# Elemental vs Xmind

The clearest difference is rating: Xmind at 4.8 against Elemental's 2.2. Xmind also leads on ratings volume (7K vs 18). Elemental's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Xmind sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. Elemental asks for nothing beyond the download.

Xmind holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Xmind has 7K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Elemental's written reviews are positive against 76% of Xmind's.

Elemental ships an update every 3 weeks, Xmind every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on July 6, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elemental | Xmind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental/id518655328/reviews) | **[4.8 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xmind-ai-mind-map-brainstorm/id1286983622/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **7K** |
| Positive reviews | 73.4% of reviews | **75.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 652 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dotmatics Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/518655351) | [Xmind Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/441041993) |

## What reviewers say

### Elemental

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental/id518655328)

This free utility allows users to easily draw chemical structures and reactions on their mobile devices. It offers features like property calculation, file sharing via email and Dropbox, and a built-in periodic table. Users can also export structures as image files or MOL/RXN formats.

**Highlights:** Draw chemical structures and reactions, Calculate cheminformatics properties, Tweet chemical structures, Dropbox integration, Open MOL/RXN files, Email structures as files/images, Built-in Periodic Table

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| 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 |
| 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 Elemental free?

Elemental is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Xmind free?

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

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

Xmind is rated higher. Elemental averages 2.2 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Xmind averages 4.8 from 7K ratings.

### Do Elemental or Xmind have ads?

Neither Elemental nor Xmind shows ads.

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

Elemental ships an update every 3 weeks, and Xmind every 10 days. Most recently, Elemental was updated on July 6, 2026 and Xmind 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.*