In fast-paced meetings, it’s easy to forget promising ideas that simply pass through the discussion.
Taking effective meeting notes definitely helps, but not as much as powerful brainstorming software to take your ideas from concept through creation.
These tools are excellent for broadening your approach to brainstorming, encouraging creativity, and revealing new project planning methods that may just change the way you work altogether.
This blog will highlight our 13 favorite brainstorming software including their pros, cons, best features, pricing, and reviews. 💪🏼
This Article Contains:
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Are the Benefits of Brainstorming Tools?
While brainstorming software may seem like a niche investment, its benefits actually span several use cases.
Coming up with new ideas is never a bad thing, in fact, it is encouraged!
Whether you’re looking to change the way to tackle a project, a different snack to spice-up your day, or a more functional layout for your beloved home office—we live for the thrill of discovering something new.
And TBH, the old-fashioned pen and paper simply aren’t enough to develop those new ideas anymore.
Brainstorming software is designed to help you express your ideas by capturing them digitally using proven brainstorming techniques.
One of the best and most productive brainstorming strategies is mind mapping.
Like a highly visual string of thoughts, mind maps are an excellent tool for fleshing out details, multi-step processes, and project plans. Think of it almost like a family tree where one task connects to the next, branching out from one clear starting point or goal.
Mind mapping software allows you to gain insights, brainstorm, and bring your ideas to life on an endless canvas—but not all mind mapping software is equally flexible or feature-rich.
Plus, you can create in multiple ways! Even on a digital whiteboard. 🎨
Pretty neat, huh? 🙂
But the big question still remains—who uses brainstorming software?
The short answer: everyone.
Brainstorming software and project management software often share some similar features. Collaboration, creativity, structure, and productivity are key—but that doesn’t mean you have to be a project manager to reap the benefits of brainstorming software.
Writers, students, teachers, marketers, and designers all depend on the brainstorming process in their fields. And while those processes may look different when it comes to the details, the tools and techniques they use are almost identical.
So, let’s get into it—what are the best brainstorming tools on the market ATM?
Summarize this article for me please13 Best Brainstorming Software for Any Use Case
Before investing in any new software, it’s important to first understand your own needs.
Here are 13 of our favorite brainstorming software, plus, their key features, benefits, limitations, pricing, and reviews, to help you make the best possible choice for your unique situation.
1. ClickUp
ClickUp is the go-to, all-in-one productivity platform for teams of any size to centralize their work and collaborate on new ideas. Its ever-growing list of highly functional features includes ClickUp’s highly visual Mind Maps and ClickUp Whiteboards—perfect for quickly developing new ideas into detailed roadmaps, and acting on those plans instantly.
Start your new Mind Map from scratch in Blank Mode, choose from a pre-built template, or draw it by hand on your Whiteboard canvas, the possibilities are truly endless.
And we haven’t even told you the best part yet.
You can convert any shape on your Mind Map and Whiteboard directly into a ClickUp task, making it easier than ever to start managing your ideas in the same place that they happened.
Plus, ClickUp integrates with over 1,000 other work tools including G Suite, Dropbox, and GitHub, making your Mind Maps that much more valuable to your team from the get-go.
Key Features
- Dynamic ClickUp Docs for creating sharable guides, blogs, and wikis
- Share updates, links, action items, and more with ClickUp’s an-app chat and threaded comments
- Over 15 unique ways to visualize your work including Gantt, Calendar, List, Timeline view, and more
- Manage projects from any device or window with ClickUp’s mobile app and Chrome Extension
- Take your Mind Map further by linking tasks, drawing task relationships, and sharing options
- Advanced diagramming features with Blank Mode, ClickUp Whiteboards, and its many templates
Pros
- Quick to set up and easy to learn its drag-and-drop interface
- Feature-rich Free Forever Plan
- Tons of collaboration tools to align the entire team
- Fully customizable features adapt to any work style and scale as you grow
- Over 1,000 integrations to streamline your workflow
Cons
- Not all views are available on the mobile app (yet!)
- There can be a bit of a learning curve adjusting to so many powerful features
Pricing
- Free Forever: Whiteboards, Mind Maps, unlimited tasks and members, 100MB of storage, and more
- Unlimited ($7 per member, per month): Unlimited storage, unlimited integrations, unlimited Dashboards
- Business ($12 per member, per month): Unlimited teams, custom exporting, advanced public sharing
- Business Plus ($19 per member, per month): Custom role creation, custom permissions, increased automations
- Enterprise (contact sales for pricing): Enterprise API, guided onboarding, dedicated success manager
ClickUp Ratings
- G2: 4.7/5 (4,510+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,270+ reviews)
2. Miro
Miro is a collaborative digital whiteboard software for remote teams to create mind maps, org charts, and roadmaps on a single, infinite canvas. It is helpful for product developers, remote teams, and even UX researchers who may work asynchronously on large projects.
Miro integrates with over 70 applications to broaden its capabilities with tools to create surveys, track tasks on your board, embed documents, and increase file storage.
Key Features
- Hundreds of pre-made templates for flowcharts, mind maps, and more
- Built-in video and chat features
- Zoom into specific areas on your whiteboard in Miro’s present mode
- Video call with the team from your board
- Folder organization to keep track of whiteboards
Pros
- Highly visual and easy to use
- Multiple collaboration tools directly from your board
- Easily integrates with other services
Cons
- Board owners are unable to give editing access
- Limited features in the free plan and pricey paid plan options
- It can be a bit overwhelming if you’re new to digital whiteboards
Pricing
- Free
- Team: $8 per member, per month
- Business: $16 per member, per month
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
Miro Ratings
- G2: 4.8/5 (3,670+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (710+ reviews)
3. Lucidchart
Lucidchart is a digital diagramming tool for businesses looking to brainstorm and visualize complex systems or structures. As with other popular whiteboarding tools, users can create detailed mind maps in Lucidchart using its many shapes, templates, and drag-and-drop functionality.
Key Features
- Automated layout for quickly creating data-driven diagrams
- Over 500 mind map templates
- A vast library of shapes to simply drag and drop onto your mind map
Pros
- A wide variety of templates
- It generates entries that can be seamlessly integrated
- Import data from popular apps including Zapier, Excel, and Salesforce
Cons
- Limited offline functionality
- Outdated-looking interface
- Limited free version
Pricing
- Free
- Individual: Starting as low as $7.95
- Team: Starting as low as $9 per user
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
Lucidchart Ratings
- G2: 4.5/5 (670+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (1,200+ reviews)
Check out these Lucidchart Alternatives!
4. Infinity
Infinity is a project management software with multiple customizable views to develop ideas. The collaboration features built into Infinity help teams take new concepts beyond the brainstorming phase with calendars, tables, Gantt charts, lists, and columns to manage data together.
Key Features
- Multiple project views to help your ideas take shape
- Custom attributions to add context to your ideas
- Workspace can organize and store data easily
Pros
- The hierarchy system helps break down projects into a mind map-like structure
- Multiple options to easily share your projects
- Several pre-made templates
Cons
- No free plan
- Limited features to make the most of Infinity’s many project views
- Limited integrations
- Limited permissions and personal settings
Pricing
- Duo (two members): Basic starting at $99, can upgrade to Pro for $149
- Team (five members): Basic starting at $199, can upgrade to Pro for $299
- Startup (10 members): Basic starting at $299, can upgrade to Pro for $399
- Business (25 members): Basic starting at $499, can upgrade to Pro for $699
- Company (50 members): Basic starting at $999, can upgrade to Pro for $1,299
- Unlimited (unlimited members): Basic starting at $1,999, can upgrade to Pro for $2,499
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Infinity Ratings
- G2: 4.6/5 (10+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (10+ reviews)
5. MindMeister
MindMeister is a mind mapping tool to organize your ideas and boost your creativity in brainstorming sessions. The software automatically aligns nodes, making creating mind maps quick and easy. It allows creative thinking while helping users to collaborate in real-time, take notes, brainstorm ideas, and plan projects.
Key Features
- Multiple themes with styles, colors, and formatting options
- Full-screen presentation mode
- Comments feature for team collaboration
- Diagramming tools
Pros
- Customizable mind map themes
- Multiple exporting options
- Simple to learn
Cons
- Limited integrations
- Limited features on the free plan
- No tracking features to follow through on your ideas
Pricing
- Basic plan: Free
- Personal plan: Starting at $4.99 per month
- Pro plan: Starting at $8.25 per month
- Business plan: Starting at $12.49 per month
MindMeister Ratings
- G2: 4.4/5 (20+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (220+ reviews)
Check out these MindMeister Alternatives!
6. WiseMapping
WiseMapping is a free brainstorming software that centers on mind mapping in public and private workspaces. It is a web-based software that allows users to create complex mind maps.
Key Features
- Text style and formatting
- Multiple sharing and exporting options
- Several features specific to educators and classroom use
- Drag and drop functionality
- The option of either a collaborative or personal workspace
Pros
- Free for personal use
- Heavy emphasis on educational use cases
- Focused on idea development through mind maps
Cons
- Brainstorming features are limited to mind maps
- Lacks real-time collaborative editing
- Designed for classrooms rather than project or product managers
Pricing
WiseMapping is free for personal and commercial use.
WiseMapping Ratings
- G2: 4.3/5 (8 reviews)
- Capterra: N/A
7. Mindly
Mindly allows you to create unique digital mind maps to capture ideas, brainstorm, plan projects, or prepare for meetings.
Key Features
- Passcode protection to access your mind maps
- Custom color schemes and map elements
- Visual clipboard for reorganizing ideas and styling options
Pros
- Multiple export options
- Accessible on multiple devices
- Great for creating a visual hierarchy of ideas
Cons
- Limited features in the free version
- No task or management features
- Limited integrations
Pricing
Mindly offers a free option, but pricing for its full version varies based on your device.
Mindly Ratings
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
8. Coggle
Coggle is an intuitive digital mind mapping and flowcharting software for planning processes and breaking down ideas. For mind map beginners, it is easy to get the hang of, but the software may be limiting for more seasoned users looking to plan complex projects.
Key Features
- Collaborative drawing and real-time editing
- Annotate your mind map with floating text, media, and images
- Saved edit history of all changes
- Auto-arranging branches
Pros
- Convenient sharing via URL
- Intuitive interface with branches that auto-arrange for fast drafting
- Multiple ways to link related topics together on one map
Cons
- Mind maps on Coggle’s free version are automatically public
- Few other brainstorming tools besides mind maps
- No mobile app
Pricing
- Free Forever
- Awesome: Starting at $5 per month
- Organization: Starting at $8 per member, per month
Coggle Ratings
- G2: 4.4/5 (5+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (30+ reviews)
9. Scapple
Scapple is a brainstorming software that provides users with a digital canvas to write their ideas and get back to them later. Think of it as a virtual notebook for jotting down quick ideas, sentences, and notes for when you’re on the go. Ideal for creatives like songwriters, writers, and literary professionals, Scapple is most often used for making to-do lists and creating simple mind maps with arrows, text bubbles, and shapes.
Key Features
- Connect notes on Scapple with its drag and drop interface
- Group notes based on shapes and backgrounds
- Organize notes of related ideas in a word cloud-style way
- Data import and export features
Pros
- Easy to use and quick to learn
- Simple and clean interface
Cons
- No free trial and paid plans are pricey
- No support for mobile use
- It May be too simple for complex ideas and projects
Pricing
- Scapple offers a 30-day free trial
- Standard Licence: For macOS and Windows, $18
- Educational Licence: For macOS and Windows, $14.40
Scapple Ratings
- G2: 4.5/5 (2+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (150+ reviews)
10. Stormboard
Stormboard is a digital whiteboard solution for remote teams to collaborate, conduct meetings, and monitor projects. Like a bulletin board accessible on virtually any device, Stormboard has several visual elements like sticky notes, images, links, and presentation features to jog your creativity during brainstorming sessions.
Key Features
- Idea management features like folders and task priorities
- Navigation panel to hone in on specific areas of your board
- Project tracking and backlog management
Pros
- Highly visual and interactive
- Tons of templates
- Mobile and desktop access
Cons
- Limited free plan, especially for mid-sized teams
- Tons of features can take a while to learn
Pricing
- Personal: Free
- Startup: $5 per user, per month
- Business: $10 per user, per month
- Enterprise: $16.67 per user, per month
Stormboard Ratings
- G2: 4.3/5 (20+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (30+ reviews)
11. Conceptboard
Conceptboard is a digital whiteboard tool for teams to brainstorm and develop new ideas together, with clients, groups, and external partners as if they are in the same room.
Add style to your board with shapes, sticky notes, drawings, and media, then present your ideas with collaboration features like live pointers, video conferencing, and screen sharing.
Key Features
- Various visual styling options
- Customizable pre-made templates
- Share your board with a password-protected link
Pros
- Clean and intuitive interface
- Video and audio calling and screen sharing
Cons
- Few features to manage ideas beyond the brainstorming phase
- Limited text editing tools
Pricing
- Free
- Premium: $6 per user, per month
- Business: $9.50 per user, per month
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing, minimum 250 licenses
Conceptboard Ratings
- G2:4.5/5 (40+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (30+ reviews)
12. Mindnode
Mindnode is a digital brainstorming app for organizing, capturing, and sharing new ideas in the form of a mind map. Mindnode makes it easy for users to express their thoughts visually and establish connections between different ideas.
Key Features
- Choose to capture your ideas as text or as an image
- Share documents publicly through the MyMindNode service
Pros
- Clean interface
- Easy to use
Cons
- Limited templates and icons to choose from
- Only allows basic editing in Mindnode’s free version
- Not ideal for complex projects or ideas
Pricing
Mindnode offers free basic editing. To access Mindnode on your iPad, iPhone, or Mac, you’ll need the paid plan which starts at $2.49 per month per user.
Mindnode Ratings
- G2: 4.2/5 (30+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (10+ reviews)
13. Ayoa
Ayoa is a mind mapping software with productivity tools like kanban boards, whiteboards, instant messaging, and task management. It is suitable for users who want a visual way to stay on top of tasks. The platform allows you to invite collaborators to work in real time and allows users to communicate easily with their team members.
Key Features
- Collaborative whiteboards
- Real-time collaboration and chat tools
- Public mind map sharing
Pros
- It is easy to use
- Tasks can be viewed in different ways
Cons
- The interface can look a bit busy
Pricing
- Free trial: Seven days
- Mind Map: Starting at $10 per user, per month
- Task: Starting at $10 per user, per month
- Ultimate: Starting at $13 per user, per month
Ayoa Ratings
- G2: 4.4/5 (50+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5(200+ reviews)
Summarize this article for me pleaseUse Brainstorming Software for Your Next Brainstorming Session
Brainstorming software should help you think big, get creative, and put your ideas in motion. While there are tons of tools that benefit a limited set of use cases, you should look for the platform that will help you push beyond your current situation.
AKA, look for ClickUp. 🤓
Number one on this list and in our hearts, ClickUp is the only software with built-in Whiteboards and Mind Maps that can turn your ideas into actionable tasks.
Sign up for ClickUp for free, forever, and uplevel your brainstorming processes to new heights. 🏔
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
