The SimpleMind Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about SimpleMind 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.
SimpleMind
The Insider’s Guide
Mind mapping app sold as a one-time purchase per platform
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from SimpleMind’s own pages.
Made by ModelMaker Tools B.V. / xpt Software & Consulting B.V. · 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 SimpleMind’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on SimpleMind’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
2.8
GPA, above 21 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
SimpleMind is a mind mapping app for Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android, sold as a one-time purchase per platform with no subscription. Topics can be placed freely or arranged by one of several auto layouts, and maps are files kept on the device or synced through a cloud service the user chooses, such as Dropbox. A free edition with limited functionality is offered for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about SimpleMind, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Maps are just files on your own device, and the desktop trial runs without registering.
- 1
Best for a mind mapper you buy once and keep
Every platform is its own purchase, though.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $10.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 for Mac or Windows.
- 3
There is a free plan
SimpleMind Free for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android: free-form and horizontal auto layout, 15+ style sheets and outline view, with no ads. No cloud sync, images, notes, sharing, printing or search.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
- 5
Free-form and auto layouts
Place topics anywhere on the page or use the horizontal auto layout. Pro adds six more: vertical, top-down, linear, radial, matrix and list.
- 6
Maps stored as your own files
Mind maps are files that are never stored on the vendor's servers. Pro syncs them across platforms through a cloud service such as Dropbox.
- 7
Notes, images and checkboxes
Pro topics can hold notes, images, photos, icons, labels, call-outs, checkboxes and progress bars, and any two topics can be joined with a crosslink.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 21 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 SimpleMind you could make: mind mapping. What surrounds it you could not. The 1 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
SimpleMind at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $10.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 for Mac or Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Free 30-day trial of SimpleMind Pro for Mac and Windows with full functionality and no registration
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- ModelMaker Tools B.V. / xpt Software & Consulting B.V.
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 451 ratings
The report card
Best for a mind mapper you buy once and keep
SimpleMind is a mind mapper you buy once: $10.99 on iPhone and iPad, $29.99 on Mac or Windows, with maps kept as files on your own devices. Every platform is its own purchase, though. There's no co-editing, no browser version and no AI, and the free edition leaves out sync, images, notes and printing and isn't offered on Windows.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Pro is bought once: $10.99 on iPhone and iPad, $29.99 on Mac or Windows, no monthly or yearly fee ever. The middle of this category is $8.33 a month, so the desktop license costs less than four months of a typical subscription here. Each platform is its own purchase, mind. |
| Free plan and trial | C | SimpleMind Free is on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android with no ads, but it leaves out cloud sync, images, notes, sharing, printing and search. Those are caps you'll hit on your first real map. Windows gets no free edition at all, just a 30-day Pro trial with no registration. |
| Features | C | Topics placed anywhere or by one of seven auto layouts, holding notes, images, checkboxes, progress bars and crosslinks, with PDF and outline export and a slideshow. One person's mind maps, done fully. But the listing's own notes say there's no co-editing and no AI. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.74 on the App Store from 451 ratings for the Pro app, which is a B and not an A because an A wants 1,000 ratings behind it. Maps are just files on your own device, and the desktop trial runs without registering. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android, so computers and both phones. No browser version though, and the only thing listed to connect to is a cloud service like Dropbox for syncing your own files. 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 SimpleMind is for
- Fits if you'd rather pay once than pick up another subscription
- Works for keeping maps as your own files, not on a vendor's servers
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to edit a map with someone live, as there's no co-editing
- Not for you if you work in a browser, because there's no web version
- Tight if you're staying free, since sync, images, notes, printing and search are all Pro
- Pricey if you use several devices, as each platform is bought separately and Mac plus Windows alone is $54.99
- Watch out: Windows has no free edition, only a 30-day Pro trial, and there's no built-in AI
Good to know
Good for
- People who want to buy a mind mapping app once, not subscribe
- Keeping mind maps as private files on a device or personal cloud
- Families or small teams sharing a 4-user or 10-user license
- Brainstorming with a free-form layout on a phone or tablet
Worth knowing
- Each platform is a separate purchase: a Mac or Windows license does not include the iPhone, iPad or Android app.
- The free edition leaves out cloud sync, images, notes, sharing, printing and search, and it is not listed for Windows, which gets the 30-day trial.
- There is no browser version, and the feature list has no co-editing: maps are files synced through a cloud service the user picks.
- SimpleMind has no built-in AI, which the vendor presents as a privacy decision.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$10.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
SimpleMind has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 for Mac or Windows.
Each platform is its own purchase, mind.
SimpleMind Free
$0
For Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android: basic mind mapping with free-form and horizontal auto layout, style sheets and outline. No sync, sharing or printing.
Pro for iPhone & iPad
$10.99
one-time purchase
Full feature set on iPhone and iPad, bought on the App Store. The vendor's page lists it as from US$10.99.
Pro for Android
$11.99
one-time purchase
Full feature set on Android, bought on Google Play at the US price. The vendor's page lists it as from €10.99.
Pro Single User (Mac or Windows)
$29.99
one-time purchase per platform, excluding VAT
One user on Mac or on Windows. A license covering both platforms costs $54.99.
Pro Family/Team (4 users)
$49.99
one-time purchase per platform, excluding VAT
Four users on Mac or on Windows, shown on the page as "Now 49.99 USD". Both platforms together cost $99.98.
Pro 10-user License
$114.99
one-time purchase per platform, excluding VAT
Ten users on Mac or on Windows, or $229.98 for both platforms. Site licenses are handled separately.
The free plan
SimpleMind Free for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android: free-form and horizontal auto layout, 15+ style sheets and outline view, with no ads. No cloud sync, images, notes, sharing, printing or search.
Trying it first
Free 30-day trial of SimpleMind Pro for Mac and Windows with full functionality and no registration
Read from simplemind.eu on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
One-time purchase with no subscription
SimpleMind Pro is bought once per platform with no monthly or annual fees: $29.99 for Mac or Windows and $10.99 for iPhone and iPad.
Stated on simplemind.euOther savings
Two-platform and multi-user licenses
A single-user license for both Mac and Windows is $54.99 against $59.98 bought separately. A four-user Family/Team license is $49.99 and a ten-user license $114.99 per platform.
Stated on simplemind.eu
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for the app, against $10.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | ₹ 999 | $10.33 | 6% less |
| Canada | $14.99 | $10.54 | about the same |
| Philippines | ₱ 699.00 | $11.13 | about the same |
| Indonesia | Rp 199ribu | $11.13 | about the same |
| United Kingdom | £9.99 | $13.21 | 20% more |
| Germany | 11,99 € | $13.44 | 22% more |
| South Africa | R229.99 | $13.91 | 27% more |
| Brazil | R$ 69,90 | $13.97 | 27% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Mind mapping app sold as a one-time purchase per platform. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: local-first, one-time purchase, mind mapping.
But the listing's own notes say there's no co-editing and no AI.
- Free-form and auto layouts
- Place topics anywhere on the page or use the horizontal auto layout. Pro adds six more: vertical, top-down, linear, radial, matrix and list.
- Maps stored as your own files
- Mind maps are files that are never stored on the vendor's servers. Pro syncs them across platforms through a cloud service such as Dropbox.
- Notes, images and checkboxes
- Pro topics can hold notes, images, photos, icons, labels, call-outs, checkboxes and progress bars, and any two topics can be joined with a crosslink.
- Sharing and slideshows
- Pro shares a map as a PDF, an image, or an HTML or text outline, prints it, and builds a slideshow to present it on tablets and desktops.
- Style sheets
- More than 15 style sheets, including dark ones, change the look of a map. Pro lets you create your own and style borders, lines and colors in detail.
- Tools for large maps
- Collapse branches, focus on one part with autofocus and switch to an outline. Pro adds hiding topics, group borders, folders and search.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Dropbox
SimpleMind is made by ModelMaker Tools B.V. / xpt Software & Consulting B.V.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
21/30
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
SimpleMind's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 21 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 3.
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. SimpleMind’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
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 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.
Keep it
The plain part of SimpleMind you could make: mind mapping. What surrounds it you could not. The 1 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 21 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade. It costs $10.99, paid once.
What you could make
- Mind mapping: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. SimpleMind’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, MindMeister, Freeplane and Scapple
The 5 tools SimpleMind 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 a Linux app.
- SimpleMind can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
MindNode
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices.
- Only SimpleMind lists Windows and Android apps.
- SimpleMind can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MindNode is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
MindMeister
Free plan · from €6.50/mo
Browser-based mind mapping with real-time collaboration.
- Only SimpleMind lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only MindMeister lists a web app.
- SimpleMind can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Freeplane
Free
Free, open source mind mapping app for the desktop.
- Only SimpleMind lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Freeplane lists a Linux app.
- SimpleMind can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Scapple
Free trial · from $20.99 one-time
Freeform mind-mapping app for writers, on Mac and Windows.
- SimpleMind has a free plan. Scapple does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only SimpleMind lists iOS and Android apps.
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 SimpleMind free?
SimpleMind has a free plan. SimpleMind Free for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android: free-form and horizontal auto layout, 15+ style sheets and outline view, with no ads.
How much does SimpleMind cost?
SimpleMind lists 6 plans. SimpleMind Free: $0.
What platforms does SimpleMind work on?
SimpleMind is available on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Does SimpleMind offer any discounts?
SimpleMind publicly lists the following: One-time purchase with no subscription; Two-platform and multi-user licenses.
How is SimpleMind rated?
SimpleMind's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 451 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does SimpleMind have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. SimpleMind is listed for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is SimpleMind open source?
SimpleMind is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does SimpleMind integrate with?
SimpleMind's listing names Dropbox. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does SimpleMind have a free trial?
Yes. Free 30-day trial of SimpleMind Pro for Mac and Windows with full functionality and no registration.
Who makes SimpleMind?
SimpleMind is made by ModelMaker Tools B.V. / xpt Software & Consulting B.V.
What are the alternatives to SimpleMind?
The closest alternatives to SimpleMind in our directory are Xmind, MindNode, MindMeister, Freeplane and Scapple.
How does SimpleMind compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
SimpleMind's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 21 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 3.
Could I make my own version of SimpleMind?
The plain part of SimpleMind you could make: mind mapping. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from SimpleMind’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 SimpleMind's own pages on 6 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-01.
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 ModelMaker Tools B.V. / xpt Software & Consulting B.V. Prices change, so check simplemind.eu before you buy.
- simplemind.eu/download/full-edition/
- simplemind.eu/
- simplemind.eu/features-pricing/
- simplemind.eu/features/
- simplemind.eu/download/free-edition/
- simplemind.eu/download/trial-edition/
- simplemind.eu/legal-notices/
- simplemind.eu/blog/true-data-ownership-and-privacy-with-simplemind/
- apps.apple.com/us/app/simplemind-pro-mind-mapping/id378174507
- apps.apple.com/us/app/simplemind-mind-mapping/id439654198
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.modelmakertools.simplemindpro&hl=en_US&gl=US
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
- SimpleMind, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/simplemind
- 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, "SimpleMind: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/simplemind
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/simplemind/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after SimpleMind, 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 SimpleMind’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. SimpleMind is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ModelMaker Tools B.V. / xpt Software & Consulting B.V. Prices and plans change: check simplemind.eu before you buy.