A great idea can strike at any time, but capturing, refining, and building on it with a team can be tricky.
Sticky notes pile up, whiteboards get erased, and email chains turn into a mess of scattered thoughts. That’s why many teams turn to brainstorming software—digital tools designed to organize creative ideas, encourage collaboration, and turn scattered thoughts into actionable plans.
Let’s take a look at some of the best options available today. 📝
11 Best Brainstorming Software for Collaboration and Idea Mapping
- What Should You Look for in Brainstorming Software?
- The Best Brainstorming Software Tools
- How we review software at ClickUp
- 1. ClickUp (Best for all-in-one brainstorming and project execution)
- 2. Miro (Best for visual collaboration across remote teams)
- 3. Lucidchart (Best for diagramming complex systems and processes)
- 4. Coggle (Best for creating colorful mind maps quickly)
- 5. MindMeister (Best for intuitive mind mapping for beginners)
- 6. Ayoa (Best for combining mind mapping with task management)
- 7. MindNode (Best for clean, distraction-free mind mapping on Apple devices)
- 8. XMind (Best for structured brainstorming with multiple diagram types)
- 9. Zoom (Best for audio-visual brainstorming with instant feedback)
- 10. ConceptDraw (Best for professional-grade diagram creation)
- 11. Stormboard (Best for organizing brainstorming results into actionable plans)
- Big Ideas Start with ClickUp!
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in Brainstorming Software?
The right brainstorming software helps capture, structure, and develop ideas seamlessly. Here’s what to look for:
- Intuitive interface: Add and organize ideas effortlessly without a steep learning curve
- Collaboration tools: Brainstorm with your team in real time through shared spaces, comments, and live edits
- Multiple visualization options: Structure ideas using mind maps, Kanban boards, whiteboards, or lists based on your workflow
- AI-powered suggestions: Get idea prompts, auto-generated connections, or content expansion to overcome creative blocks
- Idea organization and task management features: Categorize, tag, group, or link related ideas for easy retrieval and refinement
- Pre-built templates: Start brainstorming faster with templates for mind mapping, SWOT analysis, design thinking, and more
- Seamless integrations: Connect with project management, cloud storage, and communication tools to streamline workflows
- Customizable workflows: Adapt the platform to different brainstorming techniques, from freeform ideation to structured processes
- Export and sharing options: Save and share brainstorming sessions in various formats to keep ideas accessible
📮 ClickUp Insight: AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s already woven into daily workflows. In fact, 88% of survey respondents use AI in some way. What’s even more noteworthy is people’s willingness to embrace this technology—55% of respondents use AI for brainstorming, content creation, and more, multiple times a day.
And if you’re looking for the perfect AI-powered space to bring those ideas to life, ClickUp has you covered. It’s where freeform brainstorming meets smart organization, with AI that helps generate ideas, structure thoughts, and turn messy scribbles into real plans.
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe Best Brainstorming Software Tools
Big ideas need the right space to take shape. The best brainstorming software helps capture thoughts, organize them effortlessly, and turn scattered ideas into real plans.
Here are the top tools to keep creativity flowing and collaboration seamless. 🫱🏼🫲🏽
How we review software at ClickUp
Our editorial team follows a transparent, research-backed, and vendor-neutral process, so you can trust that our recommendations are based on real product value.
Here’s a detailed rundown of how we review software at ClickUp.
1. ClickUp (Best for all-in-one brainstorming and project execution)
ClickUp is the everything app for work that combines project management, knowledge management, and chat—all powered by AI that helps you work faster and smarter. It’s packed with tools designed to support brainstorming, making it easy to map out ideas, collaborate in real time, and turn discussions into actionable plans.
ClickUp Whiteboards
A great place to start is ClickUp Whiteboards, a digital space where teams can sketch out concepts, connect ideas, and plan workflows together. Unlike physical whiteboards that get cluttered or erased, ClickUp keeps everything editable and organized.
A marketing team planning a product launch can use Whiteboards to brainstorm campaign ideas, sort them into categories, and add sticky notes with feedback. Every idea stays visible, making it easier to refine and build on them without losing track of anything.
ClickUp Brain
ClickUp Brain takes this further by offering AI-powered suggestions and image generation.
When teams hit a creative block, it analyzes the discussion and provides relevant ideas. It can also generate visuals to bring abstract concepts to life.
Suppose a product team is designing a new app feature. ClickUp Brain can suggest potential use cases based on the team’s input and create a quick visual representation of the user interface. This keeps the session dynamic, helping teams move from rough ideas to clear plans faster.
ClickUp Mind Maps
If you prefer a more structured approach, ClickUp Mind Maps help organize thoughts logically.
Starting with a central concept, you can expand on ideas, map connections, and visually structure brainstorming sessions. An educator planning a curriculum can create mind maps to outline key topics, break them into lessons, and link supporting resources.
Everything remains structured, making it easier to navigate and refine as the plan takes shape.
ClickUp Docs
Once ideas are mapped out, ClickUp Docs make it easy to turn brainstorming sessions into actionable plans. Notes, research, and key takeaways stay in one place, and since Docs link directly to ClickUp Tasks and Whiteboards, teams can move smoothly from ideation to execution.
ClickUp best features
- Turn brainstorms into action: Convert ideas into Tasks directly from Whiteboards, Mind Maps, or Docs, so nothing gets lost in post-meeting chaos
- Sketch and draw freely: Use intuitive touch gestures on Whiteboards to bring ideas to life, whether mapping out concepts or refining details
- Collaborate in real time: Add, edit, and refine ideas together on Whiteboards and Docs without waiting for updates or merging notes later
- Create projects in one click: Use ClickUp Brain to turn Whiteboard ideas into structured tasks and action plans instantly
- Chat without leaving your ideas: Start discussions directly inside a Whiteboard or embed Whiteboards in ClickUp Chat to keep conversations and visuals connected
ClickUp limitations
- It supports touch input for sketching, but doesn’t convert handwritten notes into text automatically
ClickUp pricing
free forever
Best for individual users
Free Free
Key Features:
60MB Storage
Unlimited Tasks
Unlimited Free Plan Members
unlimited
Best for small teams
$7 $10
Everything in Free +
Unlimited Storage
Unlimited Folders and Spaces
Unlimited Integrations
business
Best for mid-sized teams
$12 $19
Everything in Unlimited +
Google SSO
Unlimited Message History
Unlimited Mind Maps
enterprise
Best for many large teams
Get a custom demo and see how ClickUp aligns with your goals.
Everything in Business +
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 are real-life users saying about ClickUp?
🧠 Fun Fact: Advertising executive Alex Osborn came up with the term ‘brainstorming’ while trying to improve creative problem-solving in his agency. He later wrote about it in his 1953 book Applied Imagination.
2. Miro (Best for visual collaboration across remote teams)
Miro transforms remote collaboration into a dynamic visual experience that mimics the energy of standing around a physical whiteboard. The infinite canvas expands as ideas flow, giving teams plenty of room to explore concepts without constraints.
Digital sticky notes, diagrams, and mind maps coexist on the same board, adapting to different thinking styles within your team.
Many users report that Miro bridges the distance gap remarkably well—you can literally watch teammates’ cursors move as they build upon ideas in real time. The whiteboard software integrates smoothly with your existing workflow tools, ensuring great ideas actually make it to implementation rather than dying in isolation.
Miro best features
- Turn canvas ideas into interactive prototypes instantly with AI, making it easier to gather feedback and refine concepts
- Host live calls directly on the canvas, keeping discussions and collaboration in the same space where ideas take shape
- Access over 300 brainstorming templates for customer journey mapping and design sprints to save setup time
- Share insights effortlessly with recorded video or audio walkthroughs that team members can access anytime
Miro limitations
- The free version limits boards and collaboration features
- The undo feature is not very robust, which can be problematic when major changes are accidentally made to a board and cannot be undone
Miro pricing
- Free
- Starter: $8/month per user
- Business: $16/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Miro ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (7,685+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (1,620 reviews)
🔍 Did You Know? While brainstorming in groups can generate ideas quickly, studies have shown that individuals often come up with more original ideas when thinking alone due to a phenomenon called production blocking, where people hesitate to speak or forget ideas while waiting their turn.
3. Lucidchart (Best for diagramming complex systems and processes)
Lucidchart excels at turning abstract concepts into structured visual diagrams that everyone instantly understands. The drag-and-drop interface makes creating flowcharts, process maps, and org charts surprisingly intuitive.
Teams particularly value how the software maintains precision even as diagrams grow more complex since relationships between elements stay clear and organized. If you need to visualize logic, systems, or hierarchies rather than free-associate ideas, Lucidchart provides the perfect balance of flexibility and structure.
Lucidchart best features
- Generate diagrams from existing data sources automatically, importing spreadsheet data or database structures to create visualizations
- Access extensive shape libraries for different industries and use cases, including specialized symbols for network diagrams, UML models, AWS architecture, and more
- Collaborate with comments and chat functions within diagrams, allowing team members to discuss specific elements without losing context
- Export finished diagrams in multiple file formats including PDF, PNG, Visio, and HTML, ensuring your work remains accessible
Lucidchart limitations
- The app’s focus on structure sometimes limits free-form ideation
- Lucidchart operates entirely online, lacking dedicated desktop apps for Windows or macOS
Lucidchart pricing
- Free
- Individual: $9/month per user
- Team: $10/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Lucidchart ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (6,190+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (2,100+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Lucidchart?
🧠 Fun Fact: Steve Jobs believed that movement helped creativity. He often held brainstorming meetings while walking around Apple’s headquarters, a practice that many tech leaders still follow today.
4. Coggle (Best for creating colorful mind maps quickly)
Coggle strips away complexity to focus on lightning-fast mind mapping that captures thoughts as they occur.
The interface responds immediately to your input—just type and branch out with simple keystrokes or clicks. Each new branch automatically appears in a different color, creating visual distinction that helps your brain spot connections and categories naturally.
Sharing takes seconds, making Coggle perfect for impromptu brainstorming sessions that shouldn’t be bogged down by technical setup. The markdown support adds another dimension to your maps, letting you emphasize important points without cluttering the visual space with formatting controls.
Coggle best features
- Create branches with single clicks or keyboard shortcuts, following your natural thinking pattern without interrupting your flow with complicated menus or commands
- Add images directly to mind map nodes by dragging and dropping from your desktop or pasting URLs, enhancing visual communication
- Download maps as PDFs or image files with customizable resolution settings, making them ready for presentations, documentation, or printing without losing quality
- Track changes with history view showing all edits chronologically, allowing you to revisit previous versions or understand how ideas evolved throughout the process
Coggle limitations
- There are limited whiteboard template options compared to competitors
- Its free version restricts users to a maximum of three private diagrams, necessitating an upgrade to the paid Awesome plan for additional private projects
- Designing flowcharts is restricted to paid plans, limiting functionality for free users
Coggle pricing
- Free
- Awesome: $5/month per user
- Organization: $8/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Coggle ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (40+ reviews)
🔍 Did You Know? The incubation effect suggests that stepping away from a brainstorming session can lead to better ideas. This is why many people have ‘eureka’ moments in the shower or just before bed.
5. MindMeister (Best for intuitive mind mapping for beginners)
MindMeister makes visual project management accessible to team members who normally avoid diagram tools. The gentle learning curve emphasizes capturing ideas rather than mastering software features.
Many teams appreciate how seamlessly maps transform into presentation slides—you can brainstorm and present concepts without rebuilding your work in a separate presentation tool. What’s more, the voting functionality turns individual brainstorming into group decision-making, helping teams prioritize which ideas deserve further development.
MindMeister best features
- Add task information, including priorities, due dates, and completion status, to map nodes, bridging the gap between planning and execution
- Embed media files like videos, documents, and links within nodes to create rich, multi-layered mind maps that convey more information than text alone could communicate
- Use emoji reactions to vote on ideas collaboratively, gathering team input on which concepts deserve further development through an intuitive visual polling system
- Access maps across all devices with a consistent experience, allowing you to capture inspiration whenever it strikes
MindMeister limitations
- While the platform technically supports up to 10,000 topics per mind map, performance can degrade with more than 500 topics, leading to slower response times and potential usability challenges
- Attachment storage is limited based on the subscription tier, with the Pro account allowing only up to 1 GB
MindMeister pricing
- Free
- Personal: $4.50/month per user (billed half-yearly)
- Pro: $6.50/month per user (billed half-yearly)
MindMeister ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.2/5 (30+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (290+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about MindMeister?
🧠 Fun Fact: Albert Einstein’s creative process involved combinatory play, where he would mix unrelated ideas like playing the violin while thinking about physics to spark new insights.
6. Ayoa (Best for combining mind mapping with task management)
Ayoa stands out by bridging the gap between creative brainstorming techniques and practical execution.
The software weaves task management directly into visual mapping, eliminating the typical disconnect between idea generation and implementation. The distinctive radial mind maps offer a fresh perspective compared to traditional branch structures, often revealing unexpected connections between concepts.
Ayoa accommodates different thinking styles—visual thinkers can explore ideas in maps, while linear thinkers can switch to task boards showing the same information. This flexibility helps cross-functional teams collaborate without forcing everyone into the same thinking pattern.
Ayoa best features
- Switch between mind map view and task board view seamlessly, allowing team members to work in their preferred format while collaborating on the same content
- Set task deadlines within mind map branches, adding accountability and timeframes to creative concepts without switching to separate project management tools
- Apply filters to focus on specific categories or team members, temporarily simplifying complex maps to highlight relevant information for different phases of work
- Track project progress from initial idea through completion with visual indicators showing stages of development, turning brainstorming into actionable project timelines
Ayoa limitations
- Interface can initially confuse users familiar with traditional mind map examples
- The platform’s unique circular design for task management may not align with everyone’s preferences, leading to usability issues
- Some users have reported dissatisfaction with the responsiveness and effectiveness of customer service
Ayoa pricing
- Free
- Ayoa Ultimate: $17/month per user
Ayoa ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (50+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (200+ reviews)
🔍 Did You Know? A brainstorming technique called the 100 Ideas Method forces participants to generate 100 new ideas quickly. The first 30 are usually obvious, but the real creativity comes from pushing past mental blocks in the later ideas.
7. MindNode (Best for clean, distraction-free mind mapping on Apple devices)
MindNode embraces Apple’s design philosophy with an elegant interface that removes everything standing between you and your ideas. The software starts beautifully simple—a blank canvas and a single node—then expands organically as your thoughts flow.
Its visual tags system adds organization without complicating the interface, keeping maps clean yet informative.
Apple enthusiasts particularly appreciate how smoothly MindNode syncs across devices, allowing seamless transitions from capturing quick thoughts on the idea board in iPhone to developing them further on Mac or iPad.
MindNode best features
- Focus on nodes individually with a distraction-dimming feature that temporarily fades the rest of your mind map, helping maintain concentration on specific thoughts
- Fold branches to simplify complex mind maps temporarily, allowing you to collapse sections not currently relevant to reduce visual noise
- Export to Markdown, text, or image formats with formatting preserved, making your brainstorming output immediately usable in other applications
MindNode limitations
- Available exclusively for Apple ecosystem users, which means no compatibility for Windows or Android
- Limited real-time collaboration features compared to web-based alternatives
- Users cannot create and save custom workflow templates, potentially hindering efficiency
MindNode pricing
- Free
- Plus: $2.99/month
MindNode ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.2/5 (30+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
🧠 Fun Fact: The brain’s default mode network (DMN) is responsible for daydreaming and free association. Brainstorming taps into this network, allowing unexpected connections to form.
8. XMind (Best for structured brainstorming with multiple diagram types)
XMind adapts to different thought patterns by offering various diagram structures beyond traditional mind maps. The AI mind mapping tool excels at helping users organize ideas according to logical relationships rather than just associations.
It includes Gantt charts, logic trees, fishbone diagrams, and standard mind mapping. The zen mode temporarily hides all toolbars and options, creating a distraction-free environment where ideas can flow without interruptions.
XMind best features
- Apply pre-designed themes with coordinated colors, fonts, and styles that transform the appearance of your entire diagram
- Use the Pitch Mode to transform your mind maps into engaging presentations, facilitating clear communication of your concepts
- Add relationship lines between nodes in different branches, illustrating connections across separate idea hierarchies that might otherwise remain hidden in traditional tree structures
XMind limitations
- The interface feels more technical than some alternatives
- All exported files include a watermark, limiting their professional use
- Xmind can be slow at times and may experience performance issues when handling large files
Xmind pricing
- Free
- Premium: $15/month per user
- Business: $18/month per user
Xmind ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (110+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Xmind?
🔍 Did You Know? In Japan, Chindōgu (literally ‘unusual tools’) refers to brainstorming impractical but hilarious inventions. While most are intentionally useless, they inspire creative problem-solving and fresh thinking.
9. Zoom (Best for audio-visual brainstorming with instant feedback)
Zoom has evolved beyond simple video conferencing into a capable brainstorming platform with its whiteboard and breakout room features. The combination of seeing facial expressions while collaborating on a shared visual space creates uniquely productive ideation sessions.
Its breakout room feature allows splitting larger groups into focused mini-brainstorming sessions before bringing everyone back together to share discoveries. The familiar interface reduces technical friction as most team members already know how to use Zoom.
For teams that think better through conversation than typing, Zoom provides the perfect interactive environment.
Zoom best features
- Record brainstorming sessions with automated cloud storage, preserving both audio discussions and visual whiteboard development
- Share screens to review reference materials during ideation, bringing important context into brainstorming sessions without losing conversation momentum
- Annotate directly on shared documents or images, enabling workplace collaboration while discussing potential improvements
Zoom limitations
- Users with a Basic (free) Zoom license are restricted to three editable whiteboards
- Whiteboards not modified for over 120 days are automatically moved to the Trash
- Zoom’s free version limits the meeting duration to 40 minutes
Zoom pricing
- Free
- Pro: $15.99/month per user
- Business: $21.99/month per user
Zoom ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (56,130+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (14,220 reviews)
🧠 Fun Fact: LEGO has a method called LEGO Serious Play, where participants use bricks to model ideas physically. This hands-on approach helps unlock new ways of thinking.
10. ConceptDraw (Best for professional-grade diagram creation)
ConceptDraw delivers enterprise-level diagramming power with remarkable precision and depth. The data visualization tool shines when brainstorming sessions need to produce professional-quality visual documentation rather than just capturing ideas.
Many technical teams appreciate the extensive libraries of industry-specific shapes and symbols that make diagrams instantly recognizable to stakeholders. Even better? The intelligent connectors maintain perfect relationships between objects even as diagrams evolve through multiple revisions.
ConceptDraw best features
- Create perfect connector lines that stay attached to objects even when repositioned, maintaining logical relationships throughout the editing process
- Convert between different diagram types while preserving data relationships, allowing teams to visualize the same information through different structural frameworks
- Integrate with ConceptDraw Office suite for expanded functionality, connecting brainstorming outputs directly with project management and presentation tools
ConceptDraw limitations
- Unlike some competitors, ConceptDraw DIAGRAM lacks advanced real-time collaboration capabilities, which can hinder team-based diagramming efforts
- It is considered one of the more expensive options, which may be a barrier for some users
- The user interface feels dated compared to newer software options
ConceptDraw pricing
- ConceptDrawOFFICE 11: $499 per license
- ConceptDraw DIAGRAM 18: $199 per license
- ConceptDraw PROJECT 15: $299 per license
- ConceptDraw MINDMAP 16: $199 per license
- ConceptDraw MINDMAP 16 & PROJECT 15: $399 per license
ConceptDraw ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (20+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.3/5 (30+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about ConceptDraw?
🔍 Did You Know? Some brainstorming sessions start with listing the worst ideas possible. This lowers the fear of judgment and often leads to surprisingly useful ideas when bad ones get reworked.
11. Stormboard (Best for organizing brainstorming results into actionable plans)
Stormboard transforms chaotic mind map note-taking into organized action plans through its unique combination of sticky notes and storm sections.
The voting mechanism helps large groups reach consensus without endless discussion—participants simply indicate preferences visually. Many facilitators appreciate how Stormboard provides templates specifically designed for different brainstorming methodologies like SWOT analysis or design thinking workshops.
For teams that struggle with the ‘now what?’ question after generating ideas, Stormboard creates natural pathways from creative thinking to practical execution.
Stormboard best features
- Organize sticky notes into customizable sections that transform from initial brainstorming clusters into structured categories, workflows, or priority groups
- Vote on ideas using a flexible system that allows assigning different point values to represent varying priorities, helping teams identify consensus
- Generate reports that summarize brainstorming outcomes, including all ideas, voting results, and assigned actions, providing comprehensive documentation ready for distribution
Stormboard limitations
- The software’s interface feels less intuitive than some competitors
- The free version is heavily restricted in features and participants
- The mobile experience is more limited than the desktop version
- Some users report occasional syncing delays during active collaboration
Stormboard pricing
- Free
- Business: $10/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Stormboard ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (75+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Stormboard?
Summarize this article for me pleaseBig Ideas Start with ClickUp!
Great ideas need the right space to grow.
The right brainstorming software keeps creativity flowing, ideas organized, and collaboration effortless. Instead of losing track of inspiration, turn rough thoughts into clear, actionable plans.
ClickUp makes it easy to brainstorm, organize, and execute—all in one place. Sketch out ideas on Whiteboards, connect concepts with Mind Maps, and turn discussions into tasks without switching tools. AI-powered features help refine ideas faster, so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
Sign up for ClickUp today and bring your best ideas to life! ✅
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