The MindMeister Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about MindMeister 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.
MindMeister
The Insider’s Guide
Browser-based mind mapping with real-time collaboration
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from MindMeister’s own pages.
Made by MeisterLabs GmbH · checked Oct 9, 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 MindMeister’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on MindMeister’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 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
MindMeister is an online mind mapping tool from the German company MeisterLabs, available since 2007. Maps are built in a browser or in the iOS and Android apps, can be edited by several people at once, and can be presented straight from the map. An AI feature, currently in beta, generates a map from a prompt or an uploaded file, and topics can be turned into tasks in the sister product MeisterTask.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about MindMeister, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for mind mapping together in a browser
MindMeister is browser mind mapping for groups: everyone edits the same map at once, and you can present straight from it.
- 2
Paid plans start at about $7.28 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: €6.50 per user / month, billed yearly.
- 3
There is a free plan
Up to 3 mind maps with unlimited collaborators, templates, presentations, outline and focus modes and the mobile apps. No file exports, printing, attachments or version history.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Mind map editor
Topics are arranged by drag and drop and can carry links, notes, emojis and images. Layouts include mind maps, org charts and lists, with themes and color schemes.
- 6
Real-time collaboration
Collaborators invited by link edit the same map at once, comment on topics and @mention each other. Every plan, including Free, allows unlimited collaborators.
- 7
Presentation mode
A map can be shown as a presentation directly from the editor, so a team can be walked through the ideas without building separate slides.
- 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 MindMeister you could make: mind mapping and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
MindMeister at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from €6.50 per user / month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- MeisterLabs GmbH, since 2007
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.4 on the App Store, 1,269 ratings
The report card
Best for mind mapping together in a browser
MindMeister is browser mind mapping for groups: everyone edits the same map at once, and you can present straight from it. The free plan stops at 3 maps with no exports, printing or history. There's no desktop app, billing runs 6 or 12 months with no monthly option, and Word and PowerPoint exports need Pro at €10.50 a month.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Personal is €6.50 a user a month billed yearly, or €7.50 on 6-month billing, which is the middle of this category. There's no monthly option at all, and Word and PowerPoint exports, branding and Google Workspace wait for Pro at €10.50. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free forever, with unlimited collaborators, templates, presentations and the phone apps. But it's 3 mind maps, and no file exports, printing, attachments or version history, so whatever you make stays inside MindMeister. |
| Features | C | It does mind maps fully, and that's a smaller job than this category's: drag-and-drop topics with notes, links and images, mind map, org chart and list layouts, live co-editing with comments, presentation and outline modes, and AI map-building that's still in beta. No freeform canvas, no stickies, no drawing. |
| Ease of use | C | 4.4 from 1,269 App Store ratings, in the middle of the range. Nothing to install on a computer, and focus mode hides the menus when you want to think, but a blank map is still yours to build and arrange. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, iPhone and Android, with MeisterTask, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace and a Claude connector. There's no desktop app at all, so on a computer it's a browser tab, and Teams needs Personal while Google Workspace needs Pro. |
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 MindMeister is for
- Fits if your team brainstorms together and wants everyone on the same map at once
- Works for MeisterTask users who want to turn map topics into tasks
Who it is not for
- Tight if you're staying free, since 3 mind maps is the limit and you can't export or print them
- Not for you if you want a desktop app, because outside the phone apps it runs in a browser
- Skip it if you like paying month by month, as billing is in 6-month or 12-month cycles only
- Pricey if you need Word or PowerPoint exports or Google Workspace, which wait for Pro at €10.50 a month
- Watch out: prices vary by region, and SAML SSO needs Business plus a request to sales
Good to know
Good for
- Teams that brainstorm together in a browser
- MeisterTask users who turn map topics into tasks
- Students, educators and nonprofits, who get a 50% discount
- Organizations that want hosting in Germany and GDPR compliance
Worth knowing
- The Free plan stops at 3 mind maps and has no file exports, printing, attachments or version history.
- Plans are billed in 6-month or 12-month cycles with no monthly option, and prices vary by region; the figures here are the vendor's EUR reference prices.
- Word and PowerPoint exports, custom branding and Google Workspace need Pro; SAML SSO needs Business and a request to the sales team.
- No desktop apps are listed: outside the iOS and Android apps, MindMeister runs in a browser.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
~$7.28
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
MindMeister has a free plan. Paid plans start at €6.50 per user / month, billed yearly.
Free forever, with unlimited collaborators, templates, presentations and the phone apps.
Free
€0
Up to 3 mind maps, unlimited collaborators, templates, presentations, outline and focus modes, the MeisterTask integration and AI map creation in beta.
Personal
€6.50
per user / month, billed yearly (€7.50 on 6-month billing)
Unlimited mind maps, PNG, JPG and PDF exports, printing, 2 attachments per map, 7-day version history and the Microsoft Teams integration.
Pro
€10.50
per user / month, billed yearly (€12.50 on 6-month billing)
Unlimited attachments, all-time version history, multiple admins, Word and PowerPoint exports, custom branding and the Google Workspace integration.
Business
€15.50
per user / month, billed yearly (€19 on 6-month billing)
Group sharing, compliance exports and backups, IP restriction, SAML SSO on request, priority email and phone support and a customer success manager.
The free plan
Up to 3 mind maps with unlimited collaborators, templates, presentations, outline and focus modes and the mobile apps. No file exports, printing, attachments or version history.
Read from mindmeister.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
13 to 18% lower on 12-month billing
MindMeister's pricing file says the 12-month billing cycle costs approximately 13 to 18% less than the 6-month cycle, for example €6.50 against €7.50 per user a month on Personal.
Stated on mindmeister.comEducation
50% off for students and educators
Students, educators and educational institutions get a 50% discount, applied by contacting the support team.
Stated on mindmeister.comNonprofit
50% off for nonprofits
The same 50% discount is listed for non-profit organizations, also arranged through the support team.
Stated on mindmeister.comBy country
Lower price shown to buyers in India
MindMeister says it uses geo-based pricing. On 9 October 2026 its pricing page showed Personal to a reader in India at $3.50 per user a month on yearly billing, against a reference price of €6.50 for most of Europe.
Stated on mindmeister.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly Personal Trial”, against $7.49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $70.00 | $3.85 | 49% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 79ribu | $4.42 | 41% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 285.00 | $4.54 | 39% less |
| India | ₹ 440 | $4.55 | 39% less |
| Canada | $10.00 | $7.03 | 6% less |
| Germany | 9,00 € | $10.09 | 35% more |
| Australia | $15.49 | $10.81 | 44% more |
| United Kingdom | £8.39 | $11.09 | 48% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
Browser-based mind mapping with real-time collaboration. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, real-time collaboration, templates, mind mapping, presentations.
No freeform canvas, no stickies, no drawing.
- Mind map editor
- Topics are arranged by drag and drop and can carry links, notes, emojis and images. Layouts include mind maps, org charts and lists, with themes and color schemes.
- Real-time collaboration
- Collaborators invited by link edit the same map at once, comment on topics and @mention each other. Every plan, including Free, allows unlimited collaborators.
- Presentation mode
- A map can be shown as a presentation directly from the editor, so a team can be walked through the ideas without building separate slides.
- Outline and focus modes
- Outline mode switches a map to structured bullet points, and focus mode hides menus, toolbars and icons in the editor.
- AI map creation (beta)
- A prompt or an uploaded file such as a PDF, presentation, spreadsheet or image produces a map, which AI can then expand or tidy. It is listed as beta on every plan.
- Exports and integrations
- Topics convert into MeisterTask tasks on any plan. Image and PDF exports and Microsoft Teams start at Personal; Word and PowerPoint exports and Google Workspace at Pro.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- MeisterTask
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Workspace
- Claude
MindMeister is made by MeisterLabs GmbH, and has been around since 2007.
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
MindMeister'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 platforms and integrations (B, above 5 of 30) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at about $7.28 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 9 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 10 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. MindMeister’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 4 of 30
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 30
- CFeaturesAbove 0 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. MindMeister 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 MindMeister you could make: mind mapping and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 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 $87.41 a year.
What you could make
- Mind mapping and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A slide editor.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. MindMeister’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, MindNode, Mindomo, Coggle and Ayoa
The 5 tools MindMeister 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 macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Xmind also covers Gantt & timelines.
- 2.6GPA
MindNode
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices.
- Only MindMeister lists a web app.
- Only MindMeister lists an Android app.
- Only MindNode lists a macOS app.
- 2.6GPA
Mindomo
Free plan · from $7/mo
Mind maps, outlines and Gantt charts with real-time editing.
- Only Mindomo lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Mindomo lists a browser extension.
- MindMeister also covers templates and presentations.
- 2.4GPA
Coggle
Free plan · from $5/mo
Collaborative mind maps and flowcharts in the browser.
- Only MindMeister lists iOS and Android apps.
- Coggle is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- MindMeister also covers templates and presentations.
- 2.8GPA
Ayoa
Free plan · from $13/mo
Mind mapping with whiteboards and visual task boards.
- Only Ayoa lists macOS and Windows apps.
- MindMeister also covers templates and presentations.
- Ayoa also covers whiteboard, tasks, kanban boards and Gantt & timelines.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
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 MindMeister free?
MindMeister has a free plan. Up to 3 mind maps with unlimited collaborators, templates, presentations, outline and focus modes and the mobile apps.
How much does MindMeister cost?
MindMeister lists 4 plans. Free: €0.
What platforms does MindMeister work on?
MindMeister is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does MindMeister offer any discounts?
MindMeister publicly lists the following: 13 to 18% lower on 12-month billing; 50% off for students and educators; 50% off for nonprofits; Lower price shown to buyers in India.
How is MindMeister rated?
MindMeister's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1,269 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does MindMeister have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. MindMeister is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does MindMeister have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. MindMeister is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is MindMeister open source?
MindMeister is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does MindMeister integrate with?
MindMeister's listing names MeisterTask, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace and Claude.
Does MindMeister have a student discount?
50% off for students and educators. Students, educators and educational institutions get a 50% discount, applied by contacting the support team.
Who makes MindMeister?
MindMeister is made by MeisterLabs GmbH. It dates from 2007.
What are the alternatives to MindMeister?
The closest alternatives to MindMeister in our directory are Xmind, MindNode, Mindomo, Coggle and Ayoa.
How does MindMeister compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
MindMeister'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 MindMeister good value for money?
ToolGPA grades MindMeister C for value for money. Its paid plans start at about $7.28 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 9 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of MindMeister?
The plain part of MindMeister you could make: mind mapping and templates.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from MindMeister’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MindMeister's own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Prices are its euro reference prices, and it charges differently by region. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-27.
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 MeisterLabs GmbH. Prices change, so check mindmeister.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
- MindMeister, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mindmeister
- 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, "MindMeister: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mindmeister
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mindmeister/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after MindMeister, 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 MindMeister’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. MindMeister is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by MeisterLabs GmbH. Prices and plans change: check mindmeister.com before you buy.