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The Scapple Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Scapple 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.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Scapple

The Insider’s Guide

Freeform mind-mapping app for writers, on Mac and Windows

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from Scapple’s own pages.

Made by Literature & Latte Ltd. · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.6GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Scapple’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Scapple’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

Scapple is a freeform mind-mapping app from Literature & Latte, the company behind Scrivener. It behaves like a sheet of paper: notes are typed anywhere on the page and joined with lines or arrows, with no central topic and no enforced hierarchy. It is sold as a one-time license, separately for macOS and for Windows, and notes can be dragged into a Scrivener project for further work.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Scapple, taken from its own pages and our grades.

No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for loose notes and arrows before you start writing

    Scapple is a sheet of paper on your screen: double-click anywhere to jot a note, and drag one onto another to join them, with no central topic.

  2. 2

    What it costs

    Paid plans start at $20.99 one-time, per platform (macOS or Windows).

  3. 3

    You can try it first

    30-day free trial of the full version; only days on which the app is used count toward the 30

  4. 4

    It runs on 2 platforms

    macOS and Windows.

  5. 5

    Notes anywhere on the page

    Double-clicking any spot on the page creates a note there. Notes can be moved and rearranged at any time, and the page keeps growing so there is always more room.

  6. 6

    Connections without a hierarchy

    Dragging one note onto another joins them with a line or an arrow. No note is the center of the map, notes can stay unconnected, and connections can carry labels.

  7. 7

    Stacks and background shapes

    Related notes can be stacked into columns, and background shapes group a set of notes visually. The appearance of individual notes can be customized.

  8. 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. 9

    Your call

    A whiteboard at its plainest is boxes and arrows on a canvas.

Scapple at a glance

Pricing
Free trial, from $20.99 one-time, per platform (macOS or Windows)
Free plan
No
Free trial
30-day free trial of the full version; only days on which the app is used count toward the 30
Runs on
macOS, Windows
Made by
Literature & Latte Ltd., since 2013
Category
Whiteboards & Mind Maps
Our grade
2.6 GPA, good

The report card

Best for loose notes and arrows before you start writing

Scapple is a sheet of paper on your screen: double-click anywhere to jot a note, and drag one onto another to join them, with no central topic. It's $20.99 once per platform. There's no phone or web version, Mac and Windows each need their own license, the Windows app is years behind the Mac one, and a future major version would be a paid upgrade.

ToolGPA report cardScappleGraded Oct 10, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyA$20.99 once per platform, which is under three months of a typical subscription in this category. The license covers your own computers and those of family at home. Students and academics pay $16.79. Want it on a Mac and a Windows PC? That's two licenses.
Free plan and trialCNo free version. The 30-day trial is the full app, and only the days you use it count toward the 30. After that you buy a license.
FeaturesCNotes anywhere on the page, dragged onto each other to join them with a line or an arrow, plus stacks, background shapes, connection labels and a hand-off to Scrivener. It does that one job fully, but it's a smaller job: no templates, no shared board, none of the diagramming the rest of this lot does.
Ease of useBNo store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up. You install it, double-click the page to type a note and drag one note onto another to connect them. No account, no board to build first.
Platforms and integrationsCComputers only: macOS and Windows, a separate license for each, with no web, iOS or Android version listed. Three integrations, Scrivener, iCloud and MathType, and no API. The Windows build, 1.4.2 from December 2022, is three years behind the Mac's 1.5.4.
Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.6

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 Scapple is for

  • Fits if you're a writer working out a plot or an argument before drafting
  • Works for Scrivener users, since notes drag straight into a project

Who it is not for

  • Skip it if you want your notes on a phone or in a browser, as it's Mac and Windows only
  • Not for you if you're on Windows and want the newest version, as 1.4.2 dates from December 2022
  • Too light for project planning, since it sticks to notes and the lines between them
  • Pricey if you use both a Mac and a Windows PC, because each needs its own $20.99 license
  • Watch out: there are no templates or shared boards, and a future Scapple 2 would be a paid upgrade

Good to know

Good for

  • Writers working out plots, arguments or research before drafting
  • People who find a mind map with one central topic too rigid
  • Scrivener users who want to carry rough notes into a project
  • Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription

Worth knowing

  • Scapple is offered for macOS and Windows only; the vendor lists no web, iOS or Android version.
  • Each license covers a single platform, so running Scapple on both a Mac and a Windows PC means buying two.
  • Minor updates are free, but the vendor says a future major version such as Scapple 2 would be a paid upgrade.
  • The Windows version (1.4.2, December 2022) is behind the macOS version (1.5.4, November 2025).

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$20.99 one-time

To start

Scapple is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $20.99 one-time, per platform (macOS or Windows).

The license covers your own computers and those of family at home.
From our grade for value for money

  • Standard Licence

    $20.99

    one-time, per platform (macOS or Windows)

    The full version for one platform, under a household license that covers the buyer's own computers and those of family in the same home.

  • Educational Licence

    $16.79

    one-time, per platform (macOS or Windows)

    The same full version at 20% off for students and academics, who need an institutional affiliation to qualify.

Trying it first

30-day free trial of the full version; only days on which the app is used count toward the 30

Read from literatureandlatte.com on Oct 6, 2026.

Ways to pay less

  • Education

    20% off for students and academics

    The vendor's store sells an Educational Licence to students and academics with an institutional affiliation: $16.79 instead of $20.99 in US pricing, on macOS or Windows.

    Stated on literatureandlatte.com

What the app costs elsewhere

Each country’s App Store price for the app, against $20.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.

CountryPrice thereIn dollarsAgainst the US
Turkey₺999,99$20.34about the same
Philippines₱ 1,290.00$20.53about the same
India₹ 1,999$20.67about the same
Canada$29.99$21.08about the same
Germany22,99 €$25.7623% more
BrazilR$ 129,90$25.9524% more
United Kingdom£19.99$26.4326% more
Mexico$499.00$27.4231% 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 Windows

Freeform mind-mapping app for writers, on Mac and Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, mind mapping.

It does that one job fully, but it's a smaller job: no templates, no shared board, none of the diagramming the rest of this lot does.
From our grade for features
Notes anywhere on the page
Double-clicking any spot on the page creates a note there. Notes can be moved and rearranged at any time, and the page keeps growing so there is always more room.
Connections without a hierarchy
Dragging one note onto another joins them with a line or an arrow. No note is the center of the map, notes can stay unconnected, and connections can carry labels.
Stacks and background shapes
Related notes can be stacked into columns, and background shapes group a set of notes visually. The appearance of individual notes can be customized.
Export and printing
Boards can be printed or exported. The release notes refer to PDF and PNG output on the Mac and to plain text, rich text and OPML export.
Hand-off to Scrivener
Notes can be dragged from a Scapple board into Scrivener, the vendor's long-form writing app, to be developed into a draft.
Household license
A license bought from the vendor covers every computer the buyer owns and mainly uses, plus the computers of family members living in the same house.

Where it runs

  • macOS
  • Windows

What it works with

  • Scrivener
  • iCloud
  • MathType

Scapple is made by Literature & Latte Ltd., and has been around since 2013.

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

Scapple'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).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 31 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Scapple’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

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.

Your call

A whiteboard at its plainest is boxes and arrows on a canvas.

You could make the core of Scapple for yourself: mind mapping. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $20.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.

What you could make

  • Mind mapping: an app builder makes this well.

What you could not

  • A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.

What this rests on. Scapple’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

MindNode, SimpleMind, Xmind, Freeplane and Milanote

The 5 tools Scapple is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

  • 2.6GPA

    MindNode

    Free plan · from $2.99/mo

    Mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices.

    • MindNode has a free plan. Scapple does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Scapple lists a Windows app.
    • Only MindNode lists an iOS app.
    Scapple and MindNode compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    SimpleMind

    Free plan · from $10.99 one-time

    Mind mapping app sold as a one-time purchase per platform.

    • SimpleMind has a free plan. Scapple does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only SimpleMind lists iOS and Android apps.
    Scapple and SimpleMind compared in full
  • 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. Scapple does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Xmind lists a web app.
    • Only Xmind lists Linux, iOS and Android apps.
    Scapple and Xmind compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    Freeplane

    Free

    Free, open source mind mapping app for the desktop.

    • Freeplane has a free plan. Scapple does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Freeplane lists a Linux app.
    • Scapple can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Scapple and Freeplane compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    Milanote

    Free plan · from $9.99/mo

    Visual boards for organizing creative projects.

    • Milanote has a free plan. Scapple does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Milanote lists a web app.
    • Only Milanote lists iOS and Android apps.
    Scapple and Milanote compared in full

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 Scapple free?

No, Scapple is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial of the full version; only days on which the app is used count toward the 30.

How much does Scapple cost?

Scapple lists 2 plans. Standard Licence: $20.99 one-time, per platform (macOS or Windows).

What platforms does Scapple work on?

Scapple is available on macOS and Windows.

Does Scapple offer any discounts?

Scapple publicly lists the following: 20% off for students and academics.

Does Scapple have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Scapple is listed for macOS and Windows.

Does Scapple have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Scapple is listed for macOS and Windows.

Is Scapple open source?

Scapple is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.

What does Scapple integrate with?

Scapple's listing names Scrivener, iCloud and MathType. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Does Scapple have a student discount?

20% off for students and academics. The vendor's store sells an Educational Licence to students and academics with an institutional affiliation: $16.79 instead of $20.99 in US pricing, on macOS or Windows.

Who makes Scapple?

Scapple is made by Literature & Latte Ltd. It dates from 2013.

What are the alternatives to Scapple?

The closest alternatives to Scapple in our directory are MindNode, SimpleMind, Xmind, Freeplane and Milanote.

How does Scapple compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?

Scapple's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 13 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 7.

Could I make my own version of Scapple?

A whiteboard at its plainest is boxes and arrows on a canvas. You could make the core of Scapple for yourself: mind mapping.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Scapple’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 Literature & Latte's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-16.

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 Literature & Latte Ltd. Prices change, so check literatureandlatte.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

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, "Scapple: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/scapple

Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/scapple/guide

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See our other guides

The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after Scapple, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Scapple’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. Scapple is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Literature & Latte Ltd. Prices and plans change: check literatureandlatte.com before you buy.