# MindNode vs Heave

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Heave at none against MindNode's 2. Heave also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). MindNode's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (327 vs 1). On price, update cadence and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MindNode sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Heave asks for nothing beyond the download.

Heave holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MindNode has 327 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MindNode ships an update every 2 weeks, Heave every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MindNode | Heave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (327 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnode-mind-map-and-outline/id6446116532/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heave-effort-tracker/id6770414164/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **327** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 47.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 215 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [IdeasOnCanvas GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/312220105) | [Felix Fan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896740898) |

## What reviewers say

### MindNode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnode-mind-map-and-outline/id6446116532)

Visualize and organize your thoughts with an infinite canvas for mind mapping and a linear structure for outlining. Collaborate in real-time with others and access your projects across all your Apple devices. A free editor is available, with an optional subscription for advanced features.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas mind mapping, Linear outlining view, Real-time collaboration, Cross-device synchronization, Notes and visual tags, Import and export options

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful brainstorming features
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🌟 Excellent for organizing thoughts and ideas
- 🌍 Seamless cross-device sync

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Restrictive file management
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Lack of folder organization
- 🔙 Missing key features from classic version
- 🐛 Bugs and stability issues

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Text rendering issues
- Syncing problems across devices
- Incompatibility with older hardware

**Requested features**

- Add folder structure for organizing mind maps
- Restore manual layout and positioning options
- Bring back Apple Watch support
- Improve export and integration with other apps
- Provide more customization options for themes and formatting


### Heave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heave-effort-tracker/id6770414164)

This app connects users to a feed of individuals actively working on their goals. It emphasizes effort over appearance, rewarding progress with a unique system. Features include daily effort logging, timed sprints with consequences for missed deadlines, and social interaction to support friends.

**Highlights:** Daily effort logging with notes and photos, Timed sprints with automatic consequence posting, Social feed for friends' progress and support, Group goal circles that unlock upon completion, Focus sessions with Live Activities and widgets, Collectible badges for early adopters

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MindNode free?

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

### Is Heave free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MindNode or Heave?

Heave is rated higher. MindNode averages 4.6 out of 5 from 327 ratings, while Heave averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do MindNode or Heave have ads?

Heave shows ads; MindNode does not.

### Which is updated more often, MindNode or Heave?

MindNode ships an update every 2 weeks, and Heave every 3 weeks. Most recently, MindNode was updated on October 30, 2026 and Heave on October 24, 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.*