FreeMind

Softonic review

Free and easy to use mind mapping tool

Mind maps are an excellent tool for you to sort through your thoughts. Mapping out your ideas allows you to produce creative and unique concepts in less time. Unlike linear thinking, mind maps allow your consciousness to flow. They are typically drawn by hand, which creates a new problem as you are literally losing your ideas. If this is an issue you’re familiar with, you need a mind mapping software like FreeMind. 

What is Freemind software used for?

FreeMind is a productivity program that helps you capture your ideas visually. It’s suitable for users that are planning a project, writing long-form content, or ideating a campaign. By using a non-linear approach to brainstorming, you will be able to create a diagram that can be easily edited (unlike in Word or Excel where you’re confined to linear structures). 

The programs’ mind maps are created using notes and are joined by branches. Just like drawing on paper, you can rearrange the notes in any way that you want or need. Those that are new to mind maps may want to have the program arrange nodes and branches for you. It’s a useful function that helps introduce mind maps to beginners. 

Other designs include folding branches, icons on individual nodes, and clouds around branches. You can also reference external files; you can add HTML links and links to files stored in your local drive. If you need to share your mind map, you can export your work into HTML, XHTML, PDF, PNG, JPEG, SVD, and OpenDocument. 

Is FreeMind map software good?

It is unique from mind mapping tools since its source code is available online. Also classified as an open-source program, coders that want to debug and patch its program are welcome to do so since it ensures that it always runs smoothly. This also means programmers are allowed to contribute new features to the software. 

These developers likely use this program too so you’re sure to get new features. The downside of FreeMind is that it’s written in Java. While it is a cross-platform program, it will only run on a system with a Java Runtime Environment. XMind is a good alternative to FreeMind since it is also available on desktop and mobile.

It has all the capabilities of this program while offering a bit more in terms of extra features. New users can easily use this since it has a catalog of templates you can choose from. It also has features relevant to corporate work and clients such as Slide-Base Presentations, Gantt View, and integration with office suites.

Dated but worthwhile productivity program 

FreeMind has all the capabilities of a good productivity program to help you gather your thoughts and ideas. It’s open-source, offers manual and automatic editing, and is portable. The catch is that you need to have JRE installed on your computer. If you prefer to create mind maps on your computer’s current settings, then there are other similar programs available like XMind.