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Best Productivity ResourcesBy Shushant LakhyaniVerified creator

Desktop App

Freeplane

A free, open-source mind mapping app that runs anywhere Java does.

Visit Freeplane4.4

  • Rating

    4.4 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Intermediate

  • Works on

    Windows, macOS, Linux

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What is Freeplane?

Freeplane is a free and open-source mind mapping app for thinking, sharing information and getting things done. It supports mind maps and concept maps with extensive formatting, conditional styling, formulas, add-ons and scripting, and a command search to find any action quickly. It is written in Java, so it runs on any operating system with a current Java runtime, and it can run portably from a USB drive. Downloads are offered through SourceForge.

Pros: what Freeplane does well

  • Free and open source
  • Formulas, scripting and add-ons
  • Can run portably from a USB drive

Cons: where it falls short

  • Needs a Java runtime
  • The interface takes time to learn

Who Freeplane is for

People who want a powerful offline mind mapping tool at no cost.

Who can skip it

People who want a simple online whiteboard.

Freeplane alternatives

Not sold on Freeplane? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

All Brainstorming resources

Xmind

Focus: outline and planning. Shares mind map and brainstorming with Freeplane. Freemium (Freeplane: Free). Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.5 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Desktop AppFree planWeb, Windows
4.5Visit

MindNode

Focus: ideas, visual thinking and macOS. Shares mind map and brainstorming with Freeplane. A Mac app, not a desktop app. Freemium (Freeplane: Free). Adds iOS. Rated 4.7 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Mac AppFree planmacOS, iOS
4.7Visit

AFFiNE

Focus: whiteboard, docs and local-first. Shares open source with Freeplane. A web app, not a desktop app. Freemium (Freeplane: Free). Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.3 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Web AppFree planWeb, macOS
4.3Visit

Markmap

Focus: markdown and visual notes. Shares mind map and open source with Freeplane. A web app, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.5 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.5Visit

SiYuan

Focus: second brain, block editor and backlinks. Shares open source with Freeplane. Adds iOS and Android. Rated 4.7 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit

Logseq

Focus: PKM, Note-Taking and Graph Database. Shares Open Source with Freeplane. Adds iOS, Android and Web. Rated 4.6 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit

Free alternatives to Freeplane

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

Rnote

Focus: handwritten notes, pdf annotation and infinite canvas. Shares open source with Freeplane. Rated 4.6 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreeLinux, Windows
4.6Visit

Trilium Notes

Focus: notes, knowledge base and self-hosted. Shares open source with Freeplane. Adds Web and Offline. Rated 4.6 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit

Joplin

Focus: notes, markdown and encryption. Shares open source with Freeplane. Adds Android and iOS. Rated 4.5 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.5Visit

nb

Focus: notes, bookmarks and command line. Shares open source with Freeplane. Adds Offline. Rated 4.5 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.5Visit

zk

Focus: zettelkasten, markdown notes and command line. Shares open source with Freeplane. Adds Offline. Rated 4.5 (Freeplane: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.5Visit

Foam

Focus: notes, wikilinks and backlinks. Shares open source with Freeplane. Same 4.4 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.4Visit
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