# MindNode vs MindStem

The clearest difference is update cadence: MindStem at every 5 days against MindNode's every 2 weeks. MindNode's advantage is device support (5 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and MindStem sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MindNode ships an update every 2 weeks, MindStem every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MindNode | MindStem |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (331 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnode-mind-map-and-outline/id6446116532/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **331** | — |
| Positive reviews | 47.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 215 MB | 0 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IdeasOnCanvas GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/312220105) | [Uwe Bury](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867573647) |

## 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


### MindStem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindstem-mind-mapping/id6802010771)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MindStem Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MindNode free?

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

### Is MindStem free?

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

### Do MindNode or MindStem have ads?

Neither MindNode nor MindStem shows ads.

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

MindNode ships an update every 2 weeks, and MindStem every 5 days. Most recently, MindNode was updated on November 3, 2026 and MindStem 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.*