MindManager vs. MindMeister

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
MindManager
Score 8.7 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.
$105
per year
MindMeister
Score 5.4 out of 10
N/A
MindMeister is an online mind mapping tool that lets users share maps with an unlimited number of users and collaborate with them in real-time. The vendor says more than 11 million people around the world use MindMeister to brainstorm ideas, plan projects, take meeting minutes, develop business strategies, create stunning presentations and much more. It is designed to be intuitive. MindMeister runs in any standard web-browser as well as on iOS and Android devices, so users can access,…
$5.49
per month
Pricing
MindManagerMindMeister
Editions & Modules
MindManager for Microsoft Teams
$105
per year
Annual Subscription
$179
per year
Organizations
Contact sales team
Personal
$4.99
per user per month
Pro
$8.25
per user per month
Business
$12.49
per user per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
MindManagerMindMeister
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsMindMeister offers 6-monthly and yearly subscriptions. Discounts for educational users and non-profit organizations are also available.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
MindManagerMindMeister
Considered Both Products
MindManager
Chose MindManager
I like that MindManager is local software instead of a cloud-based service like MindMeister. This lets me work on a map even when I don't have internet access. It's also faster and more fully-featured.

Visio is a cumbersome tool for mind mapping, as it is optimized for design …
Chose MindManager
MindMeister is easier to use than MindManager, but MindManager has more functionality -- and this is probably why MindManager is not as simple and straightforward to use as the other.
Chose MindManager
I hated MindMeister despite all the glory it gets online. The tool was not so user-friendly to me. I struggled a lot using the topic and subtopic boxes. Perhaps it was because I had been so accustomed to MindManager that my mind got used to expecting that the same tools and …
Chose MindManager
MindManager is complete and does much more that what these individual products can deliver except the co-editing part using the google environment.
Chose MindManager
I think each of these have many positives, however from my perspective being a private business I do not want to invest in other solutions unless they have a major differentiator. My main temptation to move would be to a product that would allow me to share via Google or MS …
Chose MindManager
We are still paying for what I feel is the outrageous licensing fee for MindManager.
Chose MindManager
MindManager is by far the most feature rich and capable solution in the market today. The key reasons for selecting MindManager as the tool of choice are:
  1. Breadth of templates and document types (beyond the conventional mind map).
  2. Ability to import and export to different file …
Chose MindManager
MindManager is a more mature product than most other products that we have reviewed or tried for mind mapping and project planning. It is very feature-rich, and since it has similar styles to the Microsoft suite of products, users are familiar with the interface and find it …
Chose MindManager
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.
MindMeister

No answer on this topic

Top Pros

No answers on this topic

Top Cons

No answers on this topic

TrustRadius Insights
MindManagerMindMeister
Highlights

TrustRadius
Research Team Insight
Published

MindManager and MindMeister are both diagramming software products that provide mind mapping capabilities. They help users organize their thoughts, workflows, and processes. However, a key difference between these two platforms is that MindManager offers desktop applications while MindMeister offers web-based and mobile applications. 

Features

Both products include features such as various mindmap templates (e.g. fishbone, org charts, matrix, timeline), map exporting, map customization capabilities, and the ability to add links to map topics. However, each has a few unique capabilities as well. 

As a cloud-based application, MindMeister supports real-time collaboration for mindmaps. This includes the ability to chat within maps, set up user-access permissions for maps, create groups within your team, and access to map collaboration histories. Users can also import maps from other mind mapping software (eg. Text, Freemind, XMind, MindMeister, MindManager). Customizable product branding is also available on MindMeister’s highest-priced plan. 

MindManager does not offer a native cloud-based application. However, it offers a wider variety of mindmap templates, including ven diagrams, funnels, onion charts, and Kanban-style charts. It also has a set of project planning and management features such as adding resources and priority markers to topics, Gantt charts, topics task tags, start & end dates, task duration and effort levels, and the ability to assign tasks to other users

Limitations 

Compared to MindManager, the biggest limitations of MindMeister are that it requires an internet connection in order to use, has limited functionality on its free plan, and is not well suited for complex project management. For example, only three maps can be created and saved on MindMeister’s free plan. 

Conversely, MindManager has a few key limitations when compared with MindMeister. These include the lack of a web application, which means the software needs to be downloaded on a specific device in order to be used. MindManager also does not offer a free plan.

Pricing 

MindMeister offers a free version and has subscription-based pricing starting at $4.99 per month and going up to $12.49 per month. However, the free plan has limited functionality, including ability to create fewer mind maps, limited customization options, fewer collaboration features, and fewer export options. 

MindManager doesn’t have a forever free version but does have a 30-day free trial. After that, it 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. 

Which Is Right For You?

MindMeister is a good fit for small creative teams looking for an online mind mapping tool that will allow them to collaborate online. It’s also ideal for individuals that plan on using MindMeister for personal use and want a cloud-based software they can use anywhere they have an internet connection. 

In contrast, MindManager is better suited for businesses that need software to help them ideate, manage, track, and execute projects. It can also handle complex topics mapping and visualize relationships between topics, tasks, and processes. But MindManager is not ideal for users looking for a free or cloud-based mind mapping software for personal use.

Best Alternatives
MindManagerMindMeister
Small Businesses
SmartDraw
SmartDraw
Score 6.4 out of 10
MindManager
MindManager
Score 8.7 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Freehand by InVision
Freehand by InVision
Score 7.8 out of 10
MindManager
MindManager
Score 8.7 out of 10
Enterprises
Miro
Miro
Score 9.0 out of 10
Miro
Miro
Score 9.0 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
MindManagerMindMeister
Likelihood to Recommend
9.4
(194 ratings)
1.3
(16 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.2
(21 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
7.6
(16 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Availability
8.2
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.2
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.2
(13 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Online Training
6.4
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
7.3
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Configurability
8.2
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
3.6
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
8.2
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
9.1
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
9.1
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
MindManagerMindMeister
Likelihood to Recommend
Alludo
I love to outline in MM and its ability to link related maps. Great help to me as a writer! I don't love the export of the outlines. Needs to be a cleaner, simpler look. I work around it, though. I rated the above question 6 only because it's too expensive. I've had it for years and, until recently, got almost every upgrade. I can't afford it now and may have to look for an alternative to keep updated software. Bummer!
Read full review
MeisterLabs
MindMeister is ideally suited for building mind maps, site maps, or similar types of data maps in the cloud without needing to install extra software. I find that it isn't quite as ideal for other types of diagrams (ERDs, flowcharts, etc) as some other tools, though it definitely can handle those things as well.
Read full review
Pros
Alludo
  • Great to segment things out (projects, organizational charts, processes, workloads, etc) and gives you a full picture of the job.
  • It is user friendly, simple to use, and powerful.
  • MS Office and Teams integration is great. Allows for easy collaboration.
  • Great GUI and visuals
  • Excellent method for project planning and brainstorming
Read full review
MeisterLabs
  • The UI is well laid out and easy to use. The workflow makes perfect sense and makes creating tasks a breeze.
  • The collaboration features make brainstorming not only easy but fun! Everyone enjoys using the tool, which was not the case with other collaboration software we used.
  • I love being able to get all of my thoughts and ideas on the screen to see them and then be able to connect them in a logical way.
Read full review
Cons
Alludo
  • I find formatting a challenge. Example, make all the boxes the same format and fonts so when you add a box, it understands the format of the top level box.
  • I have played around with some of the templates but find creating my own each time is better route. The project plan template is very good but I find myself deleting boxes and again, takes more time than creating a new map every time.
  • I try to get colleagues to use MM but they are intimidated by the UI. I am really comfortable with it but to them it can look more complex than it really is.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
  • I think that the free plan should offer a bit more terms of features to make the testing experience more engaging.
  • My experience using the App version was not so good when compared to the web version of it. I feel more comfortable using it in my notebook.
  • Paid plans could be more flexible to support small or temporary demands.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Alludo
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!
Read full review
MeisterLabs
No answers on this topic
Usability
Alludo
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.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
No answers on this topic
Reliability and Availability
Alludo
Almost perfect.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
No answers on this topic
Performance
Alludo
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.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Alludo
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
Read full review
MeisterLabs
Never had an issue with customer support, though we never really needed anything major as far as technical help. I do not believe they offer 24 hour customer support but we don't need it as MindMeister is not the type of tool we need need 24 hour a day support for. Overall, very happy with the level of support.
Read full review
Online Training
Alludo
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.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Alludo
Wasn't involved but works great for me.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Alludo
Both are equally good. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is used to get the models in a more technical format in comparison to the MindManager. MindManager is easier to use in comparison to Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect. MindManager makes collaboration easy and can be understood by a layman and does not need to have specific software training.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
I have also used LucidChart and Google Draw to create mind maps and concept maps in the past. I think that MindMeister is by far the cleanest and most user friendly of the three. Google Draw does not have anywhere near the same functionality. LucidChart tends to be clunky and the options to create your map are not always clear and intuitive.
Read full review
Scalability
Alludo
A team can collaborate on the same project but cannot create a shared project file. It would be helpful for that feature to be added.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Alludo
  • When scope planning before I was introduced to this tool, I needed to make one master Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for the entire project and move on. With MindMapper, I typically generate about 20 WBS-like charts throughout the project, which encouraged conversation with staff members. The major key in such ease of use has been some well thought out and very intuitive keystroke planning that allows me to keep up with the free flow of ideas.
  • This software's cross-functional capability allowed 10 engineers to create their projects directly within their own environment without use of a virtual machine.
Read full review
MeisterLabs
  • The most positive result of using MindMeister is a visualization of each step in work and connections between different nodes(ideas, steps).
  • This greatly simplifies the work, especially collaborative work, since it is easier to show it once than to explain things many times.
  • Negative impact: lack of offline desktop version.
Read full review
ScreenShots

MindManager Screenshots

Screenshot of MindmapScreenshot of Reverse BrainstormingScreenshot of MindManager for Microsoft TeamsScreenshot of MindManager SnapScreenshot of MindManager GoScreenshot of Mind Maps in MindManager

MindMeister Screenshots

Screenshot of Screenshot of Screenshot of Screenshot of