Comparison

SimpleMind vs Mind Mapping

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

Mind Mapping

Organize, prioritize, and generate new thoughts with a powerful mobile mind mapping tool. Seamlessly sync your creations with an online account and collaborate in real-time. Offers free basic features and premium plans for advanced functionality.

Highlights
  • Create mind maps
  • Sync with online account
  • Multi-touch support
  • Add icons, colors, and themes
  • View and edit notes, links, tasks
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Export maps
Features
Read full description

MindMeister is the one and only mobile mind mapping app you’ll ever need. Whether you’re using it in the boardroom, the classroom, the presentation hall, or the lunch meeting, MindMeister can help you organize, prioritize, and even generate new thoughts. Designed from the ground up as an extension to our award-winning, browser-based interface, the MindMeister app stores your mobile creations and seamlessly syncs them with your online account. Feature highlights in the free “Basic” plan: - Create up to three free mind maps - Seamlessly sync maps and folders with your free online account - Multi-touch support for drag & drop, zoom, pan - Add icons, colors, styles and map themes - View and edit notes, links, tasks and attachments on ideas - Draw connections between nodes - Play presentations - Share maps directly from the device - Real-time collaboration Additional features in the “Personal” plan: - Create and edit unlimited mind maps - Add files and images to topics - Export maps in PDF and PNG format - Priority support Additional features in the “Pro” plan: - Export maps in MS Word and MS PowerPoint format - Export slides as zip file NOTE: Requires a free account registration. The “Basic” version of MindMeister is free. You can try the “Personal” plan free for 1 week after signing up! If you enjoy your “Personal” trial, do nothing and your membership will automatically continue as an auto-renewing month-to-month subscription. If you subscribe via iTunes: Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period at the rate of your selected plan above. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings on the device. If you haven’t subscribed through iTunes, you can manage your subscription through MindMeister. Privacy policy: https://www.mindmeister.com/privacy Terms of use: https://www.mindmeister.com/legal

Screenshots

SimpleMind4 screens
Mind Mapping4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mind Mapping at monthly against SimpleMind's every 2 months. SimpleMind's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 Mind Mapping sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for SimpleMind against 4.4 for Mind Mapping. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 981 and 1.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of SimpleMind's written reviews are positive against 76% of Mind Mapping's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, Mind Mapping monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SimpleMind versus Mind Mapping: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimpleMindMind Mapping
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (981 ratings) — better4.4 (1.3K ratings)
Positive reviews77.2% of reviews — better76.1% of reviews
Number of ratings9811.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerxpt Software & Consulting B.V.MeisterLabs

Customer experience

SimpleMind

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

Mind Mapping

All ratings1,269 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral3.0%
Negative10.2%
Written reviews1,439 reviews
Positive76.1%
Neutral4.9%
Negative19.0%

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

Mind Mapping

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Intuitive interface
  • 🚀 Helpful for brainstorming and organizing ideas
  • 🚀 Cross-platform functionality
  • 🚀 Useful for personal and professional use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Syncing and compatibility issues between mobile and web versions
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model, limited free features
  • 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and inability to export maps
  • 🔧 Lack of customization options and advanced features

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

Mind Mapping

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to edit initial topic
  • Disappearing text and formatting issues
  • Blank screens and crashes when adding new elements
  • Synchronization problems between devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Offline mode
  • More customization options for maps
  • Improved collaboration and sharing features
  • Better integration with other productivity apps
  • Support for handwritten notes and drawings

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SimpleMind

One-time1
  • Unlock Pro Functionality$10.99
10 purchases

Mind Mapping

Subscriptions10
  • Monthly Personal Subscription2 variants$7.491 Month
  • Monthly Personal Trial7 Days trial$7.491 Month
  • Monthly Personal Subscription14 Days trial$7.491 Month
Show 7 more
  • Pro$12.491 Month
  • Monthly Pro Subscription$12.491 Month
  • Pro7 Days trial$12.491 Month
  • Yearly Personal Subscription2 variants$78.001 Year
  • Yearly Personal Subscription14 Days trial$78.001 Year
  • Pro$125.991 Year
  • Yearly Pro Subscription$125.991 Year

Questions

Is SimpleMind free?
SimpleMind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mind Mapping free?
Mind Mapping is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SimpleMind or Mind Mapping?
SimpleMind is rated higher. SimpleMind averages 4.5 out of 5 from 981 ratings, while Mind Mapping averages 4.4 from 1.3K ratings.
Do SimpleMind or Mind Mapping have ads?
Neither SimpleMind nor Mind Mapping shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SimpleMind or Mind Mapping?
SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, and Mind Mapping monthly. Most recently, SimpleMind was updated on September 23, 2026 and Mind Mapping on September 24, 2026.

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