Teams often face challenges that get in the way of their creativity. Challenges such as a lack of inspiration, information overload, and limited perspectives make it difficult to act on innovative ideas.
With concept map maker software, teams can break through creative blocks and find inspiration by visually mapping out ideas and making connections between complex concepts. 🌐
A concept map creator helps you navigate through cluttered information and find important insights easily. When people have a shared space to contribute ideas, the entire team harnesses the power of collective thinking and takes ideation to new heights.
If you’re ready to start the creative process, try the ClickUp Concept Map Template and unlock a new level of organization and collaboration. Outline a project scope, tag team members, and leave feedback in real-time! 🎨
10 Free Concept Map Maker Software in 2024
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat is a Concept Map Maker?
A concept map maker is a software tool that allows individuals or teams to visually map out ideas and connections between complex concepts. It helps users organize information, brainstorm new ideas, and collaborate with others in real-time.
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in Concept Maps Software?
There are several key factors team leaders should consider when selecting a concept map creator. Making the right choice can greatly impact the effectiveness of collaboration, idea visualization, and overall project success! 🏆
Here are some of the most important features to look for:
- Customization options to personalize the appearance of the concept map, add visual cues, and create concept map templates for future use
- Desktop and mobile apps to connect from a range of devices and platforms, including browsers, desktop apps, and mobile devices
- Collaboration features to share and edit concept maps in real-time, leave comments, and assign tasks to team members
- Platform security to protect sensitive data, including data encryption, access controls, and regular backups
- Integrations to connect with other work apps, including project management software, communication tools, or file-sharing platforms, to streamline workflows and improve productivity
- Modern interface to access and edit concept maps without a steep learning curve
With these features in mind, let’s dive into the top concept map maker software to support your team’s creative and development process!
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe 10 Best Concept Map Maker Software to Use in 2024
1. ClickUp
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform with hundreds of fully customizable features to let teams work the way they want to. No matter what project style your team members use, there are over 15 views to visualize ideas and tasks, including ClickUp Whiteboards and Mind Maps.
These powerful visual collaboration tools within the platform are designed to keep cross-functional teams updated at all times, whether you’re working in real-time or asynchronously. Take your project planning to the next level by linking multiple objects through simple drag-and-drop actions.
Add even more context to your central idea or key concepts by uploading images, adding web links, and creating trackable ClickUp tasks. Best of all, ClickUp’s integration power connects to 1,000+ other apps so teams can access their work from one place!
ClickUp best features
- Over 1,000 integrations with other work tools, including Zoom, Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and more
- A detailed online Help Center, webinars, and support to help you use the platform to its fullest extent
- A vast Template Library expedites the creation process in just a few clicks
- Reporting and Dashboards for an instant high-level overview of your work
- A rich Free Forever Plan and affordable options on every pricing plan
- Multiple views to adapt to Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or any project style
- Multiple assignees of tasks for total transparency into all progress
- Custom task statuses for instant progress updates at a glance
- 50+ task Automations to streamline any project workflow
- Collaborate in real-time with team members with Docs
- Customized task statuses for your project needs
Check out more concept map templates!
ClickUp limitations
- So many powerful collaboration tools can pose a learning curve for some users
- Not all views are available in the mobile app—yet
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever Plan
- Unlimited Plan: $7 per user per month
- Business Plan: $12 per user per month
- Enterprise Plan: Contact for pricing
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (6,500+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (3,500+ reviews)
2. Xmind
XMind is a concept mapping software for users to create visual diagrams of their thoughts, ideas, and projects. It offers various map types like mind maps, fishbone diagrams, and org charts, providing flexibility for different use cases.
With compatibility across Windows and Mac OS, XMind suits both business and personal use. Its intuitive design makes it easy to get started and create visuals. Customization options, hyperlinks, and the presentation mode offer additional flexibility for linking phrases and sharing information!
Xmind best features
- Format support includes PNG, PDF, SVG, Markdown, Word, Excel, PowerPoint (for Pitch Mode), and more
- Map Shot to adjust the format for displaying and viewing purposes
- Tree Table to present topics with nested rectangles
- Smart Color Theme for a consistent look and feel
- Audio notes attachments on the concept map
Xmind limitations
- Minimal Support Center articles to help troubleshoot issues
- Lacks project or task management features
Xmind pricing
- Contact Xmind for pricing details
Xmind ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (40+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (90+ reviews)
Learn the differences between a mind map vs concept map!
3. GitMind
GitMind is an easy-to-use concept map maker software to help build informative concept maps. With its drag-and-drop interface, you can quickly add boxes, arrows, images, and text to your diagrams. The software offers advanced features like outlining, shape customization, shared editing, commenting, and exporting.
Collaborate with multiple users in real-time and integrate with apps like Slack and Google Drive for seamless communication. GitMind provides templates for various concept map types, making it easy to get started. It also offers customization options with themes, icons, and images to bring clarity to your maps!
GitMind best features
- Format painter to copy all formats of a first node to the second node
- Global search to find the concept map or mind map by keywords
- Relationships to connect two nodes on a concept map
- Concept map generator with an outline mode
- Template gallery to jumpstart new ideas
GitMind limitations
- Not equipped with project management tools
- Scalability is limited for larger teams
GitMind pricing
- Contact GitMind for pricing details
GitMind ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.8/5 (3 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (5+ reviews)
4. Canva
Canva is a free online graphic design software to create stunning visuals and designs, including concept maps. With its easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface and powerful design tools, anyone can create presentation-ready diagrams. Upgrading to paid plans unlocks a fully-stocked library of images, illustrations, and fonts to customize designs.
With its wide range of templates and sharing options, you can easily share your work with others. Generate a unique URL to share with specific individuals or directly post your work on social media platforms!
Canva best features
- Image enhancer to correct dark, blurry, and oversaturated photos
- Online video recorder to help explain complex concepts
- Grid designs for photos and other design elements
- Dynamic messaging through text animations
- PDF to PPT converter
Canva limitations
- Multiple file downloads are automatically compressed into a zip file
- Not suitable for individuals or small to mid-sized businesses (Check out these Canva alternatives)
Canva pricing
- Canva Free
- Canva Pro: $119.99/year for one person
- Canva for Teams: $149.90/year total for the first five people
Canva ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (4,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (11,170+ reviews)
5. Freeplane
Freeplane is a free and open-source platform for concept mapping. With Freeplane, users can visually connect concepts through multiple lines and illustrate relationships as well as hierarchies between them.
Whether used for personal projects, educational purposes, or professional collaboration, Freeplane provides a space for effective concept mapping and visual organization of information.
Freeplane best features
- Add-ons to extend and customize the software
- Conditional styling to identify key concepts
- Light and dark mode themes
- Small library of templates
- Spell-checker
Freeplane limitations
- Lacks collaboration features for teams to explore different concept map examples
- Outdated interface compared to other concept map maker software
Freeplane pricing
- Freeplane is free to use
Freeplane ratings and reviews
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
6. TheBrain
TheBrain is a concept map maker software helping users organize their thoughts and ideas. With its interactive mind map format, anyone can visually structure information for learning, strategic planning, and problem-solving.
Users can enhance their maps by adding pictures, videos, documents, and links to each node. And with convenient syncing, you can access your brainstorming session and to-dos from your desktop, web browser, or mobile device!
TheBrain best features
- Desktop, mobile, and browser platform support
- Connected topics to find related information
- Document tags with priority indicators
- Events and reminders attachments
- Outline and mind map views
TheBrain limitations
- Not scalable to build powerful concept map templates
- Lacks collaboration tools for teams
TheBrain pricing
- Free Edition
- License Only: $219 one time fee
- License and Service: $299 for the first year, renews at $159 per year
- Service Only: $16 per month
TheBrain ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (4 reviews)
- Capterra: 4/5 (3 reviews)
7. Mind42
Mind42 is a free concept map maker to create any type of visual diagram. Its drag-and-drop interface allows you to connect ideas and organize them visually. With customizable templates and icons, you can create professional-looking concept maps.
To collaborate on your new ideas, you have the option to invite others to view or make edits to the map. This allows for a seamless exchange of thoughts and input from team members or collaborators!
Mind42 best features
- Dropdown editor to expand on a focus question or central topic
- Statistics for published mind maps
- Real-time collaboration
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Automatic saving
Mind42 limitations
- Ads supported
- Nodes are laid out automatically
Mind42 pricing
- Mind42 is free to use
Mind42 ratings and reviews
- G2: 3.4/5 (10+ reviews)
- Capterra: N/A
8. MindGenius
MindGenius is a concept map maker software with collaboration tools, task management features, and timeline creation capabilities. It lets you break down complex information, organize ideas, share concepts with teams, and plan your tasks.
With its intuitive interface, users can effortlessly create concept maps filled with text, images, and customizable properties. By establishing a clear priority framework, teams can work more efficiently and achieve their goals faster.
MindGenius best features
- @Chat to talk with team members inside the concept map
- Custom backgrounds for any particular topic
- MS Teams integration to organize concepts
- Task management tools to track workloads
- Mind map and timeline views
MindGenius limitations
- Expensive plans compared to other concept map maker software
- Not suitable for cross-functional tasks or projects
MindGenius pricing
- Subscription: $13.33 per seat per month
- Enterprise: Contact MindGenius for details
MindGenius ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (15+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (15+ reviews)
9. Creately
Creately is an intuitive concept map maker software that makes it easy to visualize complex ideas and concepts. With Creately, users can create professional-looking mind maps, UML diagrams, org charts, flowcharts, and network diagrams, without the need for any technical knowledge.
The tool has an easy-to-use interface and a library of professionally designed concept map elements to get started. It also features powerful collaboration tools so users can share their diagrams with others in real time for feedback, editing, and more.
Creately best features
- Real-time text cursors and mouse pointers
- Tasks and commenting functionality
- Hand drawing and markup support
- 8,000+ professional templates
- Per item change history
Creately limitations
- Limited storage on basic plans
- Custom templates are a paid feature
Creately pricing
- Free version
- Starter: $8 per user per month
- Business: $149 per month
- Enterprise: Contact Creately for details
Creately ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (520+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (160+ reviews)
10. InVision
InVision is a concept map maker software for users to build visual representations of ideas and concepts. With an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, it enables users to create visually appealing and informative maps that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to interpret.
It also offers a variety of features that make it simple to share maps, collaborate on projects, and publish them online. InVision even provides free templates to get started, allowing users to learn at their own pace. With its powerful capabilities, InVision is a great tool for anyone looking to make concept maps quickly.
InVision best features
- Version history to view and revert to automatically stored versions
- Integrations with Adobe XD, Zoom, Figma, and more
- Custom templates to create a concept map
- Specialized admin roles
- Guest permissions
InVision limitations
- No feature to create a flowchart or sitemap for a prototype
- Lacks team management and workload capabilities
InVision pricing
- Free version
- Pro: $4/month per active user
- Enterprise: Contact InVision for details
InVision ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (670+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (720+ reviews)
Summarize this article for me pleaseStart Mapping Out Projects with a Concept Map Maker
With ClickUp’s hundreds of customizable features, you can personalize the platform to grow with your team. From a blank canvas to a dynamic concept map, ClickUp Whiteboards enhances workflow and visual organization, making work easier and more enjoyable for teams! 🤩
Discover how ClickUp can transform the way you approach concept mapping and project management. Start a free ClickUp Workspace today!
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
