The MindNode Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about MindNode 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.
MindNode
The Insider’s Guide
Mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from MindNode’s own pages.
Made by IdeasOnCanvas GmbH · 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 MindNode’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on MindNode’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
2.6
GPA, above 13 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
MindNode is a mind mapping and outlining app made only for Apple platforms: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Vision Pro. Ideas are captured on a canvas, arranged into branches and viewed as an outline, and documents sync through the user's own iCloud. The free version covers basic mind map editing, and the MindNode Plus subscription adds outline editing, notes, tasks, connections, theming and Apple Intelligence features.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about MindNode, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The layout tidies a map for you, so you just type and branch, and sync runs through your own iCloud rather than an account you have to make.
- 1
Best for mind maps and outlines on Apple devices
MindNode is a mind mapper for Apple devices only: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Watch and Vision Pro, and any map flips into an outline.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.08 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $2.99 per month, or $24.99 per year.
- 3
There is a free plan
Create and edit mind maps with the basic editing tools, fold branches, view them as an outline, sync across Apple devices, join shared documents, and import or export files.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 5
Mind maps with flexible layout
Ideas branch and cluster on an infinite canvas. The layout keeps a map tidy automatically while still letting individual nodes be placed by hand.
- 6
Outline view
Any mind map can be shown as a hierarchical list. The free version can view the outline, and editing in it needs MindNode Plus.
- 7
Tasks, notes and connections
Nodes can carry notes and tasks, tasks sync to Apple Reminders, and connections link nodes outside the hierarchy. All three are MindNode Plus features.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 13 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 MindNode you could make: mind mapping and tasks. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
MindNode at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $2.99 per month, or $24.99 per year
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 1-week free trial of MindNode Plus on the monthly or yearly subscription
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- IdeasOnCanvas GmbH, since 2008
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.6 on the App Store, 314 ratings
The report card
Best for mind maps and outlines on Apple devices
MindNode is a mind mapper for Apple devices only: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Watch and Vision Pro, and any map flips into an outline. Plus is $24.99 a year. It does branching maps rather than an open board, notes, tasks, themes and starting a shared map all need Plus, and anyone on Windows, Android or the web is left out.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Plus is $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year, which works out at $2.08 a month. The middle of this category is $8.33 a month and 60% of the cheaper quarter is $3.00, so the yearly price lands under even that. The old MindNode Classic app is thrown in. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The free version makes and edits maps, folds branches, syncs through iCloud and imports and exports files, with no cap on how many maps. But notes, tasks, connections, visual tags, themes, editing the outline and starting a shared map are all Plus, so that's a wall you'll hit on your first real map. |
| Features | C | Maps that tidy themselves as they grow, the same ideas as an outline, notes and tasks on nodes that sync to Apple Reminders, live editing and Apple Intelligence. Mind mapping done fully, but that's the smaller job in this category: no open board with sticky notes and no diagramming. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.6 on the App Store from 314 ratings, which is a B and not an A because an A wants 4.7 from at least 1,000. The layout tidies a map for you, so you just type and branch, and sync runs through your own iCloud rather than an account you have to make. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | One family of devices: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Vision Pro, with no web, Windows or Android version. Apple Reminders, Shortcuts and iCloud are the only things listed to connect to, and there's no API. |
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 MindNode is for
- Fits if you move between a Mac, an iPhone and an iPad all day
- Works for flipping the same ideas between a map and an outline
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you or your teammates use Windows, Android or the web, as it's Apple only
- Tight if you never pay, since notes, tasks, connections, themes and outline editing are all Plus
- Not for you if you want map files in Finder, which only the legacy Classic app does
- Too light for sticky-note boards or diagrams, as it only does branching maps
- Watch out: there's no volume purchase program for schools or companies
Good to know
Good for
- People who work across a Mac, an iPhone and an iPad
- Switching between a mind map and an outline of the same ideas
- Users who want documents encrypted in their own iCloud
- Students and writers planning essays, study guides or novels
Worth knowing
- MindNode runs only on Apple devices; there is no web, Windows or Android version.
- Outline editing, notes, connections, tasks, visual tags, Focus Mode, theming, starting a collaboration and AI all need MindNode Plus.
- Documents are managed inside the app and stored in iCloud; file-based documents in Finder remain only in the legacy MindNode Classic app.
- The vendor offers no volume purchase program for schools or companies.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.08
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
MindNode has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.99 per month, or $24.99 per year.
The old MindNode Classic app is thrown in.
MindNode
$0
Mind map creation and basic editing, a read-only outline view, sync across Apple devices, and import and export.
MindNode Plus
$2.99
per month, or $24.99 per year
Adds outline editing, notes, connections, tasks, visual tags, Focus Mode, theming, collaboration, Apple Intelligence and the Apple Watch app. Includes MindNode Classic.
The free plan
Create and edit mind maps with the basic editing tools, fold branches, view them as an outline, sync across Apple devices, join shared documents, and import or export files.
Trying it first
1-week free trial of MindNode Plus on the monthly or yearly subscription
Read from mindnode.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
About 30% less with the yearly subscription
MindNode Plus costs $24.99 a year or $2.99 a month. Twelve monthly payments come to $35.88, so paying yearly works out about 30% cheaper.
Stated on mindnode.comEducation
Educational discount on request
MindNode's support pages say educational discounts are available to people who contact the support team from an educational email address.
Stated on mindnode.comOther savings
Included in a Setapp subscription
MindNode is also available through Setapp, a subscription service that bundles Mac and iOS applications.
Stated on mindnode.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly Subscription”, against $2.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Rp 49ribu | $2.74 | 8% less |
| Canada | $3.99 | $2.80 | 6% less |
| Turkey | ₺149,99 | $3.05 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 299 | $3.09 | about the same |
| South Africa | R59.99 | $3.63 | 21% more |
| Mexico | $69.00 | $3.79 | 27% more |
| United Kingdom | £2.99 | $3.95 | 32% more |
| Brazil | R$ 19,90 | $3.98 | 33% more |
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
Mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, end-to-end encrypted, AI features, real-time collaboration, tasks, mind mapping.
Mind mapping done fully, but that's the smaller job in this category: no open board with sticky notes and no diagramming.
- Mind maps with flexible layout
- Ideas branch and cluster on an infinite canvas. The layout keeps a map tidy automatically while still letting individual nodes be placed by hand.
- Outline view
- Any mind map can be shown as a hierarchical list. The free version can view the outline, and editing in it needs MindNode Plus.
- Tasks, notes and connections
- Nodes can carry notes and tasks, tasks sync to Apple Reminders, and connections link nodes outside the hierarchy. All three are MindNode Plus features.
- Live collaboration
- Several people can work on a map in real time, and the vendor describes the collaboration as end-to-end encrypted. Free users can join documents shared with them.
- Apple Intelligence
- AI can suggest a starting structure, expand a branch, summarize a map or turn it into a written draft. It runs on Apple Intelligence where that is available.
- Native apps and iCloud sync
- Separate native apps for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Vision Pro sync through iCloud, and changes made offline are merged on reconnecting.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Apple Reminders
- Apple Shortcuts
- iCloud
MindNode is made by IdeasOnCanvas GmbH, and has been around since 2008.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/30
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
MindNode's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 13 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 23 of 30) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $2.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 0 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 3 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. MindNode’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 23 of 30
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 30
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 30
- BEase of useAbove 17 of 30
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. MindNode 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 MindNode you could make: mind mapping and tasks. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $24.99 a year.
What you could make
- Mind mapping and tasks: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Hooks into the device itself: an Apple Watch app.
What this rests on. MindNode’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, SimpleMind, MindMeister, Scapple and Coggle
The 5 tools MindNode 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 a web app.
- Only Xmind lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- MindNode is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 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.
- MindNode is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- SimpleMind 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.
- Only MindNode lists a macOS app.
- Only MindMeister lists a web app.
- Only MindMeister lists an Android app.
- 2.6GPA
Scapple
Free trial · from $20.99 one-time
Freeform mind-mapping app for writers, on Mac and Windows.
- MindNode has a free plan. Scapple does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MindNode lists an iOS app.
- Only Scapple lists a Windows app.
- 2.4GPA
Coggle
Free plan · from $5/mo
Collaborative mind maps and flowcharts in the browser.
- Only MindNode lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Only Coggle lists a web app.
- MindNode is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
18
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 MindNode free?
MindNode has a free plan. Create and edit mind maps with the basic editing tools, fold branches, view them as an outline, sync across Apple devices, join shared documents, and import or export files.
How much does MindNode cost?
MindNode lists 2 plans. MindNode: $0.
What platforms does MindNode work on?
MindNode is available on macOS and iOS.
Does MindNode offer any discounts?
MindNode publicly lists the following: About 30% less with the yearly subscription; Educational discount on request; Included in a Setapp subscription.
How is MindNode rated?
MindNode's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 314 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does MindNode have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. MindNode is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does MindNode have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. MindNode is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is MindNode open source?
MindNode is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Is MindNode end-to-end encrypted?
MindNode describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
Does MindNode work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does MindNode integrate with?
MindNode's listing names Apple Reminders, Apple Shortcuts and iCloud. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does MindNode have a student discount?
Educational discount on request. MindNode's support pages say educational discounts are available to people who contact the support team from an educational email address.
Does MindNode have a free trial?
Yes. 1-week free trial of MindNode Plus on the monthly or yearly subscription.
Who makes MindNode?
MindNode is made by IdeasOnCanvas GmbH. It dates from 2008.
What are the alternatives to MindNode?
The closest alternatives to MindNode in our directory are Xmind, SimpleMind, MindMeister, Scapple and Coggle.
How does MindNode compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
MindNode's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 13 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 7.
Is MindNode good value for money?
ToolGPA grades MindNode A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 0 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of MindNode?
The plain part of MindNode you could make: mind mapping and tasks. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from MindNode’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 MindNode's own pages on 6 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-15.
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 IdeasOnCanvas GmbH. Prices change, so check mindnode.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
- MindNode, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mindnode
- 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, "MindNode: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mindnode
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mindnode/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after MindNode, 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 MindNode’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. MindNode is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by IdeasOnCanvas GmbH. Prices and plans change: check mindnode.com before you buy.