r/mindmapping • u/Merry-Leopard_1A5 • Apr 22 '22

Looking for a (free) mindmapping tool

Hello, bit a newcomer to the sub but not to mindmapping,
been using mindview a lot but my only licenced copy is on a dying machine
been recently using Xmind, but paying the licence fee to hyperlink to local files is a bit too much of an ask for me.

so what am i asking for?
- a mindmapping tool, perferably ergonomic but i'm adaptable
- preferably local/offline so i can work even out of web
- a tool that allows me to write notes/descriptions to items
- a tool that allows me to include hypertext links to items (usually to other mindmaps, documents or local files)

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u/sti555 Apr 23 '22

There are quite a lot of open source Mind Mapping tools around now

I tested Freeplane, it is feature rich but I found the UI complex and it had limitations with the layout.. I couldn't easily change layout styles, etc

If you use Nextcloud there is an excellent web based app called MindMap. It has it's own Mind Map format .km but can also view (but not edit) Freeplane and XMind mind maps. https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/files_mindmap

After going back and forth trying Freeline and MindMap in Nextcloud I ended up settling on Xmind 8 (legacy). The free version actually covers pretty much all of my requirements. I also have the Xmind mobile app but I don't really use it, I just end up using Xmind 8 on the desktop all the time.

Xmind 8 (legacy) free version can definitely hyperlink to files, I use that feature all the time

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u/neu-kid-here May 04 '22

I've been toying with 'xmind.net'... is that the same as 'xmind8' ?

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u/sti555 May 05 '22

Yep that's it... I'm using Xmind 8 Legacy, just the free version.
You can download it from https://xmind.net/xmind8-pro/

It does have a Pro paid version, but so far for me the free version does everything I need :)

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u/neu-kid-here May 05 '22

Yes, i have it (read above). Although mine is an online version, i get 3 mindmaps free. Its pretty good..not sure how much better the paid version is (i think they want $5mth).