# Popplet vs Xmind

The clearest difference is price: Xmind at Free against Popplet's $2.99. Xmind also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 months). Popplet's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Xmind is free to download; Popplet costs $2.99 up front. Xmind sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. Popplet asks for nothing beyond the download.

Xmind holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Xmind has 7K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Popplet's written reviews are positive against 76% of Xmind's.

Popplet ships an update every 5 months, Xmind every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Popplet | Xmind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.5 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popplet/id374151636/reviews) | **[4.8 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xmind-ai-mind-map-brainstorm/id1286983622/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 31 | **7K** |
| Positive reviews | 54.2% of reviews | **75.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 2 MB | 683 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Notion](https://appshunter.io/developer/364738552) | [Xmind Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/441041993) |

## What reviewers say

### Popplet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popplet/id374151636)

Visually capture and organize your thoughts, ideas, and information. This tool is ideal for students and professionals to brainstorm, plan projects, and learn by creating connections between facts, images, and thoughts.

**Highlights:** Unlimited local boards, Capture notes with text, images, or drawings, Link notes visually, Export as PDF/JPEG, Pinch to zoom, Multi-language support, Public boards for inspiration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🎨 Good for brainstorming and mind mapping
- 💡 Helpful for organizing thoughts and ideas
- 🔗 Good for collaborative work

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Limited export options
- 🔒 Sync and online functionality problems
- 💻 Not optimized for smaller screens
- 🖌️ Limited drawing and formatting features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when deleting popplets with text
- Issues with importing and exporting popplets
- Text formatting problems when exporting
- Syncing and connectivity problems
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add more shape options for nodes
- Improve text editing and formatting capabilities
- Implement better sync and collaboration features
- Provide more export options (e.g., OPML, RTF)
- Add spell check and proofreading tools


### Xmind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xmind-ai-mind-map-brainstorm/id1286983622)

This app is a comprehensive tool for mind mapping and brainstorming, helping users organize thoughts, manage projects, and visualize information. It offers various structures, templates, and customization options to enhance creativity and productivity. Collaborate in real-time and export your work in multiple formats.

**Highlights:** 30+ Templates, 9 Structure Types, Audio Notes, ZEN Mode (iPad only), Real-time Collaboration, Multiple Export Formats, Task Integration

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Xmind Pro (Monthly) | $10.00 | per month |
| Xmind Premium (Monthly) | $15.00 | per month |
| Mobile Only (6 Months) | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Xmind Pro (Quarterly) | $29.00 | per 3 months |
| Mobile Only (Annually) | $29.99 | per year |
| Xmind Pro+ (Quarterly) | $30.00 | per 3 months |
| Desktop (6 Months) | $34.99 | per 6 months |
| All Platforms (6 Months) | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| Desktop (Annually) | $54.99 | per year |
| Xmind Pro (Annually) | $59.00 | per year |
| Xmind Pro Annually | $59.00 | per year |
| Xmind Pro+ (Annually) | $65.00 | per year |
| Xmind Premium (Annually) | $99.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Powerful features even in free version
- 💡 Helpful for organizing thoughts and ideas
- 🎨 Beautiful and customizable mind maps
- 🔌 Seamless sync across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and data loss issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Limited functionality in free version
- 🔀 Syncing issues between desktop and mobile
- 📝 Lack of advanced text editing features

**Reported bugs**

- Randomly deleting or losing parts of mind maps
- Inability to open or edit files on certain devices
- Inconsistent behavior when resizing or rearranging elements
- Unreliable sync between desktop and mobile versions

**Requested features**

- Add folders/categories to organize mind maps
- Improve handwriting and drawing tools
- Allow changing font/formatting of individual words
- Integrate with calendar and task management apps
- Enhance presentation mode with more options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Popplet free?

Popplet costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Xmind free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Popplet or Xmind?

Xmind is rated higher. Popplet averages 3.5 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Xmind averages 4.8 from 7K ratings.

### Do Popplet or Xmind have ads?

Neither Popplet nor Xmind shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Popplet or Xmind?

Popplet ships an update every 5 months, and Xmind every 10 days. Most recently, Popplet was updated on October 29, 2026 and Xmind on October 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.*