The Inspiration Maps Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Inspiration Maps 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.
Inspiration Maps
The Insider’s Guide
Concept-map and outline app for iPad, iPhone and Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from Inspiration Maps’s own pages.
Made by Diagramming Apps, LLC · checked Nov 13, 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 Inspiration Maps’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Inspiration Maps’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 58 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
Inspiration Maps is a visual thinking app for students that builds concept maps, graphic organizers and outlines, and switches any diagram into an outline and back. It is published by Diagramming Apps, LLC and sold through the App Store and Mac App Store.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Inspiration Maps, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, but it is an app you install and start using.
- 1
Best for concept maps and outlines on Apple devices
It runs only on Apple devices, there is no team editing, and the iPad version is free for five documents before an in-app purchase.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store).
- 3
There is a free plan
iPad and iPhone app: up to five documents free before an in-app purchase unlocks full, unlimited use.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 5
Diagram and outline views
Diagrams turn into outlines and back again, so the same ideas can be mapped first and written up afterward.
- 6
RapidFire brainstorming
A quick-capture brainstorming tool records ideas as they come, then you drag, drop and link them into structure.
- 7
Templates for school subjects
Built-in templates cover language arts, history, science and thinking and planning, with extra templates in French, Spanish and UK English.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 58 of 98
That is against the other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Inspiration Maps you could make: mind mapping. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Inspiration Maps at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Diagramming Apps, LLC
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for concept maps and outlines on Apple devices
Inspiration Maps makes diagrams and outlines for school-style mapping, with a $9.99 one-time Mac app. It runs only on Apple devices, there is no team editing, and the iPad version is free for five documents before an in-app purchase.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The Mac app is $9.99 once, under a year of the $8.25 monthly middle for whiteboard tools. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The iPad and iPhone app is free for up to five documents, then you pay. The Mac app is paid from the start. |
| Features | C | Diagram and outline views, brainstorming, templates and a graphic library. The listing says custom templates and unlimited documents on iPad are paid, and it has no collaboration. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but it is an app you install and start using. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Apple only: Mac, iPad and iPhone, with Dropbox, AirDrop and iCloud. No web, Windows or Android. |
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 Inspiration Maps is for
- Fits if you map ideas for a class or an essay on a Mac or iPad
- Works for students who want a one-time price, not a subscription
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as it is Apple only
- Tight if you stay free: five documents on iPad
- Not for you if you work with others live, as there is no real-time editing
- Watch out: the iPad in-app purchase price was not shown on the pages we read
Good to know
Good for
- Students building concept maps and outlines on an iPad
- Teachers buying copies in bulk through Apple's volume program
- Writers who plan in a diagram before drafting
Worth knowing
- It runs only on Apple devices; there is no web, Windows or Android version.
- Custom templates, file sharing with other apps and unlimited documents on iPad need the paid upgrade.
- It has no real-time team collaboration or whiteboard canvas.
- The iPad and iPhone in-app purchase amount was not shown on the listing text read here.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$9.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Inspiration Maps has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store).
The iPad and iPhone app is free for up to five documents, then you pay.
iPad and iPhone (free to start)
$0
Create up to five documents free; an in-app purchase, with no amount shown on the listing, unlocks everything.
Mac app
$9.99
one-time purchase on the Mac App Store
Separate Mac app that requires macOS 11.0 or later.
The free plan
iPad and iPhone app: up to five documents free before an in-app purchase unlocks full, unlimited use.
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
50% off in Apple's Volume Purchase Program
Inspiration Maps VPP is discounted 50% in Apple's Volume Purchase Program for Education when 20 or more copies are bought.
Stated on inspiration-at.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Concept-map and outline app for iPad, iPhone and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, mind mapping, diagrams.
Diagram and outline views, brainstorming, templates and a graphic library.
- Diagram and outline views
- Diagrams turn into outlines and back again, so the same ideas can be mapped first and written up afterward.
- RapidFire brainstorming
- A quick-capture brainstorming tool records ideas as they come, then you drag, drop and link them into structure.
- Templates for school subjects
- Built-in templates cover language arts, history, science and thinking and planning, with extra templates in French, Spanish and UK English.
- Graphic library and media
- A library of over 1,500 searchable graphics, images from the web or camera, attached notes, hyperlinks and recorded audio.
- Windows file exchange
- Documents can be imported from and exported to Inspiration 11 for Windows once the app is fully unlocked.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Dropbox
- AirDrop
- iCloud
Inspiration Maps is made by Diagramming Apps, LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
58/98
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
Inspiration Maps's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 58 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 16.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 74 of 98) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 99 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Inspiration Maps’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 74 of 98
- CFree plan and trialAbove 10 of 98
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 98
- BEase of useAbove 79 of 98
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 98
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
The plain part of Inspiration Maps you could make: mind mapping. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $9.99, paid once.
What you could make
- Mind mapping: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A diagram editor.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Inspiration Maps’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
MindNode, Mindly and SimpleMind
The 3 tools Inspiration Maps is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
MindNode
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices.
- Inspiration Maps can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MindNode is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Inspiration Maps also covers diagrams.
- 2.2GPA
Mindly
Free trial · from $3.99/mo
Mind mapping app for phones and tablets, one idea at a time.
- Inspiration Maps has a free plan. Mindly does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Inspiration Maps lists a macOS app.
- Only Mindly lists an Android app.
- 2.8GPA
SimpleMind
Free plan · from $10.99 one-time
Mind mapping app sold as a one-time purchase per platform.
- Only SimpleMind lists Windows and Android apps.
- Inspiration Maps also covers diagrams.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Inspiration Maps free?
Inspiration Maps has a free plan. iPad and iPhone app: up to five documents free before an in-app purchase unlocks full, unlimited use.
How much does Inspiration Maps cost?
Inspiration Maps lists 2 plans. iPad and iPhone (free to start): $0. Mac app: $9.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store.
What platforms does Inspiration Maps work on?
Inspiration Maps is available on iOS and macOS.
Does Inspiration Maps offer any discounts?
Inspiration Maps publicly lists the following: 50% off in Apple's Volume Purchase Program.
Does Inspiration Maps have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Inspiration Maps is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Inspiration Maps have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Inspiration Maps is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Inspiration Maps open source?
Inspiration Maps is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Inspiration Maps integrate with?
Inspiration Maps's listing names Dropbox, AirDrop and iCloud. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Inspiration Maps have a student discount?
50% off in Apple's Volume Purchase Program. Inspiration Maps VPP is discounted 50% in Apple's Volume Purchase Program for Education when 20 or more copies are bought.
Who makes Inspiration Maps?
Inspiration Maps is made by Diagramming Apps, LLC.
What are the alternatives to Inspiration Maps?
The closest alternatives to Inspiration Maps in our directory are MindNode, Mindly and SimpleMind.
How does Inspiration Maps compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
Inspiration Maps's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 58 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 16.
Could I make my own version of Inspiration Maps?
The plain part of Inspiration Maps you could make: mind mapping. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Inspiration Maps’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Inspiration Software's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. The $9.99 Mac price was not shown on the vendor page, so it comes from the listing.
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 Diagramming Apps, LLC. Prices change, so check inspiration-at.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Inspiration Maps, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/inspiration-maps
- 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, "Inspiration Maps: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/inspiration-maps
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/inspiration-maps/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after Inspiration Maps, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 99 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 Inspiration Maps’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. Inspiration Maps is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Diagramming Apps, LLC. Prices and plans change: check inspiration-at.com before you buy.