# TheBrain vs mindlib (Mind Map, Notes)

The clearest difference is rating: TheBrain at 4.8 against mindlib (Mind Map, Notes)'s 3.5. TheBrain also leads on ratings volume (150 vs 4). mindlib (Mind Map, Notes)'s advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 45%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TheBrain sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month and mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TheBrain holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TheBrain has 150 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 45% of TheBrain's written reviews are positive against 67% of mindlib (Mind Map, Notes)'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TheBrain ships an update monthly, mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TheBrain | mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thebrain-smart-notes-and-links/id835873357/reviews)** | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindlib-mind-map-notes/id1522257352/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **150** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 44.7% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 240 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TheBrain Technologies LP](https://appshunter.io/developer/579909034) | [Carsten Klaffke](https://appshunter.io/developer/1522257354) |

## What reviewers say

### TheBrain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thebrain-smart-notes-and-links/id835873357)

This app helps you capture, connect, and visualize all your ideas, notes, and files across devices. It acts as a digital memory, showing related items and allowing for dynamic mind mapping and powerful search to help you recall information instantly.

**Highlights:** Award-winning visualization, Networked notes with backlinks, Dynamic mind mapping, Easy idea capture, Cross-device sync, Powerful search, Visual file management

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TheBrain Pro Monthly | $17.99 | per month |
| TheBrain Pro Annual | $189.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless navigation
- 🔒 Secure cloud sync
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🚀 Powerful features
- 👍 Excellent for knowledge management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Buggy on iOS 9
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Limited functionality on mobile
- 🐛 Confusing UI and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iOS 9
- Inability to open brains
- Freezing after each action
- Login and account issues
- Sync problems

**Requested features**

- Offline mode
- Improved mobile UI and UX
- Better integration with other apps
- More affordable pricing options
- Enhanced search and filtering


### mindlib (Mind Map, Notes)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindlib-mind-map-notes/id1522257352)

Organize and expand your knowledge with an AI-powered mind mapping tool. Create interconnected information networks, engage in AI conversations for insights, and automatically generate mind maps from discussions. Supports web access and data import/export.

**Highlights:** AI-powered mind mapping, Personalized AI chat, Automatic mind map generation, Weblink sharing and Open Graph integration, Google Knowledge Graph integration, Offline access and synchronization, OPML import/export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Full Version Yearly | $7.99 | per year |
| Full version | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TheBrain free?

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

### Is mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) free?

mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TheBrain or mindlib (Mind Map, Notes)?

TheBrain is rated higher. TheBrain averages 4.8 out of 5 from 150 ratings, while mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do TheBrain or mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) have ads?

Neither TheBrain nor mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TheBrain or mindlib (Mind Map, Notes)?

TheBrain ships an update monthly, and mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) every 6 weeks. Most recently, TheBrain was updated on September 21, 2026 and mindlib (Mind Map, Notes) on September 11, 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.*