Ideas are easy to spark, but organizing them into something usable? That’s where the real work begins.
Scrintal helps you capture thoughts visually, connecting ideas, links, and research in one mind map. For many users, it’s a decent space for note-taking, thinking out loud, and structuring raw ideas.
But when you move beyond ideation and planning into real execution, Scrintal starts to feel limiting. You can organize what you’re thinking, but not necessarily what you’re building next. That’s where many visual thinkers hit a wall.
We’ve rounded up the top 10 Scrintal alternatives to help you move from ideas to action without switching tools. If you’re looking for a great tool that combines visual thinking with real execution power, ClickUp is the one for you.
Top Scrintal Alternative for Connected Thinking
- Best Scrintal Alternatives at a Glance
- What Should You Look for in a Scrintal Alternative?
- The 10 Best Scrintal Alternatives
- 1. ClickUp (Best for organizing tasks, notes, and projects with visual collaboration)
- 2. Heptabase (Best for connected thinking with spatial whiteboards)
- 3. Obsidian (Best for local-first Markdown note-taking and backlinking)
- 4. Notion (Best for blending docs, wikis, and project planning)
- 5. Milanote (Best for visual thinkers and moodboard-style planning)
- 6. Xmind (Best for structured mind mapping with templates)
- 7. Freeplane (Best for advanced, customizable mind mapping workflows)
- 8. GitMind (Best for quick online brainstorming and flowcharts)
- 9. Logseq (Best for structured journaling and task-based PKM)
- 10. Noteey (Best for distraction-free, minimal visual notes)
- Stop Rewriting Your Plans; Ideate Once and Act Fast with ClickUp
Summarize this article for me pleaseBest Scrintal Alternatives at a Glance
| Tool | Key features | Best for | Pricing* |
| ClickUp | Mind Maps, Docs, AI, Whiteboards | Best for individuals, teams, and enterprises who need end-to-end planning, execution, and collaboration | Free plan available; Customizations available for enterprises |
| Heptabase | Spatial whiteboards, Zettelkasten-style card linking, non-linear idea mapping | Best for researchers and academics who prefer spatial thinking and deep knowledge structuring | Free trial, Paid plans start at $12/month |
| Obsidian | Local-first notes, backlinks, visual graph, plugin ecosystem | Best for privacy-first users and power note-takers who want total control over their PKM system | Free for personal use; Paid plans start at $5/month |
| Notion | Blocks, databases, wikis, and collaborative pages | Best for solopreneurs and teams building shared docs, wikis, and lightweight project systems | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $12/month |
| Milanote | Mood boards, drag-and-drop visuals, and team sharing | Best for designers, marketers, and creatives who work visually and brainstorm in nonlinear ways | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $12.50/month |
| Xmind | Templates, structured layouts, and a distraction-free editor | Best for students and professionals creating formal mind maps for study or presentations | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $10 per user/ month |
| Freeplane | Scripting support, conditional formatting, logic-based mapping | Best for developers and technical users who want deep customization and control | 100% free and open-source |
| GitMind | Flowcharts, real-time collaboration, and quick exports | Best for remote teams and freelancers needing fast, collaborative visual planning | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $19/month |
| Logseq | Outlining, backlinks, graph view, task queries | Best for journaling-focused users and PKM enthusiasts who prefer structured note-taking with AI support | Custom pricing |
| Noteey | Minimal UI, visual note cards, drag-and-drop layout | Best for minimalists and solo users who want clean, lightweight visual note capture | Free version available; Paid plans start at $99, one-time purchase |
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in a Scrintal Alternative?
Scrintal focuses on organizing ideas visually, but most users outgrow it when their workflows demand more than just standalone mind maps.
If you’ve hit the ceiling with its limited project planning, lack of integrations, or static whiteboards, you’re not alone. The best Scrintal alternatives go beyond aesthetics and help you think, plan, and act—all in one space.
Here’s what to look for when choosing a more capable solution:
- Mind mapping built for execution: Not just capturing ideas, but tools that connect thoughts to tasks, timelines, or documents
- AI support for faster thinking: Smart suggestions, automated structure, or content generation, especially if you’re exploring advanced AI tools for mind mapping to speed up ideation
- Whiteboards with collaboration built in: Real-time editing, multi-user canvases, and integrations that support cross-functional planning
- Docs and personal knowledge management that scale: Go beyond basic notes with structured documentation linked to your broader workflows
- Built-in task and project management: Plan, assign, and track work without switching tools
🧠 Fun fact: Leonardo da Vinci used sketch-based diagrams to organize his thoughts, centuries before “mind mapping” even had a name.
📖 Also Read: Best Mind Mapping Software Tools
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe 10 Best Scrintal Alternatives
Whether you need visual clarity, faster planning, or seamless execution, these Scrintal alternatives offer more than idea capture—they help you organize, build, and move your work forward without friction.
1. ClickUp (Best for organizing tasks, notes, and projects with visual collaboration)
ClickUp is built for people who think in visuals but need to deliver in outcomes. Whether mapping ideas, planning research, or coordinating a team, ClickUp brings together notes, mind maps, whiteboards, and tasks in one place—so you can stop stitching tools together and start working with flow.
What sets ClickUp apart from traditional mind-mapping tools is its ability to connect every step of your thinking process to actual work.
You can start by sketching your thoughts visually, expanding on them in a document, assigning the next steps as tasks, and managing everything using timelines and boards—all inside one unified workspace.
Plan visually with ClickUp Mind Maps
ClickUp Mind Maps are more than a blank canvas for brainstorming—they’re tightly connected to your workflow.
You can start with a simple idea, build out related branches, and then convert any node into a task with just a click. That means you’re not just mapping thoughts—you’re building momentum with every step. Here’s a quick explainer on how to use it:
Unlike standalone tools that isolate your mind maps, ClickUp keeps everything linked. You can create two types of maps:
- Task-based maps: Pull from your existing workspace and let you visualize how projects are structured
- Blank maps: Use for freeform idea generation, research planning, or concept linking
Each element can include tags, relationships, or attachments, giving you complete control without sacrificing flexibility.
📖 Also Read: Concept Map vs. Mind Map: What’s the Difference?
Get smarter, faster with ClickUp Brain
ClickUp Brain brings AI directly into your note-taking, planning, and mind-mapping workflow without feeling like a separate tool. It can summarize your documents, generate ideas based on your work, and even automatically suggest the next steps from meeting notes or mind maps.
For visual thinkers, this means you don’t have to switch tools or rely on generic prompts. Whether working through a messy whiteboard or outlining a research doc, ClickUp Brain understands the context and helps you move things forward faster, especially when you’re stuck or short on time.
Best of all, perhaps, ClickUp Brain users can choose to work with multiple external AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, right from their ClickUp Workspace! 🚀 Forget using multiple AI tools and building context across all of them. Now you can ditch the AI sprawl and do it with ClickUp!
Write, refine, and activate your ideas in ClickUp Docs
ClickUp Docs feels like a note-taking tool but functions like a dynamic word processor and workspace. You can create, format, and co-edit documents in real time, link them to tasks, embed checklists, and assign action items directly inside the doc.
For visual and research-heavy workflows, this makes a huge difference. You can outline a new idea, drop in screenshots from a whiteboard, tag a team member for input, and convert any paragraph into a task—all without leaving the page.
Docs also support slash commands, backlinks, and nested folders, making it easy to organize knowledge across projects.
💡 Pro Tip: Build a prompt stack inside a ClickUp Doc to reuse across projects.
Here are some examples:
- Generate three headline ideas based on this research doc
- Summarize this mind map into three key priorities for next week
- Turn this whiteboard brainstorm into a project brief with bullet points
Turn thoughts into action with Tasks, Timelines, and Whiteboards
ClickUp Whiteboards doesn’t just help you visualize ideas—it helps you act on them. Every Whiteboard, Doc, and Mind Map is connected to a full task management system, so nothing stays stuck in the planning phase.
You can drag a sticky note from a Whiteboard into your task list, assign deadlines, add dependencies, and track it all in a calendar or Gantt-style timeline. This creates a seamless flow from concept to completion for teams working on complex projects or solo users embracing creativity.
🧠 Fun Fact: The original concept of the Gantt chart dates back to the early 1900s and was used to manage shipbuilding during World War I—proof that visual planning has always been essential for complex execution.
ClickUp best features
- Build task-based or blank mind maps to visualize ideas and workflows
- Link brainstorm sessions on Whiteboards directly to sprint boards or docs
- Assign comments in Docs to turn feedback into actionable follow-ups
- View your entire planning structure on a drag-and-drop Timeline
- Create doc templates for recurring research or content formats
- Automate repetitive workflows using triggers tied to idea capture
- Filter notes and tasks by tags like ‘inspiration,’ ‘priority,’ or ‘needs research’
- Toggle between personal and team views to manage solo and collaborative work
- Search across all Docs, tasks, mind maps, and comments from one place
ClickUp limitations
- It can feel complex for users looking for a minimalist interface
- May require time to customize for specific creative workflows
ClickUp pricing
free forever
Best for personal use
Free Free
Key Features:
60MB Storage
Unlimited Tasks
Unlimited Free Plan Members
unlimited
Best for small teams
$7 $10
Everything in Free Forever plus:
Unlimited Storage
Unlimited Folders and Spaces
Unlimited Integrations
business
Best for mid-sized teams
$12 $19
Everything in Unlimited, plus:
Google SSO
Unlimited Teams
Unlimited Message History
enterprise
Best for many large teams
Get a custom demo and see how ClickUp aligns with your goals.
Everything in Business, plus:
White Labeling
Conditional Logic in Forms
Subtasks in Multiple Lists
* Prices when billed annually
The world's most complete work AI, starting at $9 per month
ClickUp Brain is a no Brainer. One AI to manage your work, at a fraction of the cost.
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (10,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)
What real-life users say about ClickUp
As a G2 user puts it:
📮 ClickUp Insight: 11% of our respondents leverage AI primarily for brainstorming and ideation. But what happens to these brilliant ideas afterward?
This is where you need an AI-powered whiteboard, like ClickUp Whiteboards, which helps you instantly turn ideas from the brainstorming session into tasks.
And if you can’t quite explain a concept, simply ask the AI image generator to create a visual based on your prompt. It’s the everything app for work that enables you to ideate, visualize, and execute faster!
2. Heptabase (Best for connected thinking with spatial whiteboards)
Heptabase is designed for thinkers who need more than digital notes—a visual knowledge environment. Its spatial whiteboard interface allows you to group cards, draw relationships, and zoom into clusters of ideas like you would on a physical wall of sticky notes.
This makes it ideal for researchers, educators, and visual learners who practice techniques like Zettelkasten or mind mapping. You’re not forced into folders or timelines—just a canvas to explore how your thoughts evolve.
Heptabase best features
- Create linkable cards that can be clustered visually on infinite whiteboards
- Tag and group similar thoughts without rigid folder structures
- Highlight passages and surface insights across multiple research cards
- Export or structure your boards using whiteboard templates for repeatable workflows
Heptabase limitations
- Limited task management or project execution capabilities
- The UI may feel unconventional to users accustomed to linear note-taking tools
Heptabase pricing
- Free trial
- Monthly plan: $11.99/month
Heptabase ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
What real-life users say about Heptabase
A G2 review reads:
Did you know? In 1974, Tony Buzan, a British educator and TV personality, introduced the concept of mind mapping on the BBC’s “Use Your Head” series. He presented a colorful, tree-like diagram with words radiating from a central idea, and coined the term “mind map”. This marked the beginning of the widespread use and understanding of mind mapping as a visual thinking and organizational tool.
3. Obsidian (Best for local-first Markdown note-taking and backlinking)
Obsidian is built for users who want total control over their notes—no cloud, forced sync, or lock-in. Everything you create lives on your device in plain-text Markdown files, giving you privacy and flexibility without sacrificing structure.
Its core strength lies in networked thought. Using backlinks and graph views, you can see how your ideas connect across notes. This makes it a go-to for writers, researchers, and thinkers who look forward to mind mapping and note-taking that evolves with their work over time.
Obsidian best features
- Design an offline-first doc without relying on cloud storage
- Trace your thought network with powerful backlinks and a visual graph
- Extend functionality using plugins for task management, themes, and automation
- Capture consistently with daily notes and reusable templates
Obsidian limitations
- No built-in collaboration or team sharing features
- Steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with markdown or networked thinking
Obsidian pricing
- Free without limits
- Sync (add-on): $5/user, month
- Publish (add-on): $10/site, month
Obsidian ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (30+ reviews)
What real-life users say about Obsidian
A Capterra review reads:
4. Notion (Best for blending docs, wikis, and project planning)
Notion allows you to structure information exactly how you want—from simple notes to full-blown knowledge bases. Its modular block system lets you mix text, databases, embeds, and checklists to create highly customized workspaces that scale with your needs.
It’s especially popular with solopreneurs and teams that want to turn unstructured notes into collaborative, organized workflows. Whether you’re building a team wiki or managing projects across content pipelines, Notion adapts fast and pairs well with tools that offer ready-to-use workflow templates to speed things up.
Notion best features
- Use databases to sort, filter, and connect related notes and projects
- Create dynamic pages with embeds, toggles, calendars, and Kanban boards
- Share pages with teammates or clients for real-time collaboration
- Customize templates for recurring workflows like content planning or research
Notion limitations
- Offline access is limited and can be unreliable
- No built-in visual mind mapping or whiteboarding features
Notion pricing
- Free plan
- Plus: $12/month per user
- Business: $24/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Notion ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (6,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,500+ reviews)
What real-life users say about Notion
A G2 user says:
5. Milanote (Best for visual thinkers and moodboard-style planning)
Milanote is like a digital pinboard for creatives. Its drag-and-drop interface lets you arrange notes, images, links, and checklists however you want—no rigid grids or text blocks. This tool delivers if you work best by seeing the big picture at once.
It’s especially popular with designers, marketers, and writers who want to brainstorm freely, storyboard ideas, or build out content plans visually.
And if you prefer a little structure to kick things off, flexible brainstorming templates alongside Milanote can help guide your creative flow without boxing you in.
Milanote best features
- Plan moodboards, campaigns, or creative briefs with freeform boards
- Add and arrange visual elements, to-do lists, and text notes in one space
- Share boards for real-time or async collaboration with teammates or clients
- Organize layered ideas using columns and color-coded cards
Milanote limitations
- No calendar, task tracking, or traditional project views
- Offline access is limited to Pro plan users only
Milanote pricing
- Free plan
- Pay-per-person plan: $12.50/month per user
- Upgrade your team plan: $49/month for up to 10 people
Milanote ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (40+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (60+ reviews)
What real-life users say about Milanote
A G2 review reads:
📖 Also Read: Diagram Examples for Any Type of Project
💡 Pro Tip: Tired of scribbling notes during meetings? Let ClickUp AI Notetaker do it for you! It joins your calls, captures key points, and turns conversations into organized, actionable summaries—so you can focus on what really matters.
6. Xmind (Best for structured mind mapping with templates)
Xmind is one of the most established tools in the mind mapping space, known for its clean visuals and structured logic. It’s ideal for professionals and students who need to create formal, presentation-ready diagrams rather than freeform whiteboards.
The tool offers a variety of map layouts—from fishbone to matrix—and supports advanced formatting like boundary boxes and relationship lines. It’s a strong fit for anyone who prefers polished, hierarchical mapping over creative sprawl.
Xmind best features
- Kickstart structured brainstorming with dozens of ready-made mind map templates
- Choose from tree, fishbone, and matrix layouts to match your thinking style
- Focus better with ZEN mode for clean, distraction-free editing
- Access your mind maps anywhere with cross-platform support on mobile and tablets
Xmind limitations
- Not ideal for task management or deeper project planning
- Limited collaboration features for team workflows
Xmind pricing
- Free plan
- Pro plan: $10/month
- Premium plan: $15/month
- Business plan: $18/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Xmind ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (110+ reviews)
What real-life users say about Xmind
A G2 review reads:
📖 Also Read: Xmind Alternatives for Mind Mapping
7. Freeplane (Best for advanced, customizable mind mapping workflows)
Freeplane is built for users who want complete control over their mind maps—from structure to scripting. It’s open-source, free to use, and ideal for technical thinkers who aren’t looking for a polished UI but want raw power and flexibility.
You can create conditional branches, automate map behavior, and use scripts to extend features. It’s not the flashiest option, but if you’re mapping systems, logic trees, or mind map examples that require serious complexity, Freeplane delivers.
Freeplane best features
- Add scripts and conditions to nodes for interactive maps
- Use keyboard shortcuts to create large maps efficiently
- Customize visual elements with icons, colors, and connectors
- Export maps in multiple formats, including HTML and XML
Freeplane limitations
- Dated interface and steep learning curve for non-technical users
- No built-in real-time collaboration or cloud sync
Freeplane pricing
- 100% free and open-source
Freeplane ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
🧠 Fun Fact: Mind mapping has been proven to boost memory retention! According to a study analysing the impact of using mind mapping on medical students from the Queen Mary University of London Medical School, the use of mind maps helped boost retention by 10-15%.
8. GitMind (Best for quick online brainstorming and flowcharts)
GitMind is a lightweight, browser-based tool for fast mind mapping and diagramming. It’s great for remote teams needing a shared space to sketch ideas, build flowcharts, or outline quick project structures.
With real-time collaboration, AI capabilities, cloud autosave, and one-click exports, GitMind is well-suited for teams working across time zones—or anyone looking to test new brainstorming techniques in a low-friction environment.
GitMind best features
- Use dozens of free templates for mind maps, flowcharts, and org charts
- Collaborate easily with real-time editing and commenting
- Export diagrams as PDF, PNG, or TXT with a click
- Work seamlessly with cloud-based autosave and cross-device syncing
GitMind limitations
- Limited customization compared to pro-level tools
- Offline access is not available in the free version
GitMind pricing
- Free plan
- Pro plan: $19/month
- Ultra plan: $39/month
GitMind ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
9. Logseq (Best for structured journaling and task-based PKM)
Logseq combines outlining, backlinking, and daily notes into a local-first knowledge system. Built for users who think in bullet points rather than long-form notes, it’s especially powerful for journaling, tracking projects, and creating interconnected thinking logs.
Its graph view lets you zoom out and see how your thoughts evolve, while built-in task management helps bridge the gap between ideas and execution. If you’re into networked thought, outlining, and visual project management through structure, not design, Logseq hits the mark.
Logseq best features
- Build long-term context with daily notes and journal-style capture
- Store markdown-based files locally for full data ownership
- Connect related content using backlinking and graph view
- Manage personal workflows with task queries and filters
Logseq limitations
- No native collaboration or real-time editing
- The visual interface may feel sparse to users coming from traditional tools
Logseq pricing
- Custom pricing
Logseq ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
10. Noteey (Best for distraction-free, minimal visual notes)
Noteey is built for minimalists who still want a hint of structure. Its clean interface lets you take visual notes without distractions—ideal for quick idea capture, simple mapping, or organizing light research.
It doesn’t try to be a full-blown task manager or knowledge base. Instead, it focuses on helping you think clearly, visually, and without clutter. If you’re starting fresh, combining Noteey with external mind map templates can help structure your early-stage ideas.
Noteey best features
- Organize visual notes with a drag-and-drop canvas
- Categorize ideas or references using color-coded cards
- Sync across devices effortlessly with cloud-based autosave
- Write and map with focus using a minimal, distraction-free UI
Noteey limitations
- No integrations or task management tools
- Lacks real-time collaboration or offline access
Noteey pricing
- Free plan
- Desktop Pro plan: $99 (one-time purchase)
- Desktop Pro Plus plan: $159 (one-time purchase)
Noteey ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
Summarize this article for me pleaseStop Rewriting Your Plans; Ideate Once and Act Fast with ClickUp
Most visual note-taking apps stop at brainstorming. That’s where the real frustration begins—rebuilding the same plan in docs, tasks, timelines, and yet another app.
ClickUp changes that.
You can create boards, map your thoughts, and instantly turn them into trackable tasks. It brings Mind Maps, Whiteboards, Docs, and Tasks together so your ideas don’t just feel pretty—they move the needle forward.
Whether you’re managing research, building a go-to-market plan, or outlining a video script, ClickUp keeps everything connected and actionable in one place.
Sign up for ClickUp to stop duplicating your thinking—and start building on it.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
