# SimpleMind vs Lucidchart

SimpleMind and Lucidchart both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of SimpleMind's written reviews are positive against 21% of Lucidchart's. SimpleMind also leads on ads (none vs shown). Lucidchart's advantage is ratings volume (5.3K vs 981). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SimpleMind sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Lucidchart sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for SimpleMind against 4.6 for Lucidchart. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lucidchart has 5.3K ratings behind it against 981, 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 21% of Lucidchart's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleMind | Lucidchart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (981 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemind-mind-mapping/id305727658/reviews) | **[4.6 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lucidchart/id611543423/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 981 | **5.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **77.2% of reviews** | 21.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [xpt Software & Consulting B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/304515490) | [Lucid Software Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/611543426) |

## 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


### Lucidchart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lucidchart/id611543423)

Create and view diagrams like flowcharts, mind maps, and org charts on your mobile device. This visual workspace facilitates real-time collaboration and data visualization. Diagrams sync instantly to your account and can be exported in various formats.

**Highlights:** Create and edit diagrams, Pre-built templates, Drag-and-drop functionality, Offline document viewing, Real-time collaboration, Export to PDF, PNG, Visio, Integrations with G Suite, Slack, Jira

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6 months of Lucidchart Basic on all your devices | $29.99 | one-time |
| 6 months of Lucidchart Professional on all your devices | $54.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 👍 Great for creating diagrams and flowcharts
- 💡 Useful templates and shapes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 👎 Poor mobile experience compared to web version
- 🚫 Not available for individual users, only teams/enterprises

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save or access documents
- Unresponsive controls and UI elements
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Offline mode
- Better Apple Pencil support
- Ability to export to more formats
- Improved text editing functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleMind free?

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

### Is Lucidchart free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SimpleMind or Lucidchart?

Lucidchart is rated higher. SimpleMind averages 4.5 out of 5 from 981 ratings, while Lucidchart averages 4.6 from 5.3K ratings.

### Do SimpleMind or Lucidchart have ads?

Lucidchart shows ads; SimpleMind does not.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleMind or Lucidchart?

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, and Lucidchart every 2 months. Most recently, SimpleMind was updated on September 23, 2026 and Lucidchart on August 31, 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.*