TheBrain
Visual knowledge network linking notes, files and web links
What is TheBrain?
TheBrain stores notes, files and web links as thoughts in a visual network, where an item can sit under several parents and link to related ideas instead of living in a single folder. Version 15 made the complete desktop, mobile and web app free and added Cerebro, an AI agent that searches, summarizes and creates content inside a brain. Paid cloud plans add unlimited private sync, online storage, larger AI allowances and team editing.
TheBrain has a free plan. Paid plans start at $15 per month, billed at $180 per year (Pro Service). See every plan
Good for
- People who organize ideas as a network instead of folders
- Large personal knowledge bases mixing notes, files and web links
- Teams that want one shared, visual knowledge map (TeamBrain)
Worth knowing
- Free private sync stops at 1,000 thoughts and 100 MB of synced attachments; going past either needs Pro Service.
- The free AI allowance is a small daily amount, and the vendor says AI services may be unavailable in some countries.
- Multi-user editing and shared brains need TeamBrain, at $299 per person per year.
- Cloud services run only for the paid service period, and on-premises deployment is sold separately through sales.
Key features
- The plex and linked thoughts
- Each note, file or link is a thought that can have several parents and jump links to other thoughts, shown in an animated network view called the plex.
- Outline, mind map, tree and card views
- Besides the plex, a brain can be browsed as an outline, a mind map, cards, or a tree that shows thoughts with more than one parent.
- Cerebro AI
- An AI agent that answers questions from a brain, creates thoughts and notes, summarizes attachments and suggests links. Free use is a small daily allowance.
- Markdown notes editor
- Notes are written in a visual editor and stored as Markdown, with tables, math, spellchecking and PDF export.
- Sync and Light Attachments
- Cloud sync keeps brains current across devices, and Light Sync leaves large attachments online until they are needed. Unlimited private sync is paid.
- Shared pages and local API
- Any thought can be published as a web page that needs no account to view, and a local API lets scripts and AI agents create and query thoughts.
TheBrain pricing
- Starts at
- $15 per month, billed at $180 per year (Pro Service)
- Free plan
- Free App: every feature, unlimited thoughts, brains and local attachments, no account needed. Private sync stops at 1,000 thoughts, synced storage at 100 MB, and AI use is a small daily allowance.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free App | $0 | The complete app with unlimited thoughts, links and brains, unlimited public brains, private sync up to 1,000 thoughts and 100 MB of synced storage. |
| Pro Service | $15per month, billed at $180 per year; $16 billed monthly | Unlimited private sync, the full daily Cerebro AI allowance, 30 GB of online storage, encrypted backup and one-on-one support. |
| TeamBrain | $25per person / month, billed at $299 per year; $29 billed monthly | Everything in Pro Service plus multi-user editing and sync, unlimited shared brains, 100 GB of storage and per-user reporting and auditing. |
| Max Service | $40per month, billed at $479 per year; $48 billed monthly | Everything in TeamBrain plus 4x the Cerebro AI allowance, 250 GB of storage, unlimited sync devices and early access to new features. |
| Enterprise | Custom | On-premises server deployment, arranged through the sales team. |
Read from thebrain.com on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with TheBrain before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountSave 7% to 20% with yearly billing
The store labels yearly billing as saving 7% on Pro Service ($180 a year against $16 a month), 16% on TeamBrain and 20% on Max Service.
Stated on thebrain.com
TheBrain alternatives
- TheBrain vs Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
- TheBrain vs Heptabase
Free trial · from $8.99/mo
- TheBrain vs Roam Research
Free trial · from $15/mo
- TheBrain vs Tinderbox
Free trial · from $289 one-time
- TheBrain vs Logseq
Free plan · from $5/mo
Common questions
Is TheBrain free?
TheBrain has a free plan. Free App: every feature, unlimited thoughts, brains and local attachments, no account needed. Private sync stops at 1,000 thoughts, synced storage at 100 MB, and AI use is a small daily allowance. Paid plans start at $15 per month, billed at $180 per year (Pro Service).
How much does TheBrain cost?
TheBrain lists 5 plans. Free App: $0. Pro Service: $15 per month, billed at $180 per year; $16 billed monthly. TeamBrain: $25 per person / month, billed at $299 per year; $29 billed monthly. Max Service: $40 per month, billed at $479 per year; $48 billed monthly. Enterprise: custom pricing. Prices were read from thebrain.com on Oct 6, 2026.
What platforms does TheBrain work on?
TheBrain is available on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
Does TheBrain offer any discounts?
TheBrain publicly lists the following: Save 7% to 20% with yearly billing.
Is TheBrain open source?
TheBrain is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does TheBrain have an API?
Yes. TheBrain offers a public API, according to its own site.
Who makes TheBrain?
TheBrain is made by TheBrain Technologies LP. It dates from 1996.
What are the alternatives to TheBrain?
The closest alternatives to TheBrain in our directory are Obsidian, Heptabase, Roam Research, Tinderbox and Logseq. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with TheBrain.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.