MindGenius is a project management software built around capabiliities such as map creation, meeting management, and strategic planning.
$16
per month
MindManager
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
MindManager is a mind mapping and project management tool that aims to boost users’ productivity. It is designed to facilitate a wide range of project types, and includes cross-platform functionality and 3rd party integrations.
MindManager is far more robust than other mind mapping software. It offers more formatting options, better exporting to other programs (especially Word) and is not reliant on an internet connection.
MindManager and MindGenius are both mind mapping platforms with built-in project management capabilities. On TrustRadius, they live in the diagramming and project management software categories.
Both products aim to help organizations with project ideation, organization, tracking, and execution. A key difference between these two products is that MindManager offers desktop applications while MindGenius offers both desktop and web-based applications.
Features
Both products offer mind mapping features with embedded project management capabilities. These include various mindmap templates, the ability to export maps into Microsoft Office applications (.e.g Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint), and the ability to view map information in a Gantt chart. Each product also has a user-interface made to mimic the look and feel of Microsoft Word.
Compared to MindManager, MindGenius has a wider range of use-case specific map templates (e.g. employee performance reviews, coursework preparation, dissertation planning, etc.). It also allows users to apply formatting/styling to the full map or all topics on one branch and set a default template type. Users have the option of creating a mindmap, Gantt chart, or Kanban board at the beginning of their workflow creation process.
MindManager offers a wider variety of non-use-case specific map styles than MindGenius. These include ven diagrams, funnels, and onion charts. It also has a set of project planning and management features such as adding resources and priority markers to topics, topics task tags, start & end dates, task duration and effort levels, and the ability to assign tasks to other users.
Limitations
Compared to MindManager, MindGenius has a few limitations such as it’s web-based application lacking certain capabilities included in the desktop applications. For example, mindmaps created in MindGenius Online cannot be downloaded to PCs or to Microsoft Office applications. Users also can’t create project reports using the online application, though they can by using MindGenius20 desktop applications.
MindManager also has a few limitations when compared to MindGenius. These include the lack of an online application and the real-time collaboration capabilities that web-based applications make possible. For example, users don’t have the freedom of using the program on any PC with an internet connection or do multi-user editing.
Pricing
Both products provide a free trial, though MindGenius offers a 14-day trial while MindManager offers a 30-day trial. MindGenius offers both subscription and perpetual licensing for its desktop applications, and subscription pricing for its online version. The one-time license fee for the desktop application is $256 and subscription prices start at $16 per month for the web application.
MindManager has a one-time license fee of $349 for Windows and Mac desktop applications. It also has a ‘special licensing program’ for enterprise and government users, though prices for these plans are not disclosed on MindManager’s website.
Features
MindGenius
MindManager
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
MindGenius
8.0
1 Ratings
6% above category average
MindManager
-
Ratings
Task Management
9.01 Ratings
00 Ratings
Resource Management
9.01 Ratings
00 Ratings
Team Collaboration
8.01 Ratings
00 Ratings
Mobile Access
6.01 Ratings
00 Ratings
Professional Services Automation
Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Product A and Product B
MindGenius
10.0
1 Ratings
29% above category average
MindManager
-
Ratings
Project & financial reporting
10.01 Ratings
00 Ratings
Mind Mapping
Comparison of Mind Mapping features of Product A and Product B
[It's] Wonderful for small group or individual planning, brainstorming, explaining, projecting etc. It is also great for reporting or sharing findings of outcomes whether research or business related. It has a free viewer so that if you are presenting on a different computer, the viewer will allow the visuals to be shared. It is not ideal for collaboration unless everyone has this software.
It is suitable for both individual and collaborative work. Personally, expanding or reorganizing ideas allows me to develop relationships of concepts, processes, or perspectives in a variety of ways. It allows ideas to flow and connect in creative and powerful ways. When you are looking to understand a problem or situation in depth, it is very good for that.
GOAL SETTING: Because of the available templates, it is easy to set goals and then revisit them for revision or follow through. I like to brainstorm while I set goals and then come back and annotate my goals with changes, improvements, or add/substract them as needed.
STRATEGIC PLANNING: MindGenius is terrific for working through ideas and parameters. I can either use a freelance screen or a template and brainstorm through the goals that I need to meet. Then I can branch out from each objective with the required facets of each one. I am visual so color coding and using shapes to organize the parts of the objective (i.e. the resources needed, people/stakeholders that are involved, missing pieces etc.). When organizing a project or research, I find it invaluable.
BRAINSTORMING: MindGenius is a wonderful visual to use in a small group or classroom to brainstorm or record ideas. I also adjunct teach and I find MG a wonderful visual for planning a paper or demonstrating how to support ideas in a paper or to verify that research is completed properly. it is a teacher's must-have.
MindGenius is not as intuitive as I would like it to be. Although there is a quick-key stroke or movement that will replicate a shape or field if I want to make a parent or child block, I never remember what it is. I always use the manual insert by clicking with the mouse and it takes longer. If CONTROL ENTER created a new shape field like "the last one" or the one where the cursor is blinking, that would help considerably.
Changing the default visuals for a template or making a new template is overly time-consuming. Although I understand these details may only matter to someone as ULTRA-VISUAL a I am, if the font is too small or the shapes need to be visually altered, there is not a way to quickly grab those boxes and change the settings in one fell swoop. Although there is a way they can be changed, I have to navigate inside this and then inside this to get to the screen and then I have to figure out which changes the lines or the inside color of the shape etc. These details are a little overwhelming.
It would be great if I could make one shape in the font and layout I want and then replicate that pattern to other shapes or apply a different color scheme to it entirely. If these features already exist, i cannot find them and I consider myself to be rather tech savvy.
There should be some more functionality in the Notes window, such as a "Paste Special " Icon in the notes area to maintain format control.
Although I create many of my own Web export templates, an add-on for web export design would be great, as I regularly create Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETP) in HTML export format.
The ability to sync Map shortcuts between devices would also be welcome. I use MM on three devices, and I have to add or amend the Map list individually. My maps are on OneDrive, so using them should not be that hard if they are cloud-based.
I feel the main issues of the old Mindjet seem to be gone with the Corel purchase. With the huge advance of sharing via browser HTML even 1 user can affect many. And, actually, using MM kind of forced my rigid brain to rethink how I categorize and classify information/projects.
The idea of paying $69USD for an annual cost is more than fair and a great model for Corel/Mindjet to keep rolling out improvements!
MindManager is very intuitive. The user interface is not cluttered and the ribbon icons are easy to understand. Several excellent "how-to" videos are available on the MindManager site as well as on YouTube. MindManager starts quickly and the user interface is very responsive. Launching other programs from MindManager such as Excel is very fast and issue free. The browsing feature is lightning fast. The drag-and-drop capability is also very fast and reliable.
The application is quick and responsive. We are able to produce mindmaps and reports with ease. The program is not complicated at all and integrates well with software and programs like Microsoft Outlook and Teams, which we truly appreciate.
I have called technical support a few times. During the COVID Crisis, I called a few times repeatedly due to a rush request. The technical support guy called me back in minutes. He somehow knew that I had called repeatedly and wanted to make sure my issue was resolved immediately
The videos are not well categorized...I had to do a bit of digging to get what I wanted and many videos on older versions. If Mindjet was to improve the titles used that would help.
I have not used another product like MindGenius. Although I use Microsoft One Note for sometimes making lists that sync across my PC and my devices, I do not have another mind-mapping programming. MindGenius only has an app for iPad and without accessibility on iOS, I have not been able to use it for my daily TO DO lists etc that I would otherwise do. I use One Note for that role since MG does not have a phone app
The primary reason for the switch was that I needed a lighter, no-frills tool. I saved big time on the licensing cost. A major need was the cross-OS platform, and this tool works irrespective of MacOS and Windows. I could not have found a better tool. Lucidchart is the next closest tool, which I could not find in the list above.
I have not tracked the positive or negative impact of MG on my overall business objectives. I have successfully used it in the aspects of my personal and professional management.
MG helps me stay on track with my research and personal editing. It keeps me accountable so that I meet my deadlines. Although I have not applied a dollar value to it, it helps me signficantly.
For a single person business presentation it is a plus.
Project difficulty is well assessed using the map.
Giving away a paper version of a map is a positive gesture. People like the map, the look, and what it says, and it may also be a way to promote MindManager to them.
Keep the PDF or JPEG saving capabilities for small customers like me. It's important.
