Comparison

SimpleMind vs ThinkSpace

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

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

Information piles up. AI has all the answers. But a week later, nothing stays in your head. ThinkSpace is a thinking canvas where you turn what you explore with AI into your own map — with your own hands. Only the maps you build yourself stay with you. In ThinkSpace, a map you grow — one that stays with you — is called a design map. It is not a static diagram you draw once. It keeps evolving as you add new information, AI conversations, and results from what you tried — a living model of your own understanding. ■ Great for topics like - Integrating papers and books into an understanding you can explain in your own words - Visualizing nursing pathophysiology diagrams and how what you learn connects - Bringing a story's world, characters, timeline, and ideas into one structure - Writing out tangled feelings and worries to sort out your inner thoughts - Designing your career in the AI era, social media strategy, or product concepts - Connecting visions and goals to concrete actions and reviews - Working through complex 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 from a card and add the answers to your map. Instead of just reading responses, break them down, relate them, and rebuild them as your own understanding. Looking over the map sparks new questions — dig into them with AI again. Your AI inputs are never used for training. ■ Key features - Infinite canvas: place cards anywhere and work with unorganized thoughts as they are. - Handwriting and text: Apple Pencil supported. Write like sticky notes and move them as you think. - Mind maps, flows, groups, relation lines: express radial thinking, procedures, cause and effect. - Ask AI and break answers into cards: turn answers into understanding you can explain. - Extract key-point cards from text: turn long notes and web pages into material for thinking. - AI brainstorming: generate a skeleton that widens your view. You fill in evidence and conclusions. - Capture web pages, images, screenshots: place research inside your own topic. - Search and reuse cards: find past fragments and recombine them in other maps. - Link canvases: connect big themes and subtopics into layers of thought. - Export to image, PDF, and text: output maps for reports, submissions, and sharing. - Local-first: data is saved on your device first. Edit offline, export anytime. - Sync across devices (Pro): grow the same maps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Turn AI answers into understanding you can explain. Turn scattered information into a map that leads to your next decision and action. Grow your own way of thinking with ThinkSpace. ■ 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

SimpleMind4 screens
ThinkSpace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SimpleMind at 77% against ThinkSpace's 54%. SimpleMind also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (981 vs 273). ThinkSpace's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. SimpleMind sells 1 one-off in-app purchase 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

SimpleMind holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 981 and 273 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of SimpleMind's written reviews are positive against 54% of ThinkSpace's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, ThinkSpace monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SimpleMind versus ThinkSpace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimpleMindThinkSpace
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (981 ratings) — better4.3 (273 ratings)
Positive reviews77.2% of reviews — better53.6% of reviews
Number of ratings981 — better273
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB238 MB
Age rating4+17+
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%

ThinkSpace

All ratings273 ratings
Positive82.1%
Neutral5.9%
Negative12.1%
Written reviews220 reviews
Positive53.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative36.8%

User reviews

SimpleMind

From 981 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🚀 Smooth and responsive
  • 💡 Versatile for various use cases
  • 🔒 Secure with no data collection
  • 💰 Good value for one-time purchase

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezing
  • 🔗 Issues with syncing/sharing across devices
  • 🔒 Confusing in-app purchase model
  • 🎨 Limited customization options

ThinkSpace

From 273 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

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

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

1 purchases

SimpleMind

One-time1
  • Unlock Pro Functionality$10.99
2 purchases

ThinkSpace

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

Questions

Is SimpleMind free?
SimpleMind 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, SimpleMind or ThinkSpace?
SimpleMind is rated higher. SimpleMind averages 4.5 out of 5 from 981 ratings, while ThinkSpace averages 4.3 from 273 ratings.
Do SimpleMind or ThinkSpace have ads?
Neither SimpleMind nor ThinkSpace shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SimpleMind or ThinkSpace?
SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, and ThinkSpace monthly. Most recently, SimpleMind was updated on September 23, 2026 and ThinkSpace on September 19, 2026.

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