# Markmap review (2026): is it any good? > Free open-source tool that turns Markdown outlines into mind maps Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. 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. - **Category:** Whiteboards & Mind Maps - **Made by:** gera2ld - **Website:** https://markmap.js.org - **Runs on:** Web - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you want to drag nodes around, as maps come from text. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Markmap is free to use. - **Pricing model:** 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 https://markmap.js.org/ on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Markmap before buying. ## 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. ## Good for - Developers and writers who already keep notes in Markdown - Embedding mind maps in documentation or blog posts - People who want a free, open-source mapping tool ## 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. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 3.0 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. 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. - **Value for money: A.** Free and open source under the MIT license, and anyone can run it. Nothing to set against the category's $8 middle. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Free outright, with an online editor, a script, a command-line tool and a VS Code extension. No account or cap. - **Features: C.** Layouts, 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. - **Ease of use: C.** No store rating on record. You need to write Markdown, and some uses involve scripts or the command line. - **Platforms and integrations: B.** Web editor, VS Code extension, command-line tool and an embeddable script. These are ToolGPA's own grades. 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. ## Where it 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. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/whiteboards ## Keep it, 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. - You could make: Mind mapping and Markdown: an app builder makes these well. - You could not: A diagram editor. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## Works with VS Code **Tags:** Mind mapping, Markdown, Open source, Diagrams ## Alternatives - [Mermaid](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mermaid): Text-based diagramming platform with AI and a visual editor. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/markmap-vs-mermaid) - [Freeplane](https://toolgpa.com/tools/freeplane): Free, open source mind mapping app for the desktop. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/freeplane-vs-markmap) - [MindMup](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mindmup): Web mind mapping with a free tier and simple paid plans. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/markmap-vs-mindmup) - [MindMap AI](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mindmap-ai): AI mind map generator from text, PDFs, audio and video. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/markmap-vs-mindmap-ai) - [Xmind](https://toolgpa.com/tools/xmind): Mind mapping app with AI, Gantt charts and a presentation mode. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/markmap-vs-xmind) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://markmap.js.org/ - https://github.com/markmap/markmap Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/markmap Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).