Comparison

MindNode vs ThinkSpace

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MindNode

Capture, organize, and visualize your thoughts and ideas. This app allows you to brainstorm, structure complex projects, and share your vision in various formats. Stay productive across all your devices with seamless iCloud integration.

Highlights
  • Capture thoughts as text, images, links, or tasks
  • Organize ideas with hierarchical outlines and mind maps
  • Style mind maps with themes and stickers
  • Export ideas to various formats
  • Cross-platform productivity with iCloud sync
  • Focus Mode and foldable branches for organization
Features
Read full description

Every great idea starts with a single thought. And another. And then a million more. MindNode is the most delightful brainstorming app for Mac and iOS. It helps you capture your thoughts and create a clear picture of your idea. Featured as Apple’s “App of the Day” & “Editors’ Choice” WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? • Capture Your Thoughts Whether as words, images, links, tasks, or notes, capture your thoughts in any form. Create an outline for an organized, hierarchical view, and observe how it grows as a mind map. Use the mind map to visually rearrange nodes and add new thoughts. MindNode is the right tool to get your ideas out of your head the way you want to. • Organize Your Idea Your document reflects your ever-changing understanding of an idea as you add and adjust thoughts. Move, tag, connect, detach, and reconnect as often as you like. Mind map and outline side-by-side. Concentrate on one thought at a time with Focus Mode, Visual Tags, and foldable branches. • Style Your Mind Map Personalize your document with beautiful out-of-the-box themes and custom stickers. Make your mind map look just right by styling every detail. With Smart Layout your idea will always look fantastic. • Share Your Vision Easily share your documents with others or move them one step further in your creative process. Send tasks to Apple Reminders, Things, or OmniFocus. Export your idea as text, image, and to many other file formats. STAY PRODUCTIVE WHEREVER YOU GO Whether it’s on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, with MindNode, you stay productive wherever you are. Store your files on iCloud Drive and access them on all your devices. FREE EDITOR Use MindNode for free to capture your ideas with actions like editing, rearranging, and folding nodes, as well as importing and exporting files. • Capture: grow your thoughts into fully-fledged ideas • Fold branches: keep your documents organized • Import: FreeMind, MindManager, iThoughts, plain text, RTF, CSV, OPML, Markdown, TextBundle • Export: plain text, RTF, CSV, OPML, PDF, PNG image, Markdown, TextBundle, TaskPaper, FreeMind MINDNODE PLUS MindNode Plus is a cross-platform subscription for your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It unlocks all of MindNode’s features like Outlining, Visual Tags, Focus Mode, Notes, Themes, Stickers, Connections, and much more. MindNode Plus is available as a monthly and a yearly subscription. Try out all of MindNode’s features with a free 14-day trial. • Collect everything: add text, images, and links to nodes • Outlining: create your document using a hierarchical, organized approach • Visual Tags: tag your thoughts for more context, highlight tags to see new relationships • Notes: keep your mind map easy to read without losing a single detail • Connections: connect nodes on different branches • Tasks: turn your thoughts into actions • Quick Entry: just start typing to collect thoughts • Themes: beautiful out-of-the-box themes and unlimited personal themes • Images: insert your own images and annotate them • Stickers: 260+ hand-crafted stickers with adjustable colors • Styling: rich styling options for every single part of your mind map • Layouts: top-down and horizontal • Focus Mode: put a spotlight on a single branch • Dark Mode: for when your thoughts come at night • Share Tasks: to Apple Reminders, Things, and OmniFocus WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT MINDNODE “The app keeps out of your way, so it doesn’t interrupt your thought processes.” – New York Times “An app on the cutting edge of iOS design and technologies.” – MacStories “Slowly grow and track your ideas, connecting nodes to help you better conceptualize your idea or thoughts.” – BusinessInsider QUESTIONS? Reach out to us at support@mindnode.com and on Twitter (@mindnode). Let us know if you have any questions or issues. We’re always glad to help. Terms of Service: https://mindnode.com/terms

About

ThinkSpace

This app is a powerful thinking tool that supports creative workflows with an intuitive interface and various thinking methods. It offers features like handwritten notes, unlimited canvases, idea generation frameworks, and real-time collaboration to aid brainstorming and idea structuring.

Highlights
  • Handwritten sticky notes
  • Unlimited canvas sizes
  • Idea generation frameworks
  • Real-time sharing
  • Mind mapping
  • Diagram creation
  • AI brainstorming
Features
Read full description

Too much on your mind, and no idea where to start? AI chats, posts you saw, books you read, things people told you. There is more to think about every day. ThinkSpace is a thinking notebook: put your thoughts on cards, then arrange and connect them as you think. As you move cards around and put ideas into your own words, your understanding deepens. ■ How it works Start with a single card: whatever is on your mind. 1. Collect: AI chats, web pages, photos, passing thoughts, via the Inbox or by pasting. 2. Write it down: turn them, and what is in your head, into handwritten or text cards. 3. Arrange and see the big picture: move, group, and connect cards. Step back, and unexpected connections, next questions, and next actions appear. 4. Explain: say what your cards or map mean, out loud, in your own words. Read the transcript back to check what you really understand. ■ Great for - Clearing your head when AI chats pile up - Making sense of books and videos, and turning them into questions and actions - Connecting ideas from research papers and textbooks so you can explain them in your own words - Creating nursing concept maps and connecting conditions, symptoms, and care - Bringing a story's world, characters, timeline, and ideas into one structure - Journaling: writing out tangled feelings and worries - Designing your career in the AI era, a social media strategy, or a product - Connecting visions and goals to concrete actions and reviews - Working through problems at work: causes, solutions, validation, results ■ Start from a purpose-built map No need to stare at a blank canvas wondering where to begin. - Concept map - Problem-solving map - Pathophysiology map - Career map for the AI era - Worldbuilding map - Social media strategy map - Habit-building map - Product design map - Vision map and more — start from a foundation that fits your topic. ■ Turn AI chats into a growing map Ask AI about a card and add the answers to your map. Break answers into ideas, connect them, and make sense of them in your own words; looking over the map sparks new questions to dig into. Your AI inputs are never used for training. ■ Key features - Infinite canvas: place cards anywhere, half-formed thoughts included. - Handwriting and text: Apple Pencil supported. Jot down ideas on cards and move them around with your finger. - Mind maps, flowcharts, groups, and connections: radial thinking, steps, cause and effect. - Send from AI chats: send a conversation from Claude or the share sheet to the ThinkSpace Inbox, then drag it in as a card. - Explain out loud: describe a card or map in your own words; it is transcribed and saved. You notice where your understanding is thin, and can read it back later. - Ask AI: ask about a card and add the answer as a new card. - Extract key-point cards from long notes and web pages. - AI brainstorming: branch a topic card into angles and questions. - Paste into cards: copied text, photos, or URLs become cards. - Add web pages, images, and screenshots to your canvas. - Search and reuse cards across maps. - Link canvases: big themes and subtopics in layers. - Export to image, PDF, and text. - Local-first: saved on your device, works offline. - Sync across devices (Pro): iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Turn scattered information and AI answers into understanding you can explain and act on. ■ Pro access - Unlimited canvases - Unlimited cards and groups - Expanded AI usage limit - Full feature access ——— Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. The renewal fee is charged to your iTunes account within 24 hours before the period ends. You can turn off auto-renewal anytime in your App Store account settings. ——— Terms of Service: https://thinkspace-public.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/terms-en.html Privacy Policy: https://thinkspace-public.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/privacy-policy-en-v2.html

Screenshots

MindNode4 screens
ThinkSpace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: ThinkSpace at none against MindNode's shown. MindNode's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (1.9K vs 276). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MindNode sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ThinkSpace sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MindNode holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MindNode has 1.9K ratings behind it against 276, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of MindNode's written reviews are positive against 54% of ThinkSpace's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MindNode versus ThinkSpace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMindNodeThinkSpace
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (1.9K ratings) — better4.3 (276 ratings)
Positive reviews59.0% of reviews — better53.6% of reviews
Number of ratings1.9K — better276
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.415.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size390 MB261 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperIdeasOnCanvas GmbHNaoya Enokida

Customer experience

MindNode

All ratings1,897 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral2.8%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews122 reviews
Positive59.0%
Neutral11.5%
Negative29.5%

ThinkSpace

All ratings276 ratings
Positive82.2%
Neutral5.8%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews220 reviews
Positive53.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative36.8%

User reviews

MindNode

From 1.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth and intuitive interface
  • 🧠 Excellent for organizing thoughts and ideas
  • 🌐 Seamless sync across devices
  • 💻 Great for both personal and professional use
  • 🎨 Beautiful and customizable themes

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription model frustrates some users
  • 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
  • 🐛 Occasional sync and stability issues
  • 🔀 Limited layout and connection options

ThinkSpace

From 276 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Innovative freeform mind-mapping with infinite canvas
  • ✏️ Excellent Apple Pencil integration and handwriting support
  • 🎨 Flexible and creative brainstorming capabilities
  • 📋 Multiple thinking frameworks and templates included
  • 👍 Intuitive sticky note-like interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and app freezing
  • ⚠️ Data loss issues after subscription or app updates
  • 💸 Aggressive paywall with limited free tier
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection policies
  • 😕 Steep learning curve and unintuitive UI

Bugs and requests

MindNode

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Files disappearing or becoming corrupted
  • App crashing after recent updates
  • Inability to restore previous purchases

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add audio recording capability
  • Improve handwriting and Apple Pencil support
  • Allow more flexible node connections and layouts
  • Provide a one-time purchase option

ThinkSpace

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • App crashes on launch or during use
  • Data disappears after upgrading to paid version
  • Canvas fails to load with many items
  • Text boxes become uneditable
  • Grouped items move unexpectedly when resizing
Show 15 more
  • Eraser tool causes crashes
  • Login freezes and network connection errors
  • Registration and account creation failures
  • Undo function doesn't work properly
  • Cards stick or behave erratically
  • Zoom tool tab not displaying
  • Export function unresponsive on Mac
  • Text wrapping and alignment issues
  • Sticky notes change size unexpectedly
  • Items disappear from canvas
  • Forced quit required to close app
  • Laggy performance with Apple Pencil writing
  • Sync failures between iPad and Mac
  • Auto-organize feature snaps items incorrectly
  • White background export issues

Requested features

19 requests
  • One-time purchase option instead of subscription
  • Dark mode theme
  • Better palm rejection for Apple Pencil
  • Folder/project organization system
  • Ability to delete canvases easily
Show 14 more
  • Improved text editing within cards
  • Better arrow/connector customization
  • Undo with multi-finger gestures (like Procreate)
  • Export to vector formats (SVG)
  • Zoom controls for Mac version
  • Better grouping and ungrouping functionality
  • Collaborative editing features
  • iCloud sync option
  • Highlighter tool
  • Custom colors and pen sizes
  • Canvas renaming functionality
  • Better keyboard shortcuts for Mac
  • Chromebook support
  • Auto-layout option for mind maps

In-app purchases

4 purchases

MindNode

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription6 Months trial$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly Subscription1 Year trial$24.991 Year
2 purchases

ThinkSpace

Subscriptions2
  • ThinkSpace Pro Access$2.991 Month
  • ThinkSpace Pro Access$29.991 Year

Questions

Is MindNode free?
MindNode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ThinkSpace free?
ThinkSpace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MindNode or ThinkSpace?
MindNode is rated higher. MindNode averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while ThinkSpace averages 4.3 from 276 ratings.
Do MindNode or ThinkSpace have ads?
MindNode shows ads; ThinkSpace does not.
Which is updated more often, MindNode or ThinkSpace?
MindNode ships an update every 6 weeks, and ThinkSpace every 6 weeks. Most recently, MindNode was updated on October 23, 2026 and ThinkSpace on October 24, 2026.

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