The Freeplane Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Freeplane in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Freeplane
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open source mind mapping app for the desktop
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from Freeplane’s own pages.
Made by Freeplane team · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Freeplane’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Freeplane’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 21 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
Freeplane is a free and open source mind mapping application for the desktop, written in Java. It is aimed at power users: maps are built and navigated largely from the keyboard, and nodes can carry styles, conditional formatting, formulas and Groovy scripts, with community add-ons for further functions. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, can be carried on a USB drive, and since version 1.13.1 can connect to an AI provider that the user configures.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Freeplane, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You build maps mostly from the keyboard, and nodes can carry formulas, rule-based styles and Groovy scripts.
- 1
Best for free mind maps with formulas and scripts
Freeplane is a free, open source desktop mind mapper.
- 2
It is free
Freeplane has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 21 of 30
That is against the other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Freeplane is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Freeplane at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Freeplane team
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free mind maps with formulas and scripts
Freeplane is a free, open source desktop mind mapper. You build maps mostly from the keyboard, and nodes can carry formulas, rule-based styles and Groovy scripts. It's a Java app with no web or phone version and no live sharing, some downloads need Java installed first, and the AI needs your own provider key. Look elsewhere if you want a quick, simple map.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The 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. |
| Features | C | It 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. |
| Ease of use | C | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Freeplane is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Power users who want formulas, scripts and rule-based formatting in a map
- Keeping mind maps as local files instead of in a cloud service
- Linux users, and anyone who wants a portable copy on a USB drive
- Former FreeMind users: Freeplane began as a fork of that project
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Freeplane is free to use.
Scripting, add-ons and the AI panel are all part of the one free download, though the AI needs your own provider key.
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.
The 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.
Read from docs.freeplane.org on Oct 6, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free, open source mind mapping app for the desktop. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, local-first, AI features, templates, mind mapping.
No shared canvas, no stickies, no collaboration.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- OpenRouter
- Gemini
- Ollama
- Claude Desktop
Freeplane is made by Freeplane team.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
21/30
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
Freeplane's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 21 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 27 of 30) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Freeplane has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 31 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Freeplane’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 23 of 30
- AFree plan and trialAbove 27 of 30
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 30
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 30
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 30
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 28 whiteboard and mind map tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Freeplane is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Freeplane is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 21 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade.
What you could make
- Mind mapping and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Freeplane’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Xmind, MindMeister, SimpleMind, Mindomo and Scapple
The 5 tools Freeplane is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Xmind
Free plan · from $4.92/mo
Mind mapping app with AI, Gantt charts and a presentation mode.
- Only Xmind lists a web app.
- Only Xmind lists iOS and Android apps.
- Freeplane is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
MindMeister
Free plan · from €6.50/mo
Browser-based mind mapping with real-time collaboration.
- Only Freeplane lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only MindMeister lists a web app.
- Only MindMeister lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
SimpleMind
Free plan · from $10.99 one-time
Mind mapping app sold as a one-time purchase per platform.
- Only Freeplane lists a Linux app.
- Only SimpleMind lists iOS and Android apps.
- Freeplane is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Mindomo
Free plan · from $7/mo
Mind maps, outlines and Gantt charts with real-time editing.
- Only Mindomo lists a web app.
- Only Mindomo lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Mindomo lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
Scapple
Free trial · from $20.99 one-time
Freeform mind-mapping app for writers, on Mac and Windows.
- Freeplane has a free plan. Scapple does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Freeplane lists a Linux app.
- Freeplane is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Freeplane free?
Yes. Freeplane is free to use.
How much does Freeplane cost?
Freeplane lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Freeplane work on?
Freeplane is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Freeplane have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Freeplane is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Freeplane have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Freeplane is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Freeplane open source?
Yes. Freeplane is open source, according to its own site.
What does Freeplane integrate with?
Freeplane's listing names OpenRouter, Gemini, Ollama and Claude Desktop.
Who makes Freeplane?
Freeplane is made by Freeplane team.
What are the alternatives to Freeplane?
The closest alternatives to Freeplane in our directory are Xmind, MindMeister, SimpleMind, Mindomo and Scapple.
How does Freeplane compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
Freeplane's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 21 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 3.
Is Freeplane good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Freeplane A for value for money. Freeplane has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Freeplane?
Freeplane is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Freeplane’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Freeplane's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-20.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Freeplane team. Prices change, so check docs.freeplane.org before you buy.
- docs.freeplane.org/
- docs.freeplane.org/getting-started/Distributions.html
- docs.freeplane.org/getting-started/getting-started.html
- docs.freeplane.org/getting-started/Add-ons_(install).html
- docs.freeplane.org/user-documentation/first-steps.html
- docs.freeplane.org/user-documentation/working-w-mindmap-files.html
- docs.freeplane.org/user-documentation/Conditional_node_styles.html
- docs.freeplane.org/user-documentation/Relationship_to_FreeMind.html
- docs.freeplane.org/scripting/Formulas.html
- docs.freeplane.org/scripting/What_are_scripts_and_what_they_do.html
- docs.freeplane.org/ai/ai-integration-getting-started.html
- docs.freeplane.org/ai/model-context-protocol-server.html
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Freeplane, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/freeplane
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Freeplane: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/freeplane
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/freeplane/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after Freeplane, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 31 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Whiteboard Insider's GuideFree collaborative canvas built into Microsoft 365 and Teams3.4 GPA
- draw.io Insider's GuideFree diagram editor that saves files to storage you choose3.2 GPA
- tldraw Insider's GuideFree online whiteboard with a local desktop app3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Freeplane’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Freeplane is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Freeplane team. Prices and plans change: check docs.freeplane.org before you buy.