Comparison

Mindscope vs MindSpace

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Mindscope

Organize your thoughts and ideas with a powerful yet simple outliner. Create nested boards, sort entries, and export your work. Unlock advanced features like search and cross-linking with an in-app purchase.

Highlights
  • Create and drag text entries
  • Nested sub-boards
  • Sort thoughts into categories
  • Export as bullet list
  • Import .mindscope files
  • In-app purchase for advanced features
Features
Read full description

Mindscope is a new and powerfully simple way to store your thoughts without getting lost in the details. • Quickly create text entries with a double-tap and drag them around, aligning them to each other. Perfect for brainstorming, capturing, and sorting thoughts or taking notes. • Tapping an entry enters its own page where you can create more entries (and as many sub-boards as you like). • Drag entries into other entries to quickly sort your thoughts into categories and projects. • Keep track of lists, todos, notes, and anything else you feel like keeping track of, for example a list of ways to be funny when writing an app description. Or something. • Copy and paste entries including their sub-entries • Export all entries and sub-entries of a board via e-mail as a bullet list. • Import any saved .mindscope file. • Set a default font size for any board (long-press on a font size and select "Set As Default" All of the above, as a universal app, with iCloud sync...completely for free! Yeah, I know, I can't believe it either. You can "pay" me with an App Store review, how does that sound? However, if you are up for spending money, with the "Unlock Everything" in-app purchase, you can also save your own .mindscope files, search through all your entries instantly, create cross-links between boards, create arrows and lines between entries, set up a grid background for a page, set your own colors per page, and export boards to an OPML file (suitable for opening in most major mind-mapping programs). Any upcoming features in future updates will be included for the unlocked version at no extra cost. See a video of Mindscope in action at http://www.mindscopeapp.com Quotes from happy customers: "It’s hitting a sweet spot for me. I have pretty much every single Mind-Mapping or Outlining app for iOS, and this is among the best.” “This is EXACTLY what I've been hoping for. I so need to send flowers to your mother for having you.” "Mindscope is a terrific app, elegant, easy to use, and incredibly useful.” "Scapple for Mac comes closest to Mindscope in its combination of function, ease of use and minimalism but Mindscope is better." "A very cool app. Think of it as Workflowy unbound from the outline."

About

MindSpace

Create and organize ideas quickly with a visual mind mapping tool. Edit, export, and share your maps across devices. Offers a minimalist design and secure data storage.

Highlights
  • Create concise mind maps
  • Organize ideas with colors and stickers
  • Capture fleeting inspiration
  • Exquisite and minimalist themes
  • Secure document editor for data
  • Free sharing of mind maps
Features
Read full description

Create concise mind maps quickly. Edit them on Mac, iPad and iPhone, export pictures or PDF at any time to share in study and work. • Organize ideas Quickly adjust the structure of your information, distinguish them with different colors and different formats, insert stickers to make the information more vivid, and the built-in exquisite themes can be styled with one click. In short, MindSpace strives to help you build a castle of knowledge in your brain. • Capture inspiration Grasp the fleeting inspiration, quickly add it to the mind map, and become an important part of your knowledge castle. Each inspiration instantly becomes brick by brick and is permanently stored in your brain. • Exquisite appearance The selected theme style allows you to pay more attention to the information itself without worrying about the appearance. The minimalist style makes every position not redundant while reducing interference, making the content itself the core. • Data Security MindSpace uses the simplest way to build, namely the document editor, your data belongs to you only. • Free sharing Some of your whimsical ideas or creative inspiration can improve team efficiency, so make an intuitive mind map and share it with your team. If you choose the "subscription" purchase model, before subscribing, please know: • Monthly subscription users: Each subscription period is 1 month. • Annual subscription users: Each subscription period is 1 year. • In the MindSpace purchase window, the latest subscription price will be displayed in real time. After the payment is confirmed, or after the free trial period (if any) ends, the iTunes account will be debited. • The subscription is automatically renewed unless the auto-renewal feature is turned off 24 hours before the current subscription period. • The account will be deducted for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period, and the renewal amount is the same as the previous subscription amount. • The user can manage the subscription service by himself, and the automatic renewal service can be turned off in the user's account settings after purchase. terms of use: Please read the following terms carefully before using the "Unlocked Full Version" value-added service provided by "MindSpace": 1. Subscription model This service is a subscription-based fee-based service, which means that you will pay in advance for future subscription usage. Currently, you can choose to use the service on a monthly or yearly basis. At the end of each subscription period, your subscription will be automatically renewed by default, unless you cancel the automatic renewal yourself or we cancel the service. 2. Expenses The current standard service price may change during the promotion period. When the price adjustment occurs, the new fee will be incurred in your next subscription cycle. 3. Refund The current subscription fee will not be refunded. Please be sure to cancel the service by yourself before the end of the trial. 4. Unsubscribe If you need to cancel the renewal, please cancel at least 24 hours in advance. You can cancel by the following method: open the system settings-click on Apple ID-click on subscription-select "MindSpace" to cancel the subscription 5. Other The same Apple ID can only open one subscription to "MindSpace" contact us If you have any questions about these terms of use, please contact us. Email address: todo-color@outlook.com. Link to Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy link: https://rednowapp.github.io/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Mindscope4 screens
MindSpace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MindSpace at 4.6 against Mindscope's 4.0. MindSpace also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (285 vs 46). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Mindscope sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and MindSpace sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MindSpace holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MindSpace has 285 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Mindscope's written reviews are positive against 89% of MindSpace's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mindscope ships an update every 2 weeks, MindSpace every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Mindscope versus MindSpace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMindscopeMindSpace
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (46 ratings)4.6 (285 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.7% of reviews88.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings46285 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn Goering佳文 潘

Customer experience

Mindscope

All ratings46 ratings
Positive71.7%
Neutral13.0%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews181 reviews
Positive80.7%
Neutral7.7%
Negative11.6%

MindSpace

All ratings285 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral2.5%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews140 reviews
Positive88.6%
Neutral6.4%
Negative5.0%

User reviews

Mindscope

From 46 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-learn interface
  • 💡 Unique hybrid of mind-mapping, outliner, and note-taking
  • 🎯 Excellent for organizing thoughts without clutter
  • ⚡ Fast and responsive performance
  • 💰 Affordable one-time purchase ($5)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 📱 Poor iPad optimization and crashes
  • ⚠️ Text overlapping in free version
  • 🔄 Sync issues across multiple devices
  • 📵 Limited iCloud functionality and hanging

MindSpace

From 285 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Streamlined and intuitive interface
  • 💡 Excellent customization options
  • 👍 Affordable one-time purchase
  • 🚀 Smooth performance and responsiveness
  • 💡 Versatile charting and visualization tools

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional freezing or crashing issues
  • 🐛 Inconsistent export functionality
  • 🐛 Lack of auto-save feature
  • 🐛 Slow keyword search in large mind maps
  • 🐛 Inability to connect nodes from separate trees

Bugs and requests

Mindscope

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • App crashes when adding entries
  • Text input box disappears before typing
  • Crashes on iPad with iOS 15 upgrade
  • iCloud access causes app to hang indefinitely
  • Crashes when exporting to plain text
Show 10 more
  • Data loss during iOS version upgrades
  • Layout issues when rotating device orientation
  • Crashes when searching linked elements
  • Crashes when inserting text
  • Bluetooth keyboard input not working (earlier versions)
  • Audio playback interruption
  • Alignment and sync issues across devices
  • Copy-paste groups items on top of originals
  • Undo/redo sequence inconsistencies
  • Version 1.5 splash screen hang on startup

Requested features

19 requests
  • Image and photo insertion capability
  • Apple Pencil handwriting support
  • Text formatting (bold, colors, font options)
  • Infinite or larger canvas with zoom
  • iPhone app version
Show 14 more
  • Cloud sync (Dropbox, iCloud improvements)
  • Multiple independent maps/documents
  • Dark mode theme
  • Better file management system
  • Import from other mind-mapping apps
  • Color-coding individual entries
  • Calendar and reminders integration
  • Web version or Mac companion app
  • Notification features
  • Improved animation controls
  • Circular context menu for faster access
  • Plain text export without HTML markup
  • Randomize board item locations
  • Flowchart options

MindSpace

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Nodes and content randomly disappearing
  • Compatibility issues with older devices
  • Syncing problems between devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to scribble or handwrite notes
  • Improve keyboard shortcuts and text editing
  • Implement more advanced charting and data visualization
  • Allow custom node shapes and connection styles
  • Add support for importing/exporting other mind map formats

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Mindscope

One-time1
  • Unlock Everything$3.99
6 purchases

MindSpace

Subscriptions2
  • Subscription Monthly2 variants$0.991 Month
  • Subscription Yearly2 variants$7.991 Year
One-time4
  • 2000 AI Credits$1.49
  • Lifetime Pro2 variants$12.99
  • Lifetime Pro(Original)$12.99
Show 1 more
  • Lifetime Pro$29.99

Questions

Is Mindscope free?
Mindscope is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MindSpace free?
MindSpace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mindscope or MindSpace?
MindSpace is rated higher. Mindscope averages 4.0 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while MindSpace averages 4.6 from 285 ratings.
Do Mindscope or MindSpace have ads?
Neither Mindscope nor MindSpace shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mindscope or MindSpace?
Mindscope ships an update every 2 weeks, and MindSpace every 4 days. Most recently, Mindscope was updated on September 9, 2026 and MindSpace on September 23, 2026.

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