor's page lists it as from €10.99.

• Pro Single User (Mac or Windows)$29.99

  one-time purchase per platform, excluding VAT

  One user on Mac or on Windows. A license covering both platforms costs $54.99.

• Pro Family/Team (4 users)$49.99

  one-time purchase per platform, excluding VAT

  Four users on Mac or on Windows, shown on the page as "Now 49.99 USD". Both platforms together cost $99.98.

• Pro 10-user License$114.99

  one-time purchase per platform, excluding VAT

  Ten users on Mac or on Windows, or $229.98 for both platforms. Site licenses are handled separately.

Mindly

No public discounts listed.

SimpleMind

• Lifetime license

  One-time purchase with no subscription

  SimpleMind Pro is bought once per platform with no monthly or annual fees: $29.99 for Mac or Windows and $10.99 for iPhone and iPad.

• Other savings

  Two-platform and multi-user licenses

  A single-user license for both Mac and Windows is $54.99 against $59.98 bought separately. A four-user Family/Team license is $49.99 and a ten-user license $114.99 per platform.