Markmap review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source tool that turns Markdown outlines into mind maps
Markmap report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for turning Markdown notes into mind maps
Markmap turns a Markdown outline into a mind map you can fold, zoom and export, and it's open source under the MIT license. The map comes from text, so there's no drag-and-drop editing or live collaboration on the page we read, and it's a renderer rather than a whiteboard.
Who Markmap is for
- Fits if you already keep notes in Markdown
- Works for putting mind maps into documentation or blog posts
Who Markmap is not for
- 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
Why Markmap gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree and open source under the MIT license, and anyone can run it. Nothing to set against the category's $8 middle.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright, with an online editor, a script, a command-line tool and a VS Code extension. No account or cap.
- CFeaturesLayouts, 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.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record. You need to write Markdown, and some uses involve scripts or the command line.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWeb editor, VS Code extension, command-line tool and an embeddable script.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Markmap's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/markmap#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/markmap.svg" alt="Markmap: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Markmap stands among whiteboard and mind map tools
Markmap's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 85 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 83 of 98) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Markmap has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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 99 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Markmap’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 74 of 98, level with 24
- AFree plan and trialAbove 83 of 98, level with 15
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 98, level with 76
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 98, level with 77
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 35 of 98, level with 55
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 88 whiteboard and mind map tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Markmap, or make your own?
Keep it
Markmap 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 3.0 is higher than 85 of the 98 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade.
What you could make
- Mind mapping and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A diagram editor.
What this rests on. Markmap’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.
What is Markmap?
Markmap renders a Markdown outline as an interactive mind map that can be folded, zoomed and exported. It runs as an online editor, a script or web component for your own pages, a command-line tool and a VS Code extension. The code is open source under the MIT license.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Markmap pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Markmap is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Open-source project with no paid plans; the editor, libraries and command-line tool are free to use. |
Read from markmap.js.org on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Markmap before you buy.
Works with
Markmap alternatives
- Markmap vs Mermaid
Free plan · from $10/mo
- Markmap vs MindMup
Free plan · from $6/mo
- Markmap vs MindMap AI
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
- Markmap vs Xmind
Free plan · from $4.92/mo
Common questions
Does Markmap have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Markmap is listed for Web.
Does Markmap have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Markmap is listed for Web.
Is Markmap open source?
Yes. Markmap is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.