🧠 Brainstorming Tool

Mind Map Builder

Free online mind map maker — no sign-up, no limits. Create visual mind maps with keyboard shortcuts, colour themes and PNG export. Auto-saves to your browser so your work is never lost.

No sign-up required Auto-saves to browser Keyboard shortcuts Export as PNG
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Free Mind Map Builder
Untitled Mind Map
Tab Add child Enter Add sibling Del Delete node Dbl-click Edit text Drag Move node Scroll Zoom Ctrl+Z Undo
Click a node to select. Tab = add child.
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✅
Turn your mind map into an actionable checklist
After brainstorming in the mind map, use the free Checklist Builder to turn your branches into a structured to-do list with drag-to-reorder and progress tracking.
Checklist Builder →
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How to use

How to Create a Mind Map Online Free

The mind map canvas starts with a central node. Click it to select, then use the toolbar or keyboard shortcuts to build your map. Everything saves automatically to your browser — no account needed.

ActionKeyboard shortcutToolbar button
Add child nodeTab+ Child
Add sibling nodeEnter+ Sibling
Edit node textDouble-click or F2—
Delete nodeDelete or BackspaceTrash icon
UndoCtrl + ZUndo button
Move node—Drag node
Pan canvas—Drag empty canvas
ZoomScroll wheel—
Centre view—Centre button
Export PNGCtrl + SExport PNG button
Use cases

What Is a Mind Map Used For?

Mind maps are one of the most versatile thinking tools. They transform a single central idea into a branching visual structure that helps the brain see relationships, gaps and patterns that linear notes miss. Here are the most common uses:

💡
Brainstorming
Rapidly expand a central idea in all directions without worrying about structure. Add branches freely and reorganise later.
📚
Study notes
Condense lecture notes or textbook chapters into a visual hierarchy. Easier to review and memorise than linear notes.
📋
Project planning
Break a project into phases, tasks and sub-tasks. See the full scope at a glance before committing to a timeline.
✍
Writing outlines
Plan articles, essays or books by mapping chapters, sections and key points before writing a single sentence.
💼
Decision making
Map out options, pros, cons and consequences visually to weigh a decision without missing important factors.
🏫
Teaching and lessons
Visualise a topic for students, showing the connections between concepts in a way that linear slides cannot.

Mind map vs concept map vs flowchart

FeatureMind mapConcept mapFlowchart
StructureRadial from one centreNetwork of nodesLinear sequence
Central nodesOneMultipleStart/end points
Best forBrainstorming, notesRelationship mappingProcesses, workflows
Cross-linksRareCommonDecision branches
Labels on connectionsNoYesYes (conditions)
Tips

Tips for Better Mind Maps

Start with a single strong central idea

The central node should be specific enough to focus your thinking but broad enough to branch in multiple directions. "Q4 marketing strategy" works better than "marketing" (too broad) or "Q4 Facebook ad budget" (too narrow).

Use short labels — one to three words per node

Nodes should be keywords or phrases, not full sentences. The brain processes visual keywords faster than sentences. If you find yourself writing a sentence in a node, it probably needs to be split into two or three nodes.

Use colour to signal hierarchy and categories

Use one colour per main branch to visually group related subtopics. This makes the map immediately scannable — you can locate sections by colour without reading every label. The colour palette in this tool lets you set individual node colours.

Build horizontally first, then vertically

Add all your main branches from the centre first (horizontal expansion), then add details to each branch (vertical deepening). This prevents you from over-detailing one area before you have mapped the full scope of the topic.

Export and insert into documents

Use the Export PNG button to download a high-quality image of your mind map. The PNG can be inserted into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion, or any other document. For presentations, a single mind map image is often more effective than multiple slides of bullet points.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Click the central node on the canvas to select it, then press Tab to add a child node. Double-click any node to edit its text. Press Tab again on a child to add grandchildren, or press Enter to add a sibling at the same level. No sign-up required — the mind map saves automatically to your browser each time you make a change.
Tab: add a child node. Enter: add a sibling node. Delete or Backspace: remove the selected node and all its children. Double-click (or F2): edit node text. Escape: deselect. Ctrl+Z: undo. Ctrl+S: export PNG. Scroll wheel: zoom in/out. Drag on empty canvas: pan. Drag a node: reposition it.
Yes. Click the Export PNG button in the toolbar (or press Ctrl+S) to download your mind map as a PNG image. The export captures the entire mind map including all nodes and branches. The PNG can be inserted into documents, presentations, shared directly or printed.
Yes. Your mind map is automatically saved to your browser's localStorage every time you make a change. It is restored automatically when you return to the page. No account or login is required. Note that clearing your browser data or using private/incognito mode will not persist the saved map.
Mind maps are used for brainstorming ideas, taking structured notes, planning projects, studying complex topics, outlining writing, organising information hierarchically and visualising relationships between concepts. They are popular with students, educators, writers, project managers and anyone who needs to think through and organise large amounts of information visually.
Yes. Select a node then click a colour swatch in the toolbar to change its colour. Each node can have its own colour. New child nodes inherit the parent's colour by default but can be changed individually. Using a different colour per main branch makes the map easier to scan at a glance.
A mind map has a single central idea with branches radiating outward in a tree hierarchy. A concept map can have multiple central nodes and allows cross-links between any nodes, with labelled relationship lines. Mind maps are better for brainstorming and note-taking around a single topic. Concept maps are better for showing complex networks of relationships between multiple topics.
There is no built-in node limit. The canvas is pannable and zoomable, so you can create as large a mind map as needed. The tool performs smoothly for typical mind maps up to several hundred nodes. For very large maps, exporting as PNG at higher zoom will produce a more detailed image.
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✅
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Turn your mind map branches into actionable checklists. Drag-to-reorder, PDF export.
⏱
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📝
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Count words and characters as you turn your mind map into written content.
🔗
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🏷
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💰
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