Plectica review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Card-based visual mapping for diagrams and concept maps
Black Friday: is there a Plectica sale?
Plectica report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for nested, linked card maps
Plectica is a browser tool for maps made of cards that nest inside each other and link with lines. The free plan stops at 250 cards, it runs in the browser only, and its pages look lightly updated. Look elsewhere if you need an app or a lot of cards for nothing.
Who Plectica is for
- Fits if you want maps where one card sits inside another
- Works for students and small groups who share maps by link
Who Plectica is not for
- Tight if you stay free, because Basic stops at 250 cards and 25 MB attachments
- Skip it if you want an app, since it only runs in the browser
- Watch out: the Student plan at $3 a month has no stated rule for who counts as a student
- Watch out: the site footer is dated 2017 to 2022, so it may be updated less often than others
Why Plectica gets a 2.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyPro is $8 a month on yearly billing, which is the middle of what whiteboards charge. Student is $3 but the page doesn't say who qualifies.
- CFree plan and trialA free Basic plan with 250 cards and 25 MB attachments. A busy map will pass 250 cards.
- CFeaturesNested cards, relationship lines, shared editing and embedding. It is browser only, and there are no integrations on record.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record, and you build your own map from cards, so there's a learning curve.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb only. No desktop or phone app is listed and no integrations.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Frameable Inc's own pages on 12 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/plectica#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/plectica.svg" alt="Plectica: 2.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Plectica stands among whiteboard and mind map tools
Plectica's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 4 of the 61 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 7.
Its paid plans start at $3 a month, against a middle price of $7.49 for the category: 3 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 7 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 62 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Plectica’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 7 of 61, level with 30
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 61, level with 40
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 61, level with 42
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 61, level with 44
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 61, level with 21
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 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 Plectica, or make your own?
Keep it
The plain part of Plectica you could make: mind mapping. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 50 of the 61 other whiteboard and mind map tools grade higher. It costs $36 a year.
What you could make
- Mind mapping: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A diagram editor.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
What this rests on. Plectica’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 Plectica?
Plectica is a browser-based mapping tool built around cards that can hold information, nest inside other cards and be linked by relationship lines. Several people can view and edit a map, and maps can be shared by invitation, by link, as a presentation or embedded in a web page. It is made by Frameable.
Worth knowing
- The Basic plan stops at 250 cards, and attachments are capped at 25 MB there.
- Plectica runs in the browser only; no desktop or mobile app is listed.
- The site's footer is dated 2017 to 2022, so the pages may be updated less often than other vendors'.
- The pricing page does not say what qualifies for the Student plan.
Key features
- Cards and parts
- A card is the basic unit and can stand for a person, task, object or idea. Cards can be nested inside other cards as parts.
- Relationship lines
- Any card can be linked to any other, and a relationship can itself be defined through a relationship card. Lines can be arcs or elbows.
- Shared editing
- Maps can be edited by several people, with collaborator cursors visible. Sharing is by email invitation, view-only or edit links, or a presentation link.
- Embedding
- A map can be embedded on a website from the Share menu.
- Templates and examples
- The maps page offers templates and example maps, such as a database schema, customer journey map and traffic flow.
Plectica pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, Plectica has a free plan, and paid plans start at $3 per month, billed annually ($4 billed monthly).
- Starts at
- $3 per month, billed annually ($4 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- Basic plan: free forever, up to 250 cards, map building, storing and sharing, and file attachments up to 25 MB.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 | Up to 250 cards, map building, storing and sharing, file attachments up to 25 MB. |
| Student | $3per month, billed annually ($4 billed monthly) | Unlimited cards, attachments up to 250 MB and long-term backups. |
| Pro | $8per month, billed annually ($9 billed monthly) | Unlimited cards, attachments up to 250 MB, long-term backups and priority customer support. |
| Team | $7per seat / month, billed annually ($8 billed monthly) | Pro features at a lower price per team member. |
| Organization | Custom | Custom packages for team knowledge management, training and innovation; quoted on request. |
Read from plectica.com on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Plectica before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountAnnual billing saves 11% to 25%
The pricing page shows annual billing as 25% off Student, 11% off Pro and 12% off Team, compared with monthly billing.
Stated on plectica.com
Plectica alternatives
- Plectica vs Coggle
Free plan · from $5/mo
- Plectica vs MindMeister
Free plan · from €6.50/mo
- Plectica vs Whimsical
Free plan · from $10/mo
- Plectica vs Kumu
Free plan · from $9/mo
- Plectica vs Mindomo
Free plan · from $7/mo
Common questions
Does Plectica have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Plectica is listed for Web.
Does Plectica have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Plectica is listed for Web.
Is Plectica open source?
Plectica is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.