Plus, it’s more fun than creating an outline. There’s nothing to lose, and you may find it more efficient than your current technique. The next time you need to brainstorm, outline, or take notes, give mind-mapping a try. If you’re interested in mind-mapping, all four apps offer trial versions, so I encourage you to check out mind mapping risk-free. It’s worth noting that three of the four apps- XMind, MindNode, and iThoughtsX-are included in the Setapp subscription app service with over 150 curated and (mostly) high-quality apps for $9.99 a month. Use Three (of the Four) Apps for $9.99 a Month
There’s also an iOS and Android app that lets you jot down your thoughts while on the go and then automatically forward the text (or images) to MindManager 13 on your Mac. It can sync data from websites, apps, spreadsheets, and more for you to include in mind-maps. For example, it offers tools for project management, including Gantt charts and comprehensive cost tracking.
In addition to a full complement of mind-mapping and outlining features, MindManager also integrates powerful features not available in other apps. Still, if you’re running a business, working with a team, or looking for more than mind-maps and outlines, MindManager is probably most appropriate as it may well live up to its claim to be “the world’s most powerful mind-mapping software.” The apps are all relatively easy to learn and use.
For me, this is the killer feature of mind-mapping software-I love to start by brainstorming a visual mind-map, and then use a traditional outline to organize and prioritize all those items. A mind-map (left) and its outline (right), shown in XMind.Īs I mentioned last week, outlines have been my primary organizational tool since time immemorial. Switch from Mind-Map to Outlineįor me, the best feature in all of them is the way you can easily switch between your mind-map and an outline. All of the apps feature a variety of shapes, lines, and labels, and all of them let you customize a node or nodes quickly and easily. Then, you can drag-and-drop to arrange or rearrange nodes and the connections between them. A new node appears for each new thought or topic, which gives you a basic mind map to work with. For example, all of them have rapid-fire modes that let you create multiple nodes in quick succession. Overall, they are more alike than different.