Coggle is a software tool that makes mind mapping simple. It’s a no-frills option that allows you to collaborate with your team and build colorful mind maps for better organization.
But that’s pretty much it. There are few additional features, no option to customize, and it’s only available as a web app. While it’s an effective mind-mapping tool, the outdated interface leaves much to be desired.
Lucky for you, there are several Coggle alternatives worth looking into.
Here, we’ll show you what to look for in the best alternatives to Coggle so you can choose the right tool for your thought processes. Then, we’ll highlight 10 of the best Coggle alternatives to organize your ideas, dream up new ones, and build a streamlined brainstorming process.
What Should You Look for In Coggle Alternatives?
Mind mapping is one of the best ways to write down thoughts, brainstorm new ideas, and see relationships between them. Do it on your own to organize your ideas or work with your team using an alternative to Coggle that offers advanced features.
Here’s what to look for in alternative options to Coggle:
- Unlimited size: Traditional mind mapping using a pencil and paper is unlimited—make sure the software tool you use is too. That way, you’ll find a place for all of your ideas, no matter how complex they become
- Media support: Sometimes, your ideas are clearer when they’re complemented by images, files, or documents. Choose a tool that lets you attach supporting files to your mind maps
- Sharing permissions: The best mind-mapping tools let you easily share your ideas with colleagues, clients, and customers
- AI tools for mind mapping: Newer tools feature built-in AI to come up with new ideas based on your inputs, making your brainstorming process more interactive
The 10 Best Coggle Alternatives to Use
Ready to find a Coggle alternative that offers more flexibility and advanced features? Here are 10 of the best paid and free Coggle alternatives. From full project management software to mind mapping software focused solely on creating mind maps, there’s something for every business need. ✨
1.
is a powerful visual project management tool that simplifies workflows, organizes work processes, and improves collaboration among team members. Mind Maps let you digitally organize your thoughts in a beautiful interface.
Choose between node-based or task-based mind maps depending on your preferred process. Use the drag-and-drop feature to create dependencies and map out workflows for tasks. Automatically assign tasks, build flowcharts, and highlight priorities.
For traditional mind mapping, the node-based approach offers easy brainstorming for future tasks, projects, and creative ideas. Use this key feature to easily turn a node into a detailed task with just a few clicks. Built-in color coding creates a visually pleasing map that highlights key segments.
Take brainstorming a step further with Whiteboards. Like pen and paper, this digital experience lets you draw, annotate, and add post-it notes to your ideas. Collaborate in real-time to move ideas from the drawing board to action items in half the time.
Go deeper with Docs where you can hash out ideas from your brainstorming session. Convert text into tasks and build out workflows right from your mind maps without having to switch between tools.
best features
- Real-time collaboration tools make it easy for distributed teams to work together, whether you’re mapping out a product or coming up with ideas for a new marketing campaign
- Simplify task management and workflows thanks to priority flags and task dependencies, and automatically create tasks straight from your mind maps or concept maps
- Seamless functionality with several operating systems, including Android and Apple iOS, lets you draw mind maps on Mac desktop, iPad, and iPhone without missing a beat
- Built-in AI offers suggestions based on your own ideas, making your mind maps more intuitive and creative—whether it’s for your personal life or for creating web pages
- The easy-to-use interface offers a simple mind-mapping approach with features to make the process as complex and in-depth as you want
limitations
- AI is only available on paid plans
- There is a learning curve to harness the full advanced features of the platform
pricing
- Free Forever
- Unlimited: $7/month per user
- Business: $12/month per user
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
- Brain: Available on all paid plans for $7/Workspace member/month
ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (3,800+ reviews)
2. Freeplane
Freeplane is a free alternative to Coggle. Written in Java, it works on any operating system with a current Java version. Use it to organize ideas with simple mind maps and generate new ones with ease.
Freeplane best features
- Run the tool locally or by using a portable device like a USB stick
- Advanced formatting options let you change fonts, background colors, and node details while also adding interactive icons
- Command search makes it easy to find all of your mind maps and specific nodes within a sheet
- Just like a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, enter formulas to link, concatenate, and sum up values in different nodes
Freeplane limitations
- The interface isn’t always intuitive and can be confusing for new users
- There are no real-time collaboration features, so you can’t work with other team members on the same mind map
Freeplane pricing
Freeplane ratings and reviews
3. Xmind
Comparing themselves to a Swiss army knife, Xmind is an all-in-one mind mapping tool with bonus features to make brainstorming more creative. Quickly jot down ideas, add organization to connect them, and choose color themes to customize the look.
Xmind best features
- Rich text styles improve readability, no matter how complex your mind maps are
- The built-in numbering feature lets you build stages based on ideas
- Create task schedules using the different mind map steps to build a simplified workflow
- Share ideas by creating presentations using Pitch Mode
Xmind limitations
- Some users wished there were more plugins and integrations with other tools
- Customizations for line size and node shape could be more advanced
Xmind pricing
- Free
- Xmind Pro Annual: $59.99/year
- Xmind Pro Monthly: $5.99/month
Xmind ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (100+ reviews)
4. MindMeister
MindMeister is one of the prettiest mind map tools out there. Featuring color coding for clarity, there’s also no limit on subtopics—or on how in-depth you take your maps. Attachments and embedded media round out the tool functionality, increasing your control over the look and depth of your brainstorming.
MindMeister best features
- Mixed map layouts let you choose from three different mapping styles or use the different options in the same mind map
- Instantly turn mind maps into presentations and share your ideas with the rest of the team or stakeholders
- Create maps faster than ever thanks to mind map templates with different layouts for any use case
- Add connections to show relationships between two ideas and build better workflows
MindMeister limitations
- The free plan doesn’t include all of the features
- Some users found the web-based version less intuitive compared to the desktop app
MindMeister pricing
- Basic: Free
- Personal: $6/user/month
- Pro: $10/user/month
- Business: $15/user/month
MindMeister ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (30+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (200+ reviews)
5. FreeMind
Freemind is a free Coggle alternative that simplifies project planning by improving mind mapping and brainstorming. The interface is simple and mimics the look of traditional paper-and-pen mind mapping. Limited features keep the focus on the thought process without any bells and whistles.
FreeMind best features
- Keyboard shortcuts let you map out ideas without having to touch your mouse
- Web hyperlinks highlight nodes and provide valuable context
- Use folding branches to break ideas into sections and focus on what matters most
- Graphical links create connections between nodes to emphasize what ideas are dependent on or related to other topics
FreeMind limitations
- There are no options for changing color schemes or using color coding to highlight connections
- The interface might be confusing for new users
FreeMind pricing
FreeMind ratings and reviews
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: 4.3/5 (10+ reviews)
6. Mindomo
Mindomo is a visual workflow tool that offers mind maps, Gantt charts, and outlines to organize ideas. Use the online mind mapping tool to create ideas for social media posts, simplify note taking, and improve team collaboration. ✅
Mindomo best features
- Hundreds of brainstorming templates for different use cases save time, unleash creativity, and improve conceptualization
- Outlining features create linear connections between ideas, offering clarity for workflows
- Collaborative Gantt charts paired with mind mapping create a streamlined project management timeline
- Built-in data protection and security features keep your ideas safe
Mindomo limitations
- No integration with project management software means there’s no way to automatically create tasks from your mind maps
- Pricing is per user, which gets costly if you have a large team
Mindomo pricing
- Free
- Premium: $5.50/month
- Professional: $13.50/month
- Team: $16.50/month
Mindomo ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (10+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (30+ reviews)
7. Lucidchart
Lucidchart is a collaborative tool that makes it easier for teams to brainstorm and organize ideas. The intelligent diagramming is more advanced than other options on this list, with features like diagrams, contextual data, and app integrations.
Lucidchart best features
- Works on any device, web browser, and operating system, including Windows, Linux, and iOS
- Team collaboration features, including co-authoring, in-editor chat, and collaborative cursors, let you work in real-time
- Use data-linking embeddable charts and auto-visualization to add context to creative ideas
- Integrations with apps like Jira, Slack, and Google Workspace provide seamless workflows with your favorite tools
Lucidchart limitations
- The zoom and scroll interface takes some time to get used to
- The free version offers a lot of functionality but doesn’t allow you to print mind maps
Lucidchart pricing
- Free
- Individual: $7.95/month
- Team: $9/user/month
- Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing
Lucidchart ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (4,700+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (2,000+ reviews)
8. MindManager
Take brainstorming to new heights with MindManager, a robust organizational tool. Featuring everything from mind maps and org charts to concept maps and Kanban boards, it’s ideal for visualizing all of your workflows and creative processes.
MindManager best features
- Mind maps offer color coding that clearly identifies segments and related ideas
- Priority markers call attention to the most important ideas or concepts
- Custom fields let you add context to flesh out ideas and create a clearer understanding when sharing with team members
- Drag-and-drop functionality takes linear ideas and makes them more flexible so your map gets organized in a way that makes sense to you
MindManager limitations
- Some users found the tool glitched if they tried to open several large mind maps at the same time
- There are no AI features, which some people thought would be helpful for generating new ideas and organizing concepts
MindManager pricing
- Essentials: $99/year
- Professional: $179/year, or one-time purchase of $369
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
MindManager ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (100+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (60+ reviews)
9. Miro
Miro is a visual workspace that features digital whiteboards for complex mind mapping. More than 60 million users enjoy this Coggle alternative. Use Miro to strategize ideas, plan road maps, and design products that serve your customers. ✍️
Miro best features
- Miro Assist, a built-in AI tool, instantly generates mind maps based on topic prompts
- The drag-and-drop feature lets you organize your thoughts and create relationships between topical ideas
- Customize the design with colors, images, and styles to show off your ideas as a reflection of the company brand
- Ditch PowerPoint and hop into Presentation Mode to instantly share your mind maps without switching tools
Miro limitations
- While fairly easy to use, there is a slight learning curve to fully use all of the features
- Some users wish there were better project management software integrations
Miro pricing
- Free
- Starter: $8/member/month
- Business: $16/member/month
- Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing
Miro ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.8/5 (5,100+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (1,300+ reviews)
10. Milanote
Milanote is a visual collaboration platform that uses boards and maps to gather and share ideas. Use Milanote to build a mood board for product inspiration or to create a mind map connecting ideas for new campaigns.
Milanote best features
- Dozens of templates, including project plans, UX design, and flowchart templates, save time and effort when it comes time to map what’s in your head
- Connect your ideas with lines and use text, images, and videos to describe your ideas all in one space
- The drag-and-drop interface is intuitive, making it easy to move ideas around where they fit best
- Jot down personal ideas for your eyes only or adjust permissions to collaborate in real time with team members
Milanote limitations
- There’s no offline mode so you have to be connected to the internet to get work done
- Some plans have card limits on boards or mind maps, limiting the functionality
Milanote pricing
- Free
- Per person: $9.99/month
- Team: $49/month (up to 10 people)
Milanote ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (40+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (50+ reviews)
Build Better Mind Maps With
With these Coggle alternatives, you can take simple, bare-bones mind mapping to new heights. Many of these tools offer advanced features like real-time collaboration, color coding, and drag-and-drop interfaces for better mind mapping.
Sign up for today and start creating organized mind maps with more context. Plus, built-in AI tools generate ideas you’ve never even thought of, while task management features let you turn those ideas into actionable items.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
