During the last month or two, the new class of web-based mind mapping applications have generated a lot of excitement. But no one has done a side-by-side comparison of their features and functionality. So I decided to take on that challenge. The chart below is based on what the developers have published on their websites, as of today:
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Mindomo |
Mind- meister |
Bubbl.us |
Think- ature |
| Topics | ||||
| Topic text styles |  |
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| Topic shapes | |
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| Topic colors | |
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| Hyperlinks | |
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| Topic notes | |
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| Topic images | |
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| Free positioning of topics | |
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| Topic boundaries | |
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| Relationship lines | |
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| Task info on topics | |
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| Map features | ||||
| Support for keyboard shortcuts | |
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| Undo command | |
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| Map zoom | |
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| Filter topics by level | |
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| Types of map layouts supported | 7 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Collaboration/map sharing | ||||
| Collaboration - real time | |
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| Collaboration - non-real time | |
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| Map output | ||||
| Print maps | |
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| Export to MindManager | |
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| Export to FreeMind | |
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| Export to Word/RTF | |
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| Export to image file | |
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| Publish map to web/blog | |
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| Other capabilities | ||||
| Import maps from MindManager | |
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| Import maps from FreeMind | |
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A solid green circle means a feature is currently implemented; a hollow blue circle indicates a feature is planned (only Bubbl.us has indicated which features it plans to introduce in the future).
After viewing these features side-by-side, several patterns emerge, at least in my mind:
- Mindomo has the most well-developed user interface and the greatest number of features, but real-time collaboration has taken a back seat, at least for now. Also, it doesn't offer as many import and export options as MindMeister.
- MindMeister's initial focus has been on enabling real-time collaboration, but it's now catching up in the area of features by adding new ones every week or two. It has also taken a remarkable early lead in the area of enabling import from and export to desktop-based mind mapping software (MindManager and FreeMind). If you want to be able to begin work on a map on your desktop, then transfer it to a virtual workspace for further development and collaboration with your team, MindMeister is the only application that can currently do that.
- Thinkature seems to be far behind the other three applications, but the developer actually has a different philosophy: I don't believe, based upon what I can see on their website, that they ever intended to create a fully-functional web-based mind mapping tool. Rather, their organizational metaphor is virtual "note cards," which can be moved around a workspace and connected to each other to show simple relationships.
I welcome your thoughts and observations on this comparison. Please post your comments!
As ever Chuck you have saved us all a job.
It looks like Mindomo and MindMiester are running down parallel paths but are in different parts of the wood at the moment picking different low hanging fruit.
I wonder who will be first to have a Tablet PC interface?
Now all I have to do is post a link in my communities to your blog.
Posted by: Andrew Wilcox | March 22, 2007 at 08:44 AM
I've been going betwwen mindomo and bubbl - still not sure which one I like the best. Bubbl seems to allow a little more creativity.
Posted by: Donald | March 24, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Chuck,
This was a much needed article. It's good to see innovation and competition in the mind map arena.
Your article really had me thinking about the future of mind mapping software, and how ease of collaboration and publishing is going to play a big part. In order to make this happen, I think some degree of standardization is going to be key. When you get some time, check out my latest article on the topic:
http://eric-blue.com/blog/2007/03/the_need_for_a_common_mindmap_file_format.html
Posted by: Eric Blue | March 24, 2007 at 11:31 PM
Have you tried Kayuda? http://www.kayuda.com
I haven't tried it, and not sure if it even fits here, but I thought I'd mention it.
Posted by: Stacy | March 25, 2007 at 03:19 PM
If are you interesting, a new online mind map tool have been opened. It beta now.Look at www.mapul.com
Posted by: maxim | May 21, 2007 at 01:41 AM
Hey you missed one @ http://www.kayuda.com/ in beta but looks nice Notes feature is super.
Posted by: gots | July 02, 2007 at 06:33 PM
Dear Chuck:
Like all of your other posts, this is a very useful resource.
More and more, I'm becoming sold on the idea of web based applications.
Roger C. Parker
Posted by: Roger C. Parker | November 29, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Dear Chuck:
Like all of your other posts, this is a very useful resource.
More and more, I'm becoming sold on the idea of web based applications.
Roger C. Parker
Posted by: Roger C. Parker | November 29, 2007 at 02:09 PM
I'm surprised not to see FreeMind here. Not exactly web-BASED mind mapping, but web-enabled, they say. http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Posted by: Gil Friend | December 02, 2007 at 10:49 AM