# SimpleMind vs Mind Map

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mind Map at weekly against SimpleMind's every 2 months. Mind Map also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5). SimpleMind's advantage is ratings volume (981 vs 7) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SimpleMind sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Mind Map sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mind Map holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleMind has 981 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 77% of SimpleMind's written reviews are positive against 70% of Mind Map's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, Mind Map weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleMind | Mind Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (981 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemind-mind-mapping/id305727658/reviews) | **[4.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mind-map-hoodlemind/id1535574338/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **981** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **77.2% of reviews** | 69.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [xpt Software & Consulting B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/304515490) | [翔 崔](https://appshunter.io/developer/974649822) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleMind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemind-mind-mapping/id305727658)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Pro Functionality | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Maps disappearing after device resets
- Inability to import/export certain file formats

**Requested features**

- 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


### Mind Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mind-map-hoodlemind/id1535574338)

Create beautiful mind maps intuitively to capture and organize ideas. Supports brainstorming, note-taking, studying, and project planning. Collaborate in real-time and export in various formats.

**Highlights:** Intuitive mind map creation, Brainstorming and ideation, Note-taking and studying, Project planning and management, Customizable themes and formatting, Add notes, links, attachments, and images to nodes, Real-time collaboration, Export as PNG, PDF, OPML

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HoodleMind Quarterly Subscription | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| HoodleMind Pro | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleMind free?

SimpleMind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mind Map free?

Mind Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SimpleMind or Mind Map?

Mind Map is rated higher. SimpleMind averages 4.5 out of 5 from 981 ratings, while Mind Map averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do SimpleMind or Mind Map have ads?

Neither SimpleMind nor Mind Map shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleMind or Mind Map?

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, and Mind Map weekly. Most recently, SimpleMind was updated on October 2, 2026 and Mind Map on September 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*