The MindManager Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about MindManager 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.
MindManager
The Insider’s Guide
Mind mapping and diagramming software with Gantt charts
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from MindManager’s own pages.
Made by Corel Corporation · 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 MindManager’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on MindManager’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
2.2
GPA, above 0 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
MindManager is mind mapping and diagramming software from Corel for turning a brainstorm into a plan, with mind maps, flowcharts, org charts, timelines, kanban boards and Gantt charts in one application. It is sold as a web-only Essentials subscription, a Professional subscription that adds the Windows and Mac desktop apps, co-editing and Microsoft Teams, or a one-time desktop purchase. An Enterprise program covers teams of five or more.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about MindManager, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There are templates, from fishbone diagrams to funnel charts.
- 1
Best for turning mind maps into project plans with Gantt charts
MindManager turns a mind map into a project plan: topics become tasks with dates, costs and people, and the map flips into a Gantt chart, with links into Teams, SharePoint and Outlook.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $99 per user / year (Essentials, web only).
- 3
You can try it first
30-day fully functional free trial, no credit card required; the Enterprise program offers a 60-day trial
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
- 5
Mind maps and many diagram types
Templates cover mind maps, org charts, timelines, flowcharts, concept maps, Venn and onion diagrams, kanban boards, fishbone diagrams, funnel charts and matrix diagrams.
- 6
Gantt charts and project tracking
Topics become tasks with resources, costs, start dates and due dates, and the same map can be shown in Gantt, schedule, outline, icon or tag view.
- 7
Co-editing and published maps
Subscribers can co-edit a map in real time across platforms and publish it as a web link with view, comment or edit access. Co-editing is not part of Essentials.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 0 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.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of MindManager you could make: mind mapping, Gantt & timelines, kanban boards and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
MindManager at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $99 per user / year (Essentials, web only)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day fully functional free trial, no credit card required; the Enterprise program offers a 60-day trial
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Corel Corporation
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for turning mind maps into project plans with Gantt charts
MindManager turns a mind map into a project plan: topics become tasks with dates, costs and people, and the map flips into a Gantt chart, with links into Teams, SharePoint and Outlook. There's no free plan, the desktop apps and co-editing need Professional at $179 a year, the one-time license leaves out co-editing and upgrades, and the phone app only views maps.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Essentials is $99 a user a year, but it's web only with no co-editing. Most of what people buy it for is in Professional at $179, about $15 a month against this category's $8.33 middle, and buying once costs $369 and still leaves out co-editing, web access and upgrades. Jira is a paid add-on on top. |
| Free plan and trial | C | There's no free plan at all. The 30-day trial is fully functional and asks for no credit card, and the Enterprise program stretches it to 60 days. When it ends, you pay or you stop. |
| Features | B | It covers the whole job: mind maps, flowcharts, org charts, timelines, fishbone and funnel diagrams, kanban boards, and topics that become tasks with resources, costs and dates in a Gantt view. XMind, Mindomo and Ayoa do maps with Gantt charts too, so it isn't alone. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and there is a lot to get your head round: one map in five views, SmartRules, formulas, power filtering, and a plan structure to choose before you start. There are templates, from fishbone diagrams to funnel charts. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, Windows, Mac and Chromebook, with Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Excel, Google Drive and Dropbox hooked in. Phones are the weak spot: MindManager Go only views maps, and it comes with Professional and Enterprise. |
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 MindManager is for
- Fits if you plan projects and want the mind map and the Gantt chart in one file
- Works for companies that run on Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and Outlook
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you want the desktop apps and co-editing, at $179 a user a year
- Not for you if you want a free plan, as the 30-day trial is all there is
- Skip it if you edit maps on your phone, since MindManager Go only views them
- Watch out: the $369 one-time license has no co-editing, web access, publishing or upgrades, and Essentials is web only
- Watch out: Jira is a paid add-on, and content control and SharePoint Linker are Windows only
Good to know
Good for
- Project managers who plan with mind maps and Gantt charts in one file
- Organizations that work in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and Outlook
- Buyers who prefer a one-time desktop license to a subscription
- Students and educators, who have a discounted plan
Worth knowing
- There is no free plan; the 30-day trial is the only way to use MindManager without paying.
- Essentials is web only and has no co-editing, while the one-time purchase is desktop only and excludes co-editing, publishing, web access and version upgrades.
- Content control and SharePoint Linker are available on Windows only, and the Jira integration is a paid add-on.
- On mobile the pricing page lists only a viewing app, MindManager Go, which comes with Professional and Enterprise.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.25
A month to start, paid by the year, for each person
MindManager is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99 per user / year (Essentials, web only).
Essentials
$99
per user / year
Web version only, for individuals: diagram types, templates, basic task management, and publishing and sharing of maps. No co-editing or desktop app.
Professional
$179
per user / year
Windows and Mac desktop apps plus web, Chromebook and Microsoft Teams, with co-editing, team content capture, the mobile viewing app and version upgrades.
One-time purchase
$369
one-time payment per license
Desktop license for Windows or Mac at the current version, single user. Excludes co-editing, publishing, web access, the mobile app and upgrades.
Enterprise
Custom
Per-user annual licensing for teams of five or more, with volume discounts, an IT admin portal, SSO activation, read-only licenses and dedicated support.
Trying it first
30-day fully functional free trial, no credit card required; the Enterprise program offers a 60-day trial
Read from mindmanager.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
One-time purchase instead of a subscription
A desktop license for Windows or Mac costs $369 once. It covers the current version for a single user and does not include co-editing, web access or upgrades.
Stated on mindmanager.comEducation
Students and educators: $59 a year
The US price list sets the Students and Educators subscription at $59 a year against a $179 regular price, after eligibility is verified through Proxi.id. Schools can ask for site-license quotes.
Stated on mindmanager.comNonprofit
Special pricing for nonprofits
MindManager's license programs page offers special pricing on request to nonprofit organizations such as charities, churches, clinics, hospitals and museums.
Stated on mindmanager.comOther savings
Government and public service pricing
Special pricing and licensing options are available on request for governmental agencies and public service offices.
Stated on mindmanager.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly subscription”, against $19.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺134,99 | $2.75 | 86% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 279ribu | $15.60 | 22% less |
| Brazil | R$ 82,90 | $16.56 | 17% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 1,050.00 | $16.71 | 16% less |
| Mexico | $399.00 | $21.92 | 10% more |
| Australia | $32.99 | $23.03 | 15% more |
| Germany | 21,99 € | $24.64 | 23% more |
| United Kingdom | £19.49 | $25.77 | 29% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Mind mapping and diagramming software with Gantt charts. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, real-time collaboration, templates, kanban boards, Gantt & timelines, mind mapping, diagrams.
XMind, Mindomo and Ayoa do maps with Gantt charts too, so it isn't alone.
- Mind maps and many diagram types
- Templates cover mind maps, org charts, timelines, flowcharts, concept maps, Venn and onion diagrams, kanban boards, fishbone diagrams, funnel charts and matrix diagrams.
- Gantt charts and project tracking
- Topics become tasks with resources, costs, start dates and due dates, and the same map can be shown in Gantt, schedule, outline, icon or tag view.
- Co-editing and published maps
- Subscribers can co-edit a map in real time across platforms and publish it as a web link with view, comment or edit access. Co-editing is not part of Essentials.
- Microsoft integrations
- MindManager connects with Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Project, Planner, To Do and Lists, and stores files in SharePoint or OneDrive.
- MindManager Snap
- Snap captures ideas and content from a desktop, browser or mobile device into a personal queue, and team queues on Professional and Enterprise, for adding to maps later.
- SmartRules and formulas
- Conditional formatting rules and formulas built on topic properties automate updates in a map, and power filtering shows only the topics that match chosen markers or tags.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Microsoft Teams
- SharePoint
- Outlook
- Excel
- Microsoft Project
- Jira
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
MindManager is made by Corel Corporation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
0/30
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
MindManager's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 0 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on features (B, above 15 of 30) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year for each person, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 11 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 31 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. MindManager’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 30
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 30
- BFeaturesAbove 15 of 30
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 30
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 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. MindManager 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
The plain part of MindManager you could make: mind mapping, Gantt & timelines, kanban boards and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 25 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools grade higher. It costs $99 a year.
What you could make
- Mind mapping, Gantt & timelines, kanban boards and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A diagram editor.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and Outlook among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. MindManager’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, Mindomo, SmartDraw and Microsoft Visio
The 5 tools MindManager 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.
- Xmind has a free plan. MindManager does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Xmind lists a Linux app.
- MindManager can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
MindMeister
Free plan · from €6.50/mo
Browser-based mind mapping with real-time collaboration.
- MindMeister has a free plan. MindManager does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MindManager lists macOS and Windows apps.
- MindManager can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Mindomo
Free plan · from $7/mo
Mind maps, outlines and Gantt charts with real-time editing.
- Mindomo has a free plan. MindManager does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Mindomo lists a Linux app.
- Only Mindomo lists a browser extension.
- 2.2GPA
SmartDraw
Free trial · from $10.95/mo
Floor plans, scaled layouts and business diagrams in the browser.
- Only MindManager lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- MindManager can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MindManager also covers kanban boards and Gantt & timelines.
- 2.4GPA
Microsoft Visio
Free trial · from $5.00/mo
Diagramming software for flowcharts, org charts and floor plans.
- Only MindManager lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- MindManager also covers kanban boards and Gantt & timelines.
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 MindManager free?
No, MindManager is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day fully functional free trial, no credit card required; the Enterprise program offers a 60-day trial.
How much does MindManager cost?
MindManager lists 4 plans. Essentials: $99 per user / year.
What platforms does MindManager work on?
MindManager is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Does MindManager offer any discounts?
MindManager publicly lists the following: One-time purchase instead of a subscription; Students and educators: $59 a year; Special pricing for nonprofits; Government and public service pricing.
Does MindManager have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. MindManager is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is MindManager open source?
MindManager is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does MindManager integrate with?
MindManager's listing names Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Excel, Microsoft Project, Jira, Google Drive and Dropbox.
Does MindManager have a student discount?
Students and educators: $59 a year. The US price list sets the Students and Educators subscription at $59 a year against a $179 regular price, after eligibility is verified through Proxi.id.
Who makes MindManager?
MindManager is made by Corel Corporation.
What are the alternatives to MindManager?
The closest alternatives to MindManager in our directory are Xmind, MindMeister, Mindomo, SmartDraw and Microsoft Visio.
How does MindManager compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
MindManager's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 0 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 5.
Is MindManager good value for money?
ToolGPA grades MindManager D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year for each person, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 11 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of MindManager?
The plain part of MindManager you could make: mind mapping, Gantt & timelines, kanban boards and templates.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from MindManager’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 MindManager's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-07.
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 Corel Corporation. Prices change, so check mindmanager.com before you buy.
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
- MindManager, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mindmanager
- 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, "MindManager: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mindmanager
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mindmanager/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after MindManager, 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 MindManager’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. MindManager is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Corel Corporation. Prices and plans change: check mindmanager.com before you buy.