Comparison

SimpleMind vs Map Note

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

Head to head
About

SimpleMind

Organize thoughts, capture ideas, and generate new concepts with a powerful mind mapping tool. Its intuitive interface allows for free-form or auto-layout creation, with options to add media, documents, and synchronize across devices. Share your mind maps in various formats or present them as slideshows.

Highlights
  • Free-form and auto layout options
  • Add images, notes, icons, and links
  • Voice memos and video integration
  • Cloud synchronization across devices
  • Export to PDF, Image, Reminders, Calendar
  • Customizable styling and themes
  • Collapse/expand branches for overview
Features
Read full description

Mind mapping helps you organize your thoughts, remember information and generate new ideas. We've created a beautiful, intuitive app, so you can mind map wherever you are and whenever you want. Free Functionality • Everything you need to get started with mind mapping. • No ads. • No data collection. • No need to sign up for an account. • Upgrade to full functionality is a one-time single purchase. Highlights • Easy to use. • Continuously fine-tuned based on customer feedback. • Trustworthy and reliable: 15+ years of updates and improvements. • Used in a wide range of applications: business, education, legal and medical. • Tools to help you maintain overview. Create ○ place topics anywhere you want in the free-form layout ○ or use auto layout - great for brainstorming ○ reorganize and restructure using drag, rotate, re-arrange or reconnect ○ use checkboxes, progress bars, auto-numbering ○ connect any two topics with a crosslink ○ label relations ○ virtually unlimited page size and number of elements ○ supports multiple Mind Maps on one page Add media and documents ○ images and photos ○ notes ○ icons (stock, emojis or custom) ○ link to a topic, mind map, contact, file or webpage ○ voice memos ○ videos Seamless synchronization using clouds ○ sync mind maps with your iPads and iPhones ○ sync mind maps across platforms. For example with Mac - as a separate purchase ○ sync using iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, 坚果云 - Nutstore and Nextcloud Share your Mind Map ○ for example as PDF or Image ○ outline, can be imported in word processors ○ create a slideshow to present your Mind Map (Tablet only) ○ print ○ export to Reminders or Calendar Style your mind map ○ change the appearance by selecting one of the 15+ style sheets ○ create your own style sheets ○ style every detail, exactly how you want it ○ change borders, lines, colors, background color, the checkbox color, and much more Maintain overview ○ collapse and expand branches ○ hide or show branches or topics ○ block out distractions with autofocus ○ highlight branches by displaying branch borders ○ visually group topics with group borders ○ organize your Mind Maps in folders ○ outline view ○ search

About

Map Note

Organize your thoughts on an infinitely expanding canvas. This app is designed for non-linear thinking, allowing you to freely expand ideas radially for brainstorming and mind mapping.

Highlights
  • Infinitely expanding canvas
  • Radial idea expansion
  • Mind mapping
  • Brainstorming
  • Idea sketching
  • Non-linear note-taking
Features
Read full description

Using map notes, you can spread your ideas anywhere on an infinitely spread canvas. I think the brain's work when considering ideas is a random and radial working image rather than linear. Traditional notes that need to be written sequentially from left to right are not very suitable for this process. If you use this infinite size notebook application, you can freely expand ideas from the center of the page, so you can make ideas more natural. Ideal for creating rough mind maps, brainstorming and idea sketches. * Please check out MapNote 2 that can add images, add folders, and sync with iCloud.

Screenshots

SimpleMind4 screens
Map Note3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SimpleMind at Free against Map Note's $2.99. SimpleMind also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 56%) and ratings volume (981 vs 69). Map Note's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On rating, ads and device support 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

SimpleMind is free to download; Map Note costs $2.99 up front. SimpleMind sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Map Note asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for SimpleMind against 4.5 for Map Note. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleMind has 981 ratings behind it against 69, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of SimpleMind's written reviews are positive against 56% of Map Note's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, Map Note every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and August 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SimpleMind versus Map Note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimpleMindMap Note
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.5 (981 ratings)4.5 (69 ratings)
Positive reviews77.2% of reviews — better55.6% of reviews
Number of ratings981 — better69
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerxpt Software & Consulting B.V.Naoya Enokida

Customer experience

SimpleMind

All ratings981 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral3.1%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews1,390 reviews
Positive77.2%
Neutral8.5%
Negative14.3%

Map Note

All ratings69 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral7.2%
Negative8.7%
Written reviews81 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral16.0%
Negative28.4%

Bugs and requests

SimpleMind

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Maps disappearing after device resets
  • Inability to import/export certain file formats

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved syncing and cloud integration
  • More customization options for appearance and layout
  • Keyboard shortcuts and power user features
  • Better support for Apple Pencil and handwriting

Map Note

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SimpleMind

One-time1
  • Unlock Pro Functionality$10.99
None

Map Note

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SimpleMind free?
SimpleMind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Map Note free?
Map Note costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SimpleMind or Map Note?
SimpleMind and Map Note are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 981 and 69 ratings respectively.
Do SimpleMind or Map Note have ads?
Neither SimpleMind nor Map Note shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SimpleMind or Map Note?
SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, and Map Note every 4 weeks. Most recently, SimpleMind was updated on September 29, 2026 and Map Note on August 29, 2026.

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