Data & diagrams
mindmaps
A no-signup mind mapping tool that runs in the browser
★ 2.9k
February 2023
AGPL-3.0
Data & diagrams
What we checked ourselves
Not copied from the project's own blurb. These are things we opened and verified, with the date.
- 23 Aug 2026We checked that the link to the project still resolves.
- 14 Aug 2026We read the licence text itself (LICENSE). No unusual restrictions were stated.
- 2 Sept 2026We read the project's own documentation and found signs that it may no longer be maintained.
Where this sits among the 36 tools we list in Data & diagrams
- Works without using a terminal25 of 36
- No API key required21 of 36
- Keeps your data on your own machine6 of 36
- Commercial use confirmed as allowed20 of 36
Only 5 of the 36 meet all of the conditions above.
Counted from our own checks: every tool we list is examined against the same criteria.
What it does
Draw branching maps of ideas directly in a browser tab with nothing to install and no account; files save to your own machine rather than to a server. Good for clearing your head before a meeting or opening up a plan. The author states the project is feature-complete and will receive only critical bug fixes, and it dates from 2011, so the interface looks its age. It is a drawing tool, not an AI that generates the map for you, and there is no collaborative editing.
Summary based on the project's own description. The Japanese page has a fuller beginner guide: setup difficulty, what to prepare, and a step-by-step start.
Screenshots & visuals
Before you start
- Setup difficultyFor advanced users
- Command lineNot required
- API keyNot required
- Sends data onlineNo
Judged automatically from the project's own metadata. Always confirm on the official page.
mindmaps FAQ
- Is mindmaps free?
- Yes. It runs on your own machine, so there is no usage-based cost either.
- Do I need to install anything or write code to use mindmaps?
- You install it like a normal desktop app. No command line involved.
- Does mindmaps work on a phone?
- No. It needs a computer.
- Can mindmaps run offline?
- Yes. Everything happens on your own machine, so your data is never sent to an outside server. That makes it usable for material you cannot share externally.
- Can I use mindmaps commercially?
- The licence is AGPL-3.0. Using it commercially is fine, but if you distribute something built on it you may be required to release that under the same licence. Keep it internal, or check before distributing.
How it compares
The conditions that decide whether you can actually use it, side by side.
| Tool | Command line | API key | Sends data out | Phone | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mindmaps (this page) | Not needed | Not needed | No | No | Yes |
| mermaid | Not needed | Not needed | No | No | Yes |
| next-ai-draw-io | Not needed | Required | Yes | No | Yes |
| ml-visuals | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
"Sends data out" means your input is uploaded to someone's server. Pick "No" when the material cannot leave your organisation.