1. MindNode
1.1. Technical Details
1.1.1. Native apps for Mac and iOS
1.1.2. Interactive maps can be shared via MyMindNode
1.2. Pros
1.2.1. Simple, clean interface
1.2.2. Offers outline view
1.2.3. Works well on mobile devices
1.3. Cons
1.3.1. Very basic feature set
1.3.2. No real-time collaboration
1.3.3. No apps for Windows and Android
1.3.4. Every time an app update is released, you have to pay for the upgrade
1.4. Pricing
1.4.1. Mac app: €43.99
1.4.2. iOS app: €14.99
2. iMindMap
2.1. Technical Details
2.1.1. Desktop software that runs on Mac and Windows
2.1.2. Mobile apps only available for iOS
2.2. Pros
2.2.1. Offers different layouts like radial maps, org charts, Gantt charts, flow charts and a simple white board
2.3. Cons
2.3.1. Maps look almost too artsy, too childish
2.3.2. Doesn't let you collaborate on maps with other users in real-time
2.4. Pricing
2.4.1. Home & Student
2.4.1.1. €80
2.4.1.2. Install on one computer, basic mind map features
2.4.2. Ultimate
2.4.2.1. €190
2.4.2.2. Install on 2 computers, adds more formats and features
2.4.3. Ultimate Plus
2.4.3.1. €250
2.4.3.2. Adds 6 months of DropTask & a book by Tony Buzan
3. XMind
3.1. Technical Details
3.1.1. XMind: Zen is available for Win, Mac & Linux
3.1.2. XMind mobile runs on iOS and Android
3.2. Pros
3.2.1. Supports various diagram structures and combinations of different structures in one map
3.2.1.1. Matrix, Timeline, Fishbone etc.
3.2.2. Ability to create good-looking maps
3.3. Cons
3.3.1. No real-time collaboration
3.3.2. Company based in Hong Kong
3.3.2.1. Bad translation to EN
3.3.2.2. Security concerns?
3.3.3. Mobile version only works with paid subscription
3.4. Pricing
3.4.1. XMind: Zen
3.4.1.1. $27.99 per 6 months
3.4.1.2. Edu discount available
3.4.2. XMind mobile
3.4.2.1. $9.99 per 6 months
3.4.3. XMind 8 Pro
3.4.3.1. $129
3.4.3.1.1. Lifelong use
4. Coggle
4.1. Technical Details
4.1.1. Separate desktop apps for Win and Mac available
4.1.2. 'Mindjet Maps' apps available for iOS and Android
4.1.3. Maps can be shared via Mindjet Files - this enables collaboration between users
4.2. Technical Details
4.2.1. Web-based
4.2.2. Free mobile apps for iOS and Android
4.3. Pros
4.3.1. Lets you create flow charts
4.3.2. Supports sharing and collaboration
4.4. Cons
4.4.1. Only lets you sign in with Google account
4.5. Pricing
4.5.1. Free plan
4.5.1.1. includes 3 private mind maps
4.5.1.2. includes unlimited public mind maps
4.5.2. Paid plans
4.5.2.1. $ 5-8 per user/month
5. Mindjet MindManager
5.1. Pros
5.1.1. Offers advanced task and project management features
5.1.2. Offers many features important for large enterprises
5.2. Cons
5.2.1. Complicated interface
5.2.2. Maps look professional but ugly
5.2.3. Maps can only be shared with people who have also bought the software
5.2.3.1. And the software is expensive to buy
5.3. Pricing
5.3.1. MindManager for Windows: €349
5.3.2. MindManager for Mac: €179
5.3.3. Special prices for enterprises, NGOs and educational institutions
6. Mindomo
6.1. Technical Details
6.1.1. Desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, but also offers online account for collaboration and sharing
6.1.2. Free mobile apps for iOS and Android
6.1.3. Strongly focused on education market
6.2. Pros
6.2.1. Integrations with the most popular LMSs
6.2.2. Supports real-time collaboration
6.3. Cons
6.3.1. Cloud sync is only available to subscribers and feels buggy
6.3.2. UI is not very intuitive
6.4. Pricing
6.4.1. Freemium
6.4.2. Free plan
6.4.2.1. includes 3 mind maps
6.4.3. Paid plans
6.4.3.1. €36 - 142 per 6 months
6.4.4. Education discount available
7. Criteria for Best Mind Mapping Software
7.1. Intuitiveness
7.1.1. Ease of use
7.2. Ability to share mind maps easily
7.3. Ability to collaborate with others on mind maps
7.4. Free version available & reasonable prices for paid version
7.5. Maps look beautiful
7.6. Export options available (e.g. export as text, presentation slides etc.)
7.7. Mobile apps available
8. SimpleMind
8.1. Technical Details
8.1.1. Native apps for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android
8.1.2. Maps can be synced across platforms via Dropbox or Google Drive
8.2. Pros
8.2.1. Multiple maps on one page
8.2.2. Different map layouts
8.3. Cons
8.3.1. No free versions available of desktop apps
8.3.2. Very basic feature set
8.3.3. No real-time collaboration on maps
8.4. Pricing
8.4.1. Windows or Mac app: €24.99 per user
8.4.2. Site license (unlimited users on one site): €449
9. dfdd
9.1. Technical Details
9.1.1. Java-based, open-source software
9.1.2. Not web-based > needs to be downloaded
9.1.3. Runs on almost any system with a Java runtime environment
9.2. Pros
9.2.1. Completely free
9.2.2. Very fast (faster than MindManager)
9.2.3. Works offline
9.3. Cons
9.3.1. Ugly interface and mind maps
9.3.2. No collaboration
9.3.3. No mobile apps
9.3.4. Only supports very basic features
9.4. Pricing
9.4.1. Free
10. MindMeister
10.1. Technical Details
10.1.1. Web-based
10.1.1.1. Runs in any standard browser & on all operating systems
10.1.2. Free mobile apps for iOS and Android
10.2. Pros
10.2.1. Intuitive, simple and beautiful
10.2.2. Lets you collaborate with unlimited number of people in real-time
10.2.3. Many export options
10.2.3.1. Dynamic presentations
10.2.3.2. Agile project boards
10.2.3.3. Word documents
10.2.4. Great data security
10.3. Cons
10.3.1. No Gantt charts supported
10.3.2. No offline apps for desktop
10.3.2.1. Only for mobile
10.4. Pricing
10.4.1. Free plan
10.4.1.1. includes 3 mind maps
10.4.1.1.1. But: users can get up to 10 additional free maps by inviting friends to MindMeister
10.4.2. Paid plans
10.4.2.1. € 4.99 - 12.49 per user/month
10.4.2.2. Offers 50% discount for Education and NGOs
11. Bubbl.us
11.1. Technical Details
11.1.1. Web-based app that runs on all platforms (including mobile)
11.2. Pros
11.2.1. Lets you create (but not save) a map without creating an account
11.2.2. Runs on all platforms
11.3. Cons
11.3.1. No native apps available
11.3.1.1. No offline mode
11.3.1.2. Can only work in browser, even on mobile
11.3.2. Editor is very unintuitive
11.3.3. Only offers very basic features
11.3.4. MindMup
11.3.4.1. Technical Details
11.3.4.1.1. Web-based
11.3.4.1.2. No mobile apps available
11.3.4.2. Pros
11.3.4.2.1. Multiple root topics possible
11.3.4.2.2. Lets you create maps without creating an account
11.3.4.3. Cons
11.3.4.3.1. Rudimentary feature set
11.3.4.3.2. Maps are not very good looking
11.3.4.3.3. Real-time collaboration only available for paid users
11.3.4.3.4. Free maps are always public, cannot be deleted and are only stored for 6 months
11.3.4.3.5. Login with Google or O365 only available for Organisational Gold
11.3.4.4. Pricing
11.3.4.4.1. Free plan
11.3.4.4.2. Personal Gold
11.3.4.4.3. Organisational Gold
11.3.5. Only USD prices and only credit cards accepted
11.3.5.1. No PayPal, no purchase orders etc.
11.4. Pricing
11.4.1. Free plan
11.4.1.1. includes 3 maps
11.4.2. Premium plan
11.4.2.1. $4.91 per month
11.4.3. 50% discount for NGOs and educational institutions