Alternatives to MindManager

Mind Mapping Software

Alternatives to MindManager: Detailed Comparison

Choosing the best mind mapping software can be a hard decision. There are many alternatives to MindManager on the market, but which one offers what you need?

MindManager VS Mindomo

MindManager and Mindomo are two cross-platform offline and online mind map software. Both software offers advanced functionalities, a big variety of diagrams, and can be really helpful for project management, personal life, and education.

But which one fits your needs best? Which one should you choose?
Let’s make a detailed comparison of these tools and figure it out.

1. Diagram Editing Functionalities

When you choose a mind mapping software the diagram editing functionalities are very important. You will express yourself and you will use them every time you use the tool.

1.1. Map Styling

  Mindomo
(Online)
MindManager
(Online)
Topic shape Over 45 different topic shapes 14 different topic shapes
Topic style Hundreds of predefined topic styles containing a combination of colors, fonts, topic shapes, etc. (in that gallery you can find styles you created in the current diagram, on other diagrams, or in theme editor).

Topic style can be applied to only one topic or you have 5 other options to automatically apply the topic style on multiple topics (for example, all current topic’s siblings, all current topic’s descendants, etc.)
Option to copy a topic’s style and paste it to another topic
No predefined styles

No option to automatically apply the styles
Option to copy a topic’s style and paste it to another topic (format painter)
Topic gradient 8 options (including gradient levels and shadows) No gradient topics
Color Color picker for:

Color of topics
Topic border
Connections
Text
Boundaries
Diagram background
Option to set the connecting line’s color to determine the topic color
Multicolor palettes
Color picker for:

Color of topics
Topic border (only with connections colors)
No option to change the color of a connection without changing the topic border’s color as well
Text
Boundaries
No option to change the diagram’s background color

Option to set the connecting line’s color to determine the topic color (when you change the line’s color the topic’s border color changes automatically)
No multicolor palettes
Padding Customizable Non-customizable
Topic size Freely resizable topics (resize both width and height by dragging and dropping the topic) Non-freely resizable topics (can’t resize topics’ width or height by dragging and dropping them)
Topic border’s weight Customizable Non-customizable
Text formatting Over 59 different fonts
Customizable size
Styles (bold, italic, underline, strikethrough)
Customizable text alignment (left, center, and right)
28 different fonts
Customizable size
Styles (bold, italic, underline, strikethrough)
No Customizable text alignment (left, center, and right)
Connections 9 layout types
Customizable spacing between topics and branches
Auto balance map option
10+ connection types (+no line option)
3 anchor point options
Customizable weight
17 line formats
5 layout types
No customizable spacing between topics and branches
No auto balance map option
No connection types
No anchor point options
No customizable weight
No line formats
Boundary 10 shapes
Customizable line color
Customizable background color
7 line types
Unlimited weight options
Applicable on one topic (and its subtopics)
Applicable on multiple topics (and their subtopics)
No shapes
Customizable line color
Customizable background color
No line types
No weight options
Applicable on one topic (and its subtopics)
Not applicable on multiple topics (and their subtopics)
Themes Theme Editor that contains:


42 predefined map themes
Option to create custom themes and apply them to other diagrams (with custom font sizes, colors, shapes, and background colors or pictures)
Options to import and export themes
No Theme Editor (only a themes list):


26 predefined map themes
No option to create custom themes and apply them to other diagrams (with custom font sizes, colors, shapes, and background colors or pictures)
No options to import and export themes
Relationships Fully customizable relationships between topics:

Label (you can add text)
Color picker
3 angles (+ customizable relationship angle)
Customizable relationship weight
7 patterns
13 arrows (separate customization for start and end)
Style (copy style or set it as default for current diagram)
Customizable relationships between topics:

Label (you can add text)
Color picker
No predefined angles (+ customizable relationship angle)
Non-customizable relationship weight
No patterns
No arrows
Non-customizable style (no copy style or set it as default for current diagram)
Summary Yes
Customizable topic, line, text, and padding
No
Floating topic Yes Yes

The MindManager’s online mapping tool is very limited and it doesn’t offer many map styling options. However, Mindomo is an advanced online mind map software that allows you to customize your diagrams exactly how you imagine. When you have ideas to capture, organize or explain it’s important to have freedom when it comes to illustrating them in a visual way.

MindManager and Mindomo also have Desktop apps. Let’s take a closer look at their map styling characteristics:

  Mindomo
(Desktop)
MindManager
(Desktop)
Topic shape Over 45 different topic shapes (no customization) 14 different topic shapes (+ custom)
Topic style Hundreds of predefined topic styles containing a combination of colors, fonts, topic shapes, etc. (in that gallery you can find styles you created in the current diagram, on other diagrams, or in the Theme Editor)
Topic style can be applied to only one topic, or you have 5 other options to automatically apply the topic style on multiple topics (for example, all current topic’s siblings, all current topic’s descendants, etc.)
Option to copy a topic’s style and paste it to another topic
No predefined styles (you can only make a list of styles you created from scratch)
Topic style can be applied to only one topic, or you have 3 other options to automatically apply the topic style on multiple topics (for example, all current topic’s siblings, all current topic’s descendants, or all topics)
Option to copy a topic’s style and paste it to another topic (format painter)
Topic gradient 8 options (including gradient levels and shadows) No gradient topics
Color Color picker for:

Color of topics
Topic border
Connections
Text
Boundaries
Diagram background
Option to set the connecting line’s color to determine the topic color
Multicolor palettes
Color picker for:

Color of topics
Topic border (only with connections colors)
Connections (No option to change the color of a connection without changing the topic border’s color as well)
Text
Boundaries
Diagram background
Option to set the connecting line’s color to determine the topic color (when you change the line’s color the topic’s border color changes automatically)
No multicolor palettes
Padding Customizable paddings/margins
No option to Match width with other topic widths
Customizable paddings/margins
Option to Match width with other topic widths
Topic size Freely resizable topics (resize bothwidthandheightby dragging and dropping the topic) Non-freely resizable topics (can’t resize topics’ width or height by dragging and dropping them)
Topic border’s weight Customizable Non-customizable
Text formatting Over 59 different fonts
Customizable size
Styles (bold, italic, underline, strikethrough)
Customizable text alignment (left, center, and right)
Over 250 fonts
Customizable size
Styles (bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, text capitalization)
Customizable text alignment (left, center, and right)
Connections 9 layout types
Customizable spacing between topics and branches
Auto balance map option
10+ connection types (+no line option)
3 anchor point options
No option to add shadow to connections
Customizable weight
17 line formats/patterns
9 layout types
Customizable spacing between topics and branches
Auto balance map option
8 connection types (+no line option)
3 anchor point options
Option to add shadow to connections
Customizable weight
8 line formats/patterns
Boundary 10 shapes
Customizable line color
Customizable background color
7 line types/patterns
Unlimited weight options
No transparency option
Applicable on one topic (and its subtopics)
Applicable on multiple topics (and their subtopics)
7 shapes
Customizable line color
Customizable background color
8 line types/patterns
11 weight options
Transparency option
Applicable on one topic (and its subtopics)
Not applicable on multiple topics (and their subtopics)
Themes Theme Editor that contains:

42 predefined map themes
Option to create custom themes and apply them to other diagrams (with custom font sizes, colors, shapes, and background colors or pictures)
Customizable (no separate cascading text sizes option, but you can create your own custom sizes)
Customizable spacing between levels of the map (no separate predefined options)
Customizable sizes (no separate predefined sizes)
Option to import and export themes
Theme Editor that contains:

42 predefined map themes
Option to create custom themes and apply them to other diagrams (with custom font sizes, colors, shapes, and background colors or pictures)
Cascading text sizes option
3 map density options
4 topic predefined sizes
No option to import and export themes
Relationships Fully customizable relationships between topics:

Label (you can add text)
Color picker
3 angles (+ customizable relationship angle)
Customizable relationship weight
7 patterns
13 arrows (separate customization for start and end)
Style (copy style or set it as default for current diagram)
Fully customizable relationships between topics:

Label (you can add text)
Color picker
5 angles (+ customizable relationship angle)
Customizable relationship weight
7 patterns
6 arrows (separate customization for start and end)
Style (copy style or set it as default for current diagram)
Floating topic Yes Yes
Numbering Yes Yes
Summary Yes
Customizable color, pattern, and weight
Yes
Customizable color, pattern, and weight
Callout No Yes
Tag/Hashtag Yes Yes
Shapes and Smart Shapes No Yes
Text box No (you can add a floating topic that has no border and it looks the same) Yes

When it comes to the Desktop mind mapping tools, MindManager has more features to offer compared to its online version. The online version of MindManager is very rudimentary. Compared with Mindomo, we can notice that both tools have common features but each of them has to offer something extra, it all depends on what you are looking for.

Map styling is a very important aspect because we are talking about visual diagrams, it’s a mandatory criterion when you are going to use a tool to visually organize information.

First of all, Mindomo is a more intuitive mind map app and has a fresh, modern, and minimalist interface. This minimalist design gives you more space on the screen for your mind maps. Moreover, you have everything in handy and a cool and modern design. MindManager has a loaded interface, with two toolbars, many buttons, and options all over the screen.

At first look at the comparison table, it seems like MindManager comes with more extra features. In MindManager, you can add a text box, shapes, or callouts. With Mindomo you don’t have these separate options, but if you want to add a “text box” you can simply add a floating topic with no border, and you’ll have the same result. Mindomo doesn’t have a “callout” separate option, but you can add a topic that has the topic shape just like the “callout” one, and you will get the same result.

MindManager comes with some extra options for the theme editor, like cascading text sizes option, 3 map density options, and 4 topic predefined sizes. On Mindomo, you can only manually customize all of these. MindManager also offers the advantage of having the option to match width with other topics, more fonts, and an option to add shadow to connections.

However, Mindomo has some other features that MindManager doesn’t offer, like more topic shapes, freely resizing topics’ width and height by dragging and dropping them, multicolor palettes, predefined topic styles, the boundary is applicable on multiple topics (and subtopics), gradient options, import and export themes.

1.2. File & Multimedia Attachments

The file and multimedia attachments are crucial aspects when you create mind maps. A mind map diagram should be easy to read with keywords, not long phrases, but be rich in information.

That is the reason why your mapping tool should allow you to add as many types of files or multimedia attachments.

  Mindomo
(Online)
MindManager
(Online)
Images Upload images from PC
Upload images from Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
Insert multimedia URL
Search images on the Internet
Your account’s images gallery
Mindomo image gallery
Images in comments
Images in notes
No option to insert floating images
Upload images from PC
Upload images from Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
No option to insert multimedia URL
No option to search images on the Internet
No dedicated account images gallery
No MindManager image gallery
No images in comments
Images in notes
Option to insert floating images
Icons and Emojis Big variety of icons sorted into categories
Frequently used category
Priority and completion icons
Search bar to filter
Option to remove all icons
No option to add a custom icon (but you can add an image and the result is the same)
Big variety of icons sorted into categories
No frequently used category
Priority and completion (progress) icons
No search bar to filter
No option to remove all icons
Option to add a custom icon
Videos Upload videos from PC, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
Insert multimedia URL
Search videos on YouTube and Vimeo
Accounts’ videos gallery
No option to upload videos from PC, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
No option to Insert multimedia URL
No option to Search videos on YouTube and Vimeo
No access to account’s videos gallery
Audio files Upload audio files from PC, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
Record audio
Option to attach uploaded
No Option to Upload audio files from PC, Google Drive Dropbox, and OneDrive
No Option to Record audio
No Option to Attach uploaded
Documents Upload document files from PC
Upload document files from Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
Upload document files from PC
No option to Upload documents files fromGoogle Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
Links Insert URL
Link a topic
Link a diagram from your account
Insert URL
Link a topic
No option to Link a diagram from your account
Notes panel Revamped notes panels (normal and maximized)
Text style (bold, italic, underline)
Customizable text size
Customizable text color
Numbering
Bulleting
Alignment
Insert images
Mathematical formulas
Direct links
Videos
Formatting (code block, quote, strikethrough, sub-, and superscript)
Remove formatting option
Revamped notes panels (you can manually change the size)
Text style (bold, italic, underline)
Customizable text size
Customizable text color
No numbering
Bulleting
No alignment
Insert images
No mathematical formulas
No direct links
No videos
No formatting (code block, quote, strikethrough, sub-, and superscript)
No option to remove formatting option
Comments panel Revamped comments panels (normal and maximized)
Text style (bold, italic, underline)
Customizable text size
Customizable text color
Numbering & bulleting
Alignment
Insert images
Mathematical formulas
Direct links
Videos
Formatting (code block, quote, strikethrough, sub-, and superscript)
Remove formatting option
File attachments
Mentions (with or without email notifications)
Votes
Revamped comments panels (normal and maximized)
No text style (bold, italic, underline)
No customizable text size
No customizable text color
No numbering & bulleting
No alignment
No insert images
No mathematical formulas
No direct links
No videos
No formatting (code block, quote, strikethrough, sub-, and superscript)
No option to remove formatting option
No file attachments
No mentions (with or without email notifications)
No votes

The online version of MindManager is also very limited compared to Mindomo when it comes to file and multimedia attachments.

  Mindomo
(Desktop)
MindManager
(Desktop)
Images Upload images from PC
Insert multimedia URL
Search images on the Internet
Mindomo image gallery
Images in comments
Images in notes
No option to insert floating images
Upload images from PC
No option to insert multimedia URL
No option to search images on the Internet
MindManager image gallery
No images in comments
Images in notes
Option to insert floating images
Icons and Emojis Big variety of icons sorted into categories
Frequently used category
Priority and completion icons
Search bar to filter
Option to remove all icons
Big variety of icons sorted into categories
No frequently used category
Priority and completion (progress) icons
No search bar to filter
No option to remove all icons
Videos Upload videos from PC
Insert multimedia URL
Search videos on YouTube and Vimeo
No option to Upload videos from PC
No option to Insert multimedia URL
No option to Search videos on YouTube and Vimeo
Audio files Upload audio files from PC
Record audio
Upload audio files from PC (only as a document)
No option to Record audio
Documents Upload documents files from PC Upload documents files from PC
Links Insert URL
Link a topic
Link a diagram from your account
Insert URL
Link a topic
No option to Link a diagram from your account
Notes panel Revamped notes panels (normal and maximized)
Text style (bold, italic, underline)
Customizable text size
Customizable text color
No option to highlight text
Numbering
Bulleting
Alignment
Insert images
Mathematical formulas
Direct links
Videos
No tables
Drawing your sketch functionality on topics - not only on notes panel (on mobile apps)
Formats (code block, quote, strikethrough, sub-, and superscript)
Remove formatting option
Revamped notes panels (you can manually change the size)
Text style (bold, italic, underline)
Customizable text size
Customizable text color
Highlight text
Numbering
Bulleting
Alignment
Insert images
No mathematical formulas
Direct links
No videos
Tables
Draw your sketch - only on notes panel
No formats (code block, quote, strikethrough, sub-, and superscript)
No remove formatting option
Comments panel Revamped comments panels (normal and maximized)
Text style (bold, italic, underline)
Customizable text size
Customizable text color
Numbering & bulleting
Alignment
Insert images
Mathematical formulas
Direct links
Videos
Formatting (code block, quote, strikethrough, sub-, and superscript)
Remove formatting option
File attachments
Mentions (with or without email notifications)
Votes
Revamped comments panels (you can manually change the size)
No text style (bold, italic, underline)
No customizable text size
No customizable text color
No numbering & bulleting
No alignment
No insert images
No mathematical formulas
No direct links
No videos
No formatting (code block, quote, strikethrough, sub-, and superscript)
No remove formatting option
No file attachments
No mentions (with or without email notifications)
No votes
Map or map parts You can insert a map or a part of the map (using copy and paste branch functionality) You can insert a map or a part of a map

Mindomo offers more file and multimedia attachment options than MindManager on both offline and online mind mapping tools.

This is a very useful advantage if you use the tool for project planning, task management, education, or personal life.

1.3. Features

  Mindomo
(Online)
MindManager
(Online)
Presenter mode Presenter mode
Slide list
Add slides
Remove slides
Undo/redo
Duplicate slide option
Present topics collapsed option
Add/remove topics from slide option
Play presentation
Export as PowerPoint or Image formats
Next/Previous slide buttons
No presentation

No slide list
No add slides
No remove slides
No undo/redo
No copy slide option
Present topics collapsed option
No option to add/remove topics from slide option
No option to play presentation
No option to export as PowerPoint or Image formats
Next/Previous topic buttons
Visualization options (switch view) Mind map
Outline
Gantt chart
Concept map
Organigram (Up to Down or Down to Up)
Logic chart (Left or Right)
Tree chart (Left or Right)
Timeline (Vertical)
Fishbone (Left or Right)
No Kanban
Mind map (Standard)
No Outline
No Gantt chart
No Concept map
No Organigram (Up to Down or Down to Up)
No Logic chart (Left or Right)
No Tree chart (Left or Right)
No Timeline (Vertical)
No Fishbone (Left or Right)
Kanban
Templates Hundreds of templates (from general to very specific ones)
Guided templates
Quick diagrams (skeleton and specific theme for general use)
Over 9 use case categories
Dedicated templates for each account type (education, business, and personal)
No templates (from general to very specific ones)
No guided templates
No quick diagrams (skeleton and specific theme for general use)
No use case categories
No dedicated templates for each account type (education, business, and personal)
Public Gallery Yes Yes
Undo/Redo Yes Yes
History of changes Full history of changes including date and time
Playback diagram history
Adjust the speed of the playback
Make a copy of a specific diagram version
No full history of changes including date and time
No playback diagram history
No option to adjust the speed of the playback
No option to make a copy to specific diagram version
Dashboard Yes Yes
Duplicate diagram Yes No
Drill down Yes No
Full screen mode Yes No
View Mode Yes No
Night Mode Yes
Option to set Auto (when you use a dark color theme on a diagram, the Night Mode is automatically activated, and when you use a light color theme, it is automatically deactivated)
No
Import 14 import formats:

Mindomo file
Mindmeister file
MindManager file
Freemind file
XMind file
Bubbl.us file
SimpleMind file
iThoughts file
Markdown file
Microsoft Project file
Text file
OPML file
Excel file
Plain text
Upload from PC
Upload from Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
No import formats

No Mindomo file
No Mindmeister file
No MindManager file
No Freemind file
No XMind file
No Bubbl.us file
No SimpleMind file
No iThoughts file
No Markdown file
No Microsoft Project file
No Text file
No OPML file
No Excel file
No Plain text
No option to upload from PC
No option to upload from Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
Export 20 export formats:

Text file
OPML file
Microsoft Project file (.mpx)
Microsoft Project file (.xml)
HTML
Slides as images (.zip)
Slides as PDF (.pdf)
Image file (.png)
Markdown file
Mindomo file (.mom)
Mindomo pack (.pmom)
Freemind file (.mm)
MindManager file (.mmap)
Excel file (horizontal outline)
Excel file (horizontal tree)
Excel file (Gantt chart data)
Excel file (vertical outline)
2 export formats:

No Text file
No OPML file
No Microsoft Project file (.mpx)
No Microsoft Project file (.xml)
HTML 5
No Slides as images (.zip)
No Slides as PDF (.pdf)
No Image file (.png)
No Markdown file
No Mindomo file (.mom)
No Mindomo pack (.pmom)
No Freemind file (.mm)
MindManager file (.mmap)
No Excel file (horizontal outline)
No Excel file (horizontal tree)
No Excel file (Gantt chart data)
No Excel file (vertical outline)
Print 6 printing formats:

A4
A2
A3
Letter
Ledger
Original
Print slides option
Option to generate background color
No option to generate border, header, and footer
2 custom printing formats:

Portrait
Landscape
No option to print slides
No option to generate background color
Option to generate border, header, and footer
Editing with no network connection Yes No
Filtering Full-text search (across all diagrams)
Hashtags
Filter by icon
Filter tasks by date
Filter tasks by assignee
Filter tasks by stage/progress
Filter tasks by updates
Filter tasks by creator
Filter tasks by deadline
Filter tasks by priority
Full-text search
Hashtags
Filter by icon
No option to filter tasks by date
No option to filter tasks by assignee
Filter tasks by stage/progress
No option to filter tasks by updates
No option to filter tasks by creator
No option to filter tasks by deadline
No option to filter tasks by priority
Folder organization Yes
Diagram recycle bin
No
No Diagram recycle bin
Shortcuts Over 58 shortcuts
Search bar to filter them
Over 80 shortcuts
No search bar to filter them
Cloud storage Up to 15 GB (or more for the Classroom subscription) No cloud storage (you can only sync with a cloud storage service provider like Dropbox, Box, GoogleDrive, OneDrive)

When it comes to features, Mindomo is again the winner of these two online software. It has more features to offer.

  Mindomo
(Desktop)
MindManager
(Desktop)
Online-Offline Synchronization Yes
Sync to Mindomo cloud with one click
Automatic syncing when you have internet connection
No
No automatic syncing when you have internet connection
Cloud storage Up to 15 GB (or more for the Classroom subscription) No cloud storage - you can save maps to a cloud storage service provider like Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, OneDrive, or SharePoint
Presenter mode Presenter mode
Slide list
Add slides
Remove slides
Undo/redo
Duplicate slide option
Present topics collapsed option
Add/remove topics from slide option
Play presentation
Export as PowerPoint or Image formats
Next/Previous slide buttons
Presenter mode
Slide list
Add slides
Remove slides
No undo/redo
Duplicate slide option
Auto create presentation
No separate option to present topics collapsed
No option to add/remove topics from slide
Play presentation
No option to export as PowerPoint
Export as Image
Next/Previous topic buttons
Visualization options (switch view) Mind map
Outline
Gantt chart
Concept map
Organigram (Up to Down or Down to Up)
Logic chart (Left or Right)
Tree chart (Left or Right)
Timeline (Vertical)
Fishbone (Left or Right)
No Kanban
No Schedule View
Mind map (Standard)
Outline
Gantt chart
No Concept map
Organigram (Up to Down or Down to Up or Split)
Logic chart (Right)
Tree chart (Right or Split)
Timeline (Vertical or Horizontal)
No Fishbone (Left or Right)
Kanban
Schedule View
Templates Hundreds of templates (from general to very specific ones)
Guided templates
Quick diagrams (skeleton and specific theme for general use)
Over 9 use case categories
Dedicated templates for each account type (education, business, and personal)
76 of templates (from general to very specific ones)
No guided templates
Few quick diagrams (skeleton and specific theme for general use)
Over 9 use case categories
No dedicated templates for each account type (education, business, and personal)
Public Gallery Public Gallery of mind maps (can be copied and edited only with creators permission) Yes
Undo/Redo Yes Yes
History of changes Full history of changes including date and time
Playback diagram history
Adjust the speed of the playback
Make a copy to specific diagram version
No full history of changes including date and time
No playback diagram history
No option to adjust the speed of the playback
No option to make a copy to specific diagram version
Duplicate diagram Yes Yes
Drill down Yes No
Full screen mode Yes No
Night mode Yes
Option to set Auto (when you use a dark color theme on a diagram, the Night Mode is automatically activated, and when you use a light color theme, it is automatically deactivated)
Yes (only Dark Gray color scheme - it doesn not affect all menus)
No Auto option
Import 14 import formats:

Mindomo file
Mindmeister file
MindManager file
Freemind file
XMind file
Bubbl.us file
SimpleMind file
iThoughts file
Markdown file
Microsoft Project file
Text file
OPML file
Excel file
Plain text
Upload from PC
6 import formats:

No Mindomo file
No Mindmeister file
MindManager file
Freemind file
XMind file
No Bubbl.us file
No SimpleMind file
No iThoughts file
No Markdown file
No Microsoft Project file
Microsoft Word
OPML file
Excel file
No Plain text
Upload from PC
Export 20 export formats:

Text file
OPML file
Microsoft Project file (.mpx)
Microsoft Project file (.xml)
HTML
Slides as images (.zip)
Slides as PDF (.pdf)
Image file (.png)
Markdown file
Mindomo file (.mom)
Mindomo pack (.pmom)
Freemind file (.mm)
MindManager file (.mmap)
Excel file (horizontal outline)
Excel file (horizontal tree)
Excel file (Gantt chart data)
Excel file (vertical outline)
7 export formats:

Microsoft Word
OPML file
No Microsoft Project file (.mpx)
No Microsoft Project file (.xml)
HTML 5
Pack and Go (.zip)
No Slides as PDF (.pdf)
Image file (.png)
No Markdown file
No Mindomo file (.mom)
No Mindomo pack (.pmom)
No Freemind file (.mm)
MindManager file (.mmap)
Excel file
Print 6 printing formats:

A4
A2
A3
Letter
Ledger
Original
Print slides option
Option to generate background color
No Option to generate border, header, and footer
23 printing formats:

Letter
Legal
Executive
A4
A5
Envelope #10
Envelope DL
Envelope C5
Envelope B5
Envelope Monarch
Japanese Postcard
A6
Double Japan Postcard Rotated
B6 (JIS)
Oficio 8.5x13
4x6
5x8
10x15
Oficio 216x340
16K 195x270 mm
16K 184x260 mm
16K 197x273 mm
Print slides option
Option to generate background color
Option to generate border, header, and footer
Filtering Full-text search (across all diagrams)
Hashtags
Filter by icon
Filter tasks by date
Filter tasks by assignee
Filter tasks by stage/progress
Filter tasks by updates
Filter tasks by creator
Filter tasks by deadline
Filter tasks by priority
No option to filter tasks by fill color
No option to filter tasks by topic style
No option to filter tasks by effort
No option to filter tasks by costs
No option to filter tasks by milestones
No option to filter tasks by risk
No option to filter tasks by elements (notes, links, labels, attached files, alerts)
Full-text search (across all diagrams)
Hashtags
Filter by icon
Filter tasks by date
No option to filter tasks by assignee
Filter tasks by stage/progress
Filter tasks by updates
Filter tasks by creator
Filter tasks by deadline
Filter tasks by priority
Filter tasks by fill color
Filter tasks by topic style
Filter tasks by effort
Filter tasks by costs
Filter tasks by milestones
Filter tasks by risk
Filter tasks by elements (notes, links, labels, attached files, alerts)
Shortcuts Over 58 shortcuts
Search bar to filter them
Over 80 shortcuts
No search bar to filter them
Topic Properties No Yes - you can create properties for all your topics and apply them
AutoCalc No Yes - adds a formula that creates a topic property whose value is calculated automatically (for example: it sums up)
Formulas Yes - you can add formulas into notes Yes - you can add one or more formulas to topics
Split topics No Yes
Sort No Yes - sort subtopics alphanumerically
Smart Rules No Yes
Insert other elements No Microsoft Outlook items
Excel data
Microsoft SharePoint items
Files or Folders from PC
Find & Replace No Yes

The Desktop mapping tools are both advanced, and MindManager comes with a series of great extra features, such as smart rules, sorting options, elements that can be inserted, topic properties, etc.

The MindManager Desktop app has more features that are great for calculations, task management, and project management.

2. Collaboration

  Mindomo
(Online)
MindManager
(Online)
Share
Share with specific people (by email address)
Share with guests (people who don’t have an account)
Team sharing (automatic sharing with specific people)
Sharing by link
Public sharing on the web
Embedded link
Sharing on social media
Option to set rights to collaborators (can view, can copy, can edit the diagram)

No option to share with specific people (by email address)
No option to share with guests (people who don’t have an account)
Sharing by link
Public sharing on the web
No embedded link (only if you upload the map on a cloud service storage provider)
No option to Share on social media(only if you upload the map on a cloud service storage provider)
No option to set rights to collaborators (can view, can copy, can edit the diagram)
Password protected diagrams
Yes

Yes
Real-time collaboration
Yes

Edit
Undo/redo
Chat
Comments
Votes
Attachments

Yes - Co-edit option has limitations

Edit
Undo/redo
No chat
Comments
No votes
Attachments

When it comes to collaboration and especially real-time collaboration, Mindomo is the best choice between the two online collaborative mind mapping tools.

  Mindomo
(Desktop)
MindManager
(Desktop)
Share
No option to share with specific people (by email address)
Public sharing on the web (you can sync with the online account and then publish the mind map)
Option to set rights to collaborators (can view, can copy, can edit the diagram) - after you sync the diagram with the online account, you can set rights to the people you share it with
With a click you can Sync & Save your maps with the cloud and you can share them from the online version only.

Share with specific people (by email address)
Public sharing on the web
Option to set rights to collaborators (Co-edit option)
You can upload your diagram on a cloud storage service provider (Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint)
Pack Map
Yes
Compress your mind map and all its attached files into a single .pmom file which you can easily share with your collaborators so they can access the map with its resources from their own computers

No
Real-time collaboration
Yes:

Between Desktop and Online (while diagrams are synced)
Between Desktop and Desktop (while diagrams are synced)
Edit: you can edit and see collaborators’ modifications
Undo/redo (you can undo and redo only your changes)
Chat
Comments
Votes
Attachments

Yes - using the Co-edit option that has limitations

You have to store your diagram on Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, Dropbox, or SharePoint first.

Edit
Undo/redo
No chat
Comments
No votes
Attachments

Both tools allow you to collaborate with other users. However, Mindomo is easier to use when it comes to real-time collaboration.

3. Task Management Functionalities

  Mindomo
(Online)
MindManager
(Online)
Tasks Tasks with checkboxes
Assignable tasks (to users)
Assignable tasks (to ghost users)
Due dates (start date and end date)
Recurring tasks
Priority
Completion (progress) level
Comments
Closed tasks list
Milestones (in Gantt chart)
Roll up task and costs
No tasks with checkboxes
No assignable tasks (to users)
No assignable tasks (to ghost users)
Due dates (start date and end date)
No recurring tasks
Priority
Completion (progress) level
Comments
No closed tasks list
Milestones
Roll up task (auto calculates a task overview for all subtasks) and costs
Tasks notifications/
Reminders
Email notifications
No Alerts
Email notifications
Alerts
iCal task feed Automatically sync your tasks with your calendar No
Team Administration panel Yes MindManager Enterprise

Mindomo and MindManager are both amazing tools you can use for task management. Mindomo has the advantage of showing the checkboxes and organizing information in a simpler way for you. On the other hand, MindManager offers a few extra options if you want to add to your tasks.

  Mindomo
(Desktop)
MindManager
(Desktop)
Tasks Tasks with checkboxes
Assignable tasks (to users)
Assignable tasks (to ghost users)
Due dates (start date and end date)
Recurring tasks
Priority
Completion (progress) level
Comments
Closed tasks list
Milestones (in Gantt chart)
No Roll up task
No Costs information
No Task resources
No tasks with checkboxes
No Assignable tasks (to users)
No Assignable tasks (to ghost users)
Due dates (start date and end date)
No Recurring tasks
Priority
Completion (progress) level
Comments
No Closed tasks list
Milestones
Roll up task (auto calculates a task overview for all subtasks)
Costs information
Task resources
Tasks notifications/
Reminders
Email notifications
No Alerts
Email notifications
Alerts
iCal task feed Automatically sync your tasks with your calendar No
Team Administration panel Yes MindManager Enterprise

Like the online version of the software, MindManager comes with a few extra features that can be useful for very complex projects. However, if you want to keep a complex but minimalist design of your plan, Mindomo is a great option.

4. Education Features

  Mindomo
(Online & Desktop)
MindManager
(Online & Desktop)
Organization Create classes
Create schools
No option to create classes
No option to create schools
Assignments Blank mind map assignments
Template assignments
Team or individual assignments
Deadline
Attachments
Progress status
Playback mode

Multiple sharing options:
By email
Create accounts without email
Share with students from class/school
Share with Google Classroom predefined classes
By access codes
No blank mind map assignments
No template assignments
No team or individual assignments
No deadline
No attachments
No progress status
No playback mode

No sharing options
Grading Private grades for assignments
Feedback with attachments
Grades overview
Grading report can be downloaded
No private grades for assignments
No feedback with attachments
No grades overview
No grading report can be downloaded

Mindomo is your mind mapping tool if you plan to use mind mapping for educational purposes. It has dedicated functionalities such as assignments, grading options, and dedicated mind map templates.

5. Types of Diagrams

  Mindomo
(Online & Desktop)
MindManager
(Online & Desktop)
Online Diagrams Mind map
Outline
Gantt chart
Concept map
Organigram (Up to Down or Down to Up)
Tree Organigram (Left or Right)
Timeline (vertical)
Logic chart (Left or Right)
Free form (can be done using floating topics on a regular mind map)
Fishbone (Left or Right)
Mind map (Radial)
No Outline
No Gantt chart
Flow chart
Organigram - org chart (Up to Down)
Tree Organigram
Timeline (vertical)
Logic chart (Right)
Free form
No Fishbone (Left or Right)
Desktop Diagrams Mind map
Outline
Gantt chart
Concept map
Organigram (Up to Down or Down to Up)
Tree Organigram (Left or Right)
Timeline (vertical)
Logic chart (Left or Right)
Free form (can be done using floating topics on a regular mind map)
Fishbone (Left or Right)
No Kanban
No Venn Diagram (only from template)
No Onion Diagram
No Funnel Diagram
No Matrix Diagram
No Slide Deck
No Schedule
Mind map (Radial)
Outline
Gantt chart
Concept map and Flow chart
Organigram - org chart (Up to Down)
Tree Organigram
Timeline (vertical)
Logic chart (Right)
Free form
No Fishbone (Left or Right)
Kanban
Venn Diagram
Onion Diagram
Funnel Diagram
Matrix Diagram
Slide Deck
Schedule

Both Mindomo and MindManager have a big variety of diagrams, some of them can be created as blank diagrams, and some of them can be transformed into, for example in MindManager you can not start a blank outline, but after you create for example a mind map you can turn it into an outline by changing its view.

MindManager has more blank diagram options on the Desktop app.

6. Available Platforms

  Mindomo MindManager
Platforms Web app (Online)
Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux) with online-offline syncing
Mobile (Android, iOS)
Web app (Online)
Desktop* (Windows, Mac)
Mobile (Android, iOS)

MindManager and Mindomo are both cross-platform tools. They can be accessed online from a browser or via their apps available for Desktop and Mobile.

*MindManager has four products:

MindManager Professional
MindManager Essentials
MindManager for Microsoft Teams
MindManager Enterprise

7. Integrations

  Mindomo MindManager
Integrations for educational institutions Canvas
Itslearning
Brightspace
Schoology
Moodle
Blackboard
Google Classroom
No Canvas
No Itslearning
No Brightspace
No Schoology
No Moodle
No Blackboard
No Google Classroom
Business & Personal integrations Google Drive
Dropbox
OneDrive
Evernote
G Suite
Office 365
Microsoft Teams
Google Drive
Dropbox
OneDrive
Box
SharePoint
Zapier
Microsoft Teams

The integrations of MindManager are oriented to business and personal purposes, and not in the education directions. However, Mindomo offers integrations for education, business, and personal purposes.

8. Other Features

  Mindomo MindManager
Secure backup and export data Dropbox
Google Drive
OneDrive
FTP
Bulk download as a ZIP file
Dropbox
Google Drive
OneDrive
Box
SharePoint
Two factor authentication Yes No
Extensions Mindomo Bookmarks MindManager Snap
E-mail support Yes Website form
Chat support Yes Yes
Phone (support) Yes Yes
Forum (support) Yes Yes
Help page (support) Yes Yes
FAQ (support) Yes Yes
Video tutorials Yes Yes

Both Mindomo and MindManager have help pages, support, and contact information.

9. Accounts and Plans

  Mindomo MindManager
Account types & Prices 🏷️ Free - free (always)
🏷️ Basic/Student - €3/month (paid annually)
🏷️ Teacher- €4.5/month (paid annually)
🏷️ Classroom & School - €9/month (paid annually)
🏷️ Premium - €5.5/month (paid annually)
🏷️ Professional - €13.5/month (paid annually)
🏷️ Team - €16.5/month (paid annually)
🏷️ Free - free (30 days trial)
🏷️ Essentials (web version) - €10.1/month (paid annually)
🏷️ Professional (multi-platform access) - € 17.3/month (paid annually)
🏷️ One-time purchase (web version) - €429.27

The difference between the prices of Mindomo and MindManager is noticeable. Both can be used as free mind map software, but with limitations.

MindManager’s price is higher than Mindomo’s, and MindManager doesn’t offer a free account – it only offers a 30 days trial. On the other hand, Mindomo offers a free account for an unlimited time.

When it comes to pricing, Mindomo is more convenient than MindManager.

Which One is Better?

Both MindManager and Mindomo are professional mind map programs. Each tool offers amazing features and a great experience for its users.

This detailed comparison shows a lot of aspects, and in the end, you should choose the tool that is right for you and offers the features that you need more.

Mindomo is more versatile, and it has a minimalist and fresh design. It is also a more intuitive mind map tool. The web version of Mindomo has many more features to offer compared with MindManager. Moreover, if you plan to use mind mapping for educational purposes, for sure Mindomo is the tool that will suit your needs better.

When it comes to value for money, Mindomo is clearly a great deal. It is much cheaper than MindManager, and it offers so many features.

On the other hand, MindManager comes with extra features that can be useful for very complex project planning. It is a good Desktop app, but the web version is limited. This can be a good choice if your purpose is project management and you want to use a Desktop app. If this is your case, go back to the task management table and think if the price difference is worth the money for you.

You can see full comparison charts for more mind mapping apps. Check out alternatives to MindMeister, and alternatives to Xmind.

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