The Xmind Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Xmind 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.
Xmind
The Insider’s Guide
Mind mapping app with AI, Gantt charts and a presentation mode
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among whiteboard and mind map tools, read from Xmind’s own pages.
Made by Xmind Ltd. / Supermind Pte. Limited · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02Insider tipsWhat most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
- 03What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 04What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 05Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Xmind’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Xmind’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 25 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade
Xmind is a mind mapping app for brainstorming, planning and organizing information, with apps for desktop, mobile and the web. Maps can use structures such as timelines and matrices, turn into slides in Pitch mode and, on Premium, become Gantt charts with assignable tasks. Xmind AI generates maps from text, files or links and is metered in credits.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Xmind, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Teams who want one shared board should look elsewhere.
- 1
Best for mind maps on almost any device
But it's a mind mapper, not an open whiteboard.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.92 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $4.92 per month, billed yearly ($59 a year).
- 3
There is a free plan
Up to 10 manually created online maps, basic themes and stickers, 3-day version history, 5 Pitch slides and 50 Xmind AI credits. Exports carry a watermark.
- 4
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 5
Mind maps and other structures
Ideas can be laid out as mind maps, timelines or matrices, grouped into Zones, and edited as a linear list in the Outliner view.
- 6
Xmind AI
Generates a map from text, a document or a link, expands and reorganizes branches, and breaks a project into tasks. Free and Pro get 50 credits; Premium gets 500 a month.
- 7
Pitch mode
Turns a map into a slide presentation: up to 5 slides on the Free plan and unlimited from Pro, where a pitch can also be exported to PowerPoint.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 25 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 Xmind you could make: mind mapping, templates and Gantt & timelines. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Xmind at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4.92 per month, billed yearly ($59 a year)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial, offered on yearly subscriptions only
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Xmind Ltd. / Supermind Pte. Limited, since 2006
- Category
- Whiteboards & Mind Maps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 6,973 ratings
The report card
Best for mind maps on almost any device
Xmind turns ideas into a map that branches out from the middle, on Mac, PC, Linux, phone or browser, and Pro is $59 a year. But it's a mind mapper, not an open whiteboard. Live editing and Gantt charts need Premium at $99, Free and Pro cap online maps at 10 and 50 and get 50 AI credits once, free exports are watermarked, and the trial and refund cover yearly plans only. Teams who want one shared board should look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Pro is $59 a year, $4.92 a month, which puts it inside the lowest-priced quarter of this category, where the line is $5.00. Premium is $99. Pay by the month and the App Store lists Pro at $10, about double. The free trial and the refund only cover yearly plans. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free gives you up to 10 manually created online maps, basic themes and 5 Pitch slides. Those are caps you'll hit on a real project, exports carry a watermark, version history is 3 days, and the 50 AI credits are a single grant that never refills. |
| Features | C | Maps, timelines and matrices, Zones, an Outliner view, Pitch mode slides, imports from other mappers and AI that drafts from text, a file or a link. That's the narrower job here: no open board with sticky notes, and live editing and editable Gantt charts start at Premium. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.8 on the App Store from 6,973 ratings, nine in ten of them five stars. Reviewers say it's quick to pick up. A few got stuck on details, like slotting a new topic in above old ones, and desktop maps save as local files by default. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android, and one subscription covers 5 computers and 5 mobile devices. It ties into Slack, Zoom, Notion and ChatGPT, though not a lot else. |
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 Xmind is for
- Fits if you think in branches and want the same kind of map on your laptop, your phone and Linux
- Works for plans that have to become a presentation, since Pitch mode turns a map into slides
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want an open whiteboard with sticky notes, as Xmind sticks to structured maps
- Pricey if your team wants to edit together, since live collaboration starts at Premium, $99 a year
- Tight if you never pay: 10 online maps, watermarked exports, 3 days of version history and 50 AI credits that never refill
- Not for you if you'd rather pay by the month: Pro is $10 a month against $59 a year, and monthly plans get no trial or refund
- Watch out: desktop maps save as local files by default, so picking up an iPad map at your desk can mean going through Dropbox
Good to know
Good for
- People who think in mind maps and want an app on every device
- Turning a map into slides or a Gantt chart without switching tools
- Linux users: packages are offered alongside Windows and macOS apps
- Students and teachers, who get reduced Pro and Premium prices
Worth knowing
- Free and Pro cap manually created online maps at 10 and 50; unlimited collaborative maps need Premium or the Business team plan.
- Real-time collaboration, editable Gantt charts and a monthly AI credit allowance start at Premium; Free and Pro get a single grant of 50 AI credits.
- Free exports carry a watermark, and export to Word, Excel, SVG and Markdown starts at Pro.
- The free trial and the 7-day money-back guarantee cover yearly subscriptions only; monthly subscriptions and AI credit add-ons are not refunded.
Part 02 · Tips
Insider tips
What most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
7
Things most people miss, each from its own help pages
The things about Xmind that are easy to miss until they cost you: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches at renewal or when you leave. Each one is from Xmind’s own pages, linked beside it.
Read on Oct 17, 2026. Read from Xmind's help centre (refunds, cancelling auto-renewal, devices, AI credits, saving and syncing, Mindmap Gallery) and its pricing page FAQ on 17 October 2026. Not tried out: these tips are what its own pages say.
- 1
Pay less
Maps made with AI don't count toward the 10 or 50 map cap
Xmind's pricing FAQ says that while your AI credits are valid, maps generated from text, a file or a link don't count against the online map limit, and each can hold up to 3 sheets. Once the credits run out the normal cap applies again: over it, you can open and delete maps but not make new ones.
xmind.com - 2
Pay less
Top-up AI credits never expire, but the monthly ones do
Its AI credits page says unused monthly credits on Premium and Business don't roll over. Extra packs cost $3.99 for 500 and never expire, so buy them only when you need them: on the web, My Works, Settings, Plans, More Credits. On a team plan only the owner or an admin can buy.
xmind.com - 3
Easy to miss
Maps saved to Current Device don't sync to your other devices
On desktop, File, Save As, Current Device keeps a map on that one computer. To open it on your phone or the web, it has to be in My Works, which syncs across every device signed in to the same account. Just remember My Works holds up to 10 maps on Free and 50 on Pro.
xmind.com - 4
Setting
Free lets you sign in on only 2 computers and 2 phones
Xmind's devices page says Free covers 2 PCs or Macs and 2 mobile devices at once, and Pro, Premium and Business 5 of each. New laptop? Sign in at xmind.app/account, find the Devices List and click Sign Out next to the old one to free its slot.
xmind.com - 5
Privacy
Leave the Gallery box unticked unless you want the map public
File, Share, Submit to Gallery has a box agreeing the map can be shown on Xmind Gallery and downloaded. Tick it and the map is published and can turn up in search engines. Leave it unticked and you get a private link instead. Remove old ones at xmind.app/account, Profile, Submitted Maps.
xmind.com - 6
Renewal
Pro and Premium are cancelled in different places
Plans renew automatically. For Pro bought on the website, go to xmind.app/account, Subscription, Manage, Turn Off Auto-Renew. For Premium or Business, sign in at app.xmind.com and go to Settings, Plans, Cancel. App Store and Google Play plans are cancelled in those stores.
xmind.com - 7
Renewal
Bought in an app store? The refund goes through Apple or Google
Xmind handles the 7-day refund on yearly plans itself only for website purchases. For the App Store, you ask Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com. On Google Play, ask Google within 48 hours, or Xmind support after that but inside 7 days. Monthly plans and AI credit add-ons aren't refunded.
xmind.com
Part 03 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.92
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Xmind has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.92 per month, billed yearly ($59 a year).
The free trial and the refund only cover yearly plans.
Free
$0
Up to 10 manually created online maps, basic themes and stickers, 3-day version history, 5 slides in Pitch mode and 50 AI credits.
Pro
$4.92
per month, billed yearly ($59 a year)
Up to 50 online maps with basic collaboration, custom themes, topic links and attachments, unlimited Pitch slides, and export without a watermark.
Premium
$8.25
per month, billed yearly ($99 a year)
Unlimited collaborative maps, real-time collaboration, 30-day version history, editable Gantt charts, tasks with assignees and 500 AI credits a month.
Business
$10
per seat / month, billed yearly
Team plan with unlimited collaborative maps, real-time collaboration, 30-day version history, Gantt charts and 800 AI credits per seat a month.
Enterprise
Custom
Adds SAML single sign-on, unlimited version history, custom AI credits, a dedicated success advisor and team onboarding sessions.
The free plan
Up to 10 manually created online maps, basic themes and stickers, 3-day version history, 5 Pitch slides and 50 Xmind AI credits. Exports carry a watermark.
Trying it first
7-day free trial, offered on yearly subscriptions only
Read from xmind.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Up to 50% off with yearly billing
The pricing page advertises up to 50% off individual plans on yearly billing. The US App Store lists Pro at $59 a year or $10 a month, and Premium at $99 a year or $15 a month.
Stated on xmind.comEducation
Reduced prices for students and educators
The education pricing tab lists Pro at $3.42 a month and Premium at $5.75 a month for students and educators, plus a custom-priced Campus plan for institutions.
Stated on xmind.comNonprofit
Discounted plans for nonprofits and government
Eligible non-profits, NGOs and government organizations can get discounted plans after verifying eligibility; the offers page shows a price of $79 a year.
Stated on xmind.comLifetime license
SME Lifetime License for organizations
Organizations can buy a one-time, perpetual license with volume pricing. The price is not published and is quoted by Xmind's sales team.
Stated on xmind.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Xmind Pro (Annually)”, against $59.00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺2.299,99 | $46.77 | 21% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 2,990.00 | $47.60 | 19% less |
| Canada | $79.00 | $55.53 | 6% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 999ribu | $55.87 | 5% less |
| Mexico | $1,299.00 | $71.37 | 21% more |
| South Africa | R1,199.99 | $72.58 | 23% more |
| Germany | 69,00 € | $77.32 | 31% more |
| United Kingdom | £59.00 | $78.00 | 32% more |
Part 04 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Mind mapping app with AI, Gantt charts and a presentation mode. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, real-time collaboration, templates, Gantt & timelines, mind mapping, presentations.
That's the narrower job here: no open board with sticky notes, and live editing and editable Gantt charts start at Premium.
- Mind maps and other structures
- Ideas can be laid out as mind maps, timelines or matrices, grouped into Zones, and edited as a linear list in the Outliner view.
- Xmind AI
- Generates a map from text, a document or a link, expands and reorganizes branches, and breaks a project into tasks. Free and Pro get 50 credits; Premium gets 500 a month.
- Pitch mode
- Turns a map into a slide presentation: up to 5 slides on the Free plan and unlimited from Pro, where a pitch can also be exported to PowerPoint.
- Gantt charts and tasks
- Premium turns topics into tasks with assignees, plots them on a Gantt chart and exports tasks to a calendar file or Excel. Free and Pro can only view Gantt charts.
- Real-time collaboration
- On Premium and the Business team plan, several people can edit a map at once and follow one another's view, backed by 30 days of version history.
- Import and export
- Imports Markdown, OPML and TextBundle files and maps from other mind mapping tools. From Pro, maps export to SVG, PDF, Markdown, Word and Excel as well as PNG.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- ChatGPT
- Slack
- Zoom
- Notion
Who makes Xmind
Xmind is mind-mapping software. Its terms of service name Supermind Pte. Limited as the company behind it, and older pages still carry the Xmind Ltd. name. It earns money from paid subscriptions on top of a limited free version.
- Founded
- 2006xmind.com
- Based
- Singapore, where its terms name Supermind Pte. Limited and apply Singapore lawxmind.com
- Ownership
- Privately held. Privately held, with no investors. A post on its own blog by founder and chief executive Brian Sun says the company turned down every offer of investment, and every plan to list, after being named a Red Herring Asia Top 100 winner in 2013.xmind.com
- Funding
- No outside funding. Its own blog carries a talk by founder and chief executive Brian Sun in which he says investors approached the company repeatedly and it declined all investments, as well as all plans to go public.xmind.com
- Founders and leaders
- Brian Sun, Founder and CEOxmind.com
- Affiliate program
- Anyone approved can share a personal affiliate code with no cost or minimum purchase, and is paid a commission on the revenue it generates. The rate is not published on the page.xmind.com
- Reseller program
- A reseller partnership offering discounts on licences, ready-made marketing materials, partner support and licence delivery. The discount is not published on the page; resellers apply and are reviewed.xmind.com
- Lately
- Chat with Xmind AI in Your Map · Jun 11, 2026
- Feels Native. Works Smarter. · Apr 21, 2026
- Capture anything. Turn it into ideas. · Mar 16, 2026
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 05 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
25/30
Other whiteboard and mind map tools it is graded above
Xmind's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 25 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 29 of 30) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $4.92 a month, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 3 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 31 whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Xmind’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 19 of 30
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 30
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 30
- AEase of useAbove 29 of 30
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 24 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. Xmind 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 Xmind you could make: mind mapping, templates and Gantt & timelines. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 25 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade. It costs $59.04 a year.
What you could make
- Mind mapping, templates and Gantt & timelines: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A slide editor.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Xmind’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 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
MindMeister, MindNode, MindManager, Mindomo and Coggle
The 5 tools Xmind is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
MindMeister
Free plan · from €6.50/mo
Browser-based mind mapping with real-time collaboration.
- Only Xmind lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Xmind also covers Gantt & timelines.
- 2.6GPA
MindNode
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices.
- 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.
- 2.2GPA
MindManager
Free trial · from $99/yr
Mind mapping and diagramming software with Gantt charts.
- Xmind has a free plan. MindManager does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Xmind lists a Linux app.
- MindManager can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Mindomo
Free plan · from $7/mo
Mind maps, outlines and Gantt charts with real-time editing.
- Only Mindomo lists a browser extension.
- Xmind also covers templates and presentations.
- Mindomo also covers tasks.
- 2.4GPA
Coggle
Free plan · from $5/mo
Collaborative mind maps and flowcharts in the browser.
- Only Xmind lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Coggle is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Xmind also covers templates, Gantt & timelines and presentations.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
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 Xmind free?
Xmind has a free plan. Up to 10 manually created online maps, basic themes and stickers, 3-day version history, 5 Pitch slides and 50 Xmind AI credits.
How much does Xmind cost?
Xmind lists 5 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Xmind work on?
Xmind is available on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
Does Xmind offer any discounts?
Xmind publicly lists the following: Up to 50% off with yearly billing; Reduced prices for students and educators; Discounted plans for nonprofits and government; SME Lifetime License for organizations.
How is Xmind rated?
Xmind's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6,973 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Is Xmind open source?
Xmind is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Xmind integrate with?
Xmind's listing names ChatGPT, Slack, Zoom and Notion. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Xmind have a student discount?
Reduced prices for students and educators. The education pricing tab lists Pro at $3.42 a month and Premium at $5.75 a month for students and educators, plus a custom-priced Campus plan for institutions.
Does Xmind have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial, offered on yearly subscriptions only.
Who makes Xmind?
Xmind is made by a company of the same name. Privately held, with no investors.
What are the alternatives to Xmind?
The closest alternatives to Xmind in our directory are MindMeister, MindNode, MindManager, Mindomo and Coggle.
How does Xmind compare with other whiteboard and mind map tools?
Xmind's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 25 of the 30 other whiteboard and mind map tools we grade, and level with 2.
Is Xmind good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Xmind B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.92 a month, against a middle price of $8.29 for the category: 3 of the 23 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Xmind?
The plain part of Xmind you could make: mind mapping, templates and Gantt & timelines.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Xmind’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Based on Xmind's home, pricing, download, integration, what's new and user guide pages as of 9 October 2026, and its App Store listing and reviews. We found no recent Hacker News comments about it. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-10.
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 Xmind Ltd. / Supermind Pte. Limited. Prices change, so check xmind.com before you buy.
Part 08 · 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
- Xmind, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/xmind
- 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, "Xmind: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/xmind
Know someone choosing between whiteboard and mind map tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/xmind/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded whiteboard and mind map tools after Xmind, 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 Xmind’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. Xmind is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Xmind Ltd. / Supermind Pte. Limited. Prices and plans change: check xmind.com before you buy.