SimpleMind − Mind Mapping App Reviews

I always find complicated the starting point in a mind map, this apps makes everything so much easier. Plus the result looks very nice!

I have several different mindmaps and this one is the one I tend to open first when starting a mind map. It is simple to use, so the app doesn’t get in the way of the brainstorming. Attractive.

Simple, easy to use. Great to use at computer and with phone. Giving a 4 star because I wished I could connect one bullet with multiple bullets. The connection seems to be unidirectional and does not allow multiple bullets to join at some point. Otherwise, great! Very easy to use.

I am writing a lecture, and need to get my thoughts together into a basic visual outline. I installed this program and right away created a mind map of main points with sub points. I changed the fonts, customized colors etc., surprised at how simple and intuitive this program is. So far very pleased. Especially for the price! I have only one suggestion. Update the icons for retina support. Not a big deal, since the fonts and shapes are high resolution retina friendly.

This is little more than a demo of the paid version. You can “save” mind maps, but they’re placed in a difficult-to-access place, not anywhere a document would normally be saved, and there’s no way to export or share it with another person. It makes storing the mind maps with the rest of a project impossible and seems designed to extract money from you. It just grates, because it’s an otherwise nice app.

I use it for planning lectures, mapping out curriculum/units for a semester long class, setting goals for my personal life, breaking down huge projects into manageable bite-size chunks, etc. The app has lots of flexibility, making it possible to group and regroup items until you “get it right.” Sections of the map can be color-coded as well to help distinguish one group from another. Individual “bubbles” can be easiliy moved from one place to another, attaching them to different “bubbles” as desired. Since ideas often come to mind randomly and not in order, using this tool to mind map helps organize those random ideas into useful opportunities. Love the app! I have only used the free version and have not tried the paid upgrade.

I find that this program really helps me brain storm

Of the mind mapping apps I’ve tried this is my favorite. Negative reviews cite features available in the paid version, so please understand that connectinb multiple nodes and exportin/sharing come only in the paid verstion. The free version does allow printing, so you could use your mac’s “send to email” function if you want to share a copy or save to PDF. Functionalilty is great, and using the keyboard modifier keys you can create a new map quickly. The iOS version has several built-in styels that I cannot unfortunately find in this app. Will probably buy the app and the paid iOS version so I can share files back and forth.

I have no complaints. It organizes very well. The color coding is nice. It functions very intuitively and they now have a video you can watch if it doesn’t click for you. I use it frequently. The only complaint I could make is that if you change a color on certain bubbles it automatically changes the color on all of the bubbles attached to it. There is a probably a way to change this automation in the preferences quite simply but I haven’t tried, hence it’s a complaint only against my own laziness. (Quick update: after complaining about my laziness I went and tried to change this in the preferences. There was no apparent way to do this.) Still, I think it’s a useful and user-friendly app worthy of 5 stars.

UPDATE: Sorry, but this review is NOT for the Free version of SimpleMind. It is for the paid / standard version. I posted before I realized my mistake. As a result, I’ve downgraded my rating to 3 stars from 5 stars (and changed the title). I did, however, start with the free version and it had enough features for me to try and convince me that I needed the paid version. I’ve posted this on the paid version’s page with the original 5 star rating. For what it’s worth... I started with the free version of SimpleMind, but quickly ran into limitations like no automatic-layouts, no text fields (for node descriptions), no way to draw lines and relationships between nodes on different branches, and so on. So I bought the standard version and got almost everything I needed. Here are the things I wish SimpleMind could currently do: 1. Drag-select nodes with the mouse. Mouse-click + drag moves the whole canvas, which could be done with a familiar spacebar + mouse-drag combo. Selecting nodes happens far more often than moving the canvas. 2. Export a group of selected nodes only. 3. Export all central theme nodes on the canvas as separate files. I tend to create several central nodes for each object in a diagram (to show their relationships in a system), but then need each of those central nodes exported individually for discussion. 4. Export to SVG file. 5. *Allow bending or moving connector lines around nodes to prevent over-/under-lap, resulting in visual confusion.* This is my main/only current frustration. Here are the things I love: 1. All the auto layouts available. Incredibly useful and beautiful. 2. Easy to reorder nodes in a hierarchy. 3. Complete styling control of every single item on the diagram. 4. Easily attach text to both nodes and connector lines. 5. Branch borders are beautiful. These outline the branch (all subnodes) of a selected node. Really helps highlight areas of a complex diagram. 6. Can add detailed notes to a node. Theyre hidden, but quickly accessible. 7. Easy to import custom icons and images. 8. Can select all nodes in a branch by click-holding the mouse on a node for a number of milliseconds which you can set. Nice attention to details! In sum, the default styling (which pulled me in), the control of all details (except being able to reshape the line paths, as discussed above), and the auto-layouts are the what sold me. This is the best diagramming tool I’ve ever used. I look forward to its continual improvement.

Very intuitive to use. Works great. Very flexible. Did everything I wanted. I didn’t look for spell check, but didn’t see it automatically correct. I definitely recommend this. It is SO easy to move a single idea or an entire group. Very well thought out. I highly recommend it.

I find it quick and intuitive with lots of bells and whistles if you want to play with it and develop your maps even further. I have tried many of these and have settled on SimpleMind.

great to create concept maps, but only the pay version has the complete features (sharing documents online, email, PDF export, etc) or synchronization between machine.

Essential mind mapping is well supported by this app. I find the visual styling very appealing, more so than some of it’s competitors. Yup, there are interesting features that are only available in the paid version; since software developers need to buy groceries, too, that all seems pretty fair to me. It’s easy to drag trees around to improve the visual layout of a complex map. The default positioning for new trees and nodes is pretty smart. It’s easy to collapse/expand branches to make complex maps more manageable. The use of color to create visual distinctiveness between the branches is quite well done.

Very Productive app. Relieves my mind little bit.

I can’t believe I didn’t know about this app. sooner but, after it was suggested I use a paid app, I thought I’d dig around and see if there was something Free! With a little creativity you can go a long way with this app. Use your imagination and don’t be afraid to try new things with it. It’s perfectly suitable for any solo-preneur or small business who wants to chart or map out their projects, goals or ideas. Definitely worth a try!