Free tool
Mind Map Maker That Works From the Keyboard and From Lists
Start from one central idea, press Tab to add a branch and Enter to add the next idea beside it, and the map arranges itself so nothing overlaps. You can also paste an indented list and get the whole map at once.
Your map is kept in your browser and never uploaded. The last map and your branch side setting stay on your own device for next time.
Getting ideas out first, tidying later
A mind map is most useful in the messy early stage of a job, such as listing what a new website needs, planning a month of articles, or breaking a brief into parts. The point is speed. If you have to reach for the mouse after every idea, you lose the thread. Here the keys do the work, and the layout engine does the tidying.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tab | Adds a branch under the selected idea |
| Enter | Adds a next idea at the same level |
| F2 or double-click | Renames the selected idea |
| Space | Folds or opens the branch |
| Arrow keys | Move between ideas |
| Delete | Removes the selected idea |
The toolbar has the same actions as buttons, plus undo, redo, zoom and Fit, which brings the whole map into view.
How the map arranges itself
The central idea sits in the middle and the main branches spread to the left and right, so a wide map does not run off one side. The Branches menu lets you put everything to the right instead, which reads more like an outline. Each main branch gets its own colour, and its sub-ideas share it, so a long map stays easy to follow.
- Long idea text wraps, and very long text is cut after four lines in the drawing.
- Folding a branch hides its sub-ideas from the picture, which is useful when you want to show the top level only.
- Undo keeps up to 100 steps, including opening a file or starting a new map.
Moving between lists and maps
Many people already hold ideas in a notes app as an indented list. Paste the list into the box below the map, press the button to make a map from it, and each level of indent becomes a level of branches. Dashes, stars, numbers and heading marks at the start of a line are tidied away. The first line becomes the central idea.
To go the other way, Copy as outline fills that box with the map as a list and copies it. Markdown saves the outline as a file with headings and bullets, and OPML saves the outline format that many outliners and mind map apps can read. You can also open a text, Markdown or OPML file of up to 5 MB, and the tool reads it into a map.
What makes a map worth keeping
- Use a few words per idea. A sentence in a node hides the structure that the map is meant to show.
- Keep the main branches between three and seven, so the first look is not a wall.
- Group before you detail. Name the branches first, then fill them.
- Fold finished branches while you work on another, then open all of them before you save.
- Export the outline as well as the picture, so the text can be searched and edited later.
When a map shows which pages a site needs and how they group, it makes a handy starting point for a redesign. Our website redesign SEO checklist lists what to keep track of while pages move.
Saving a picture
PNG is saved at twice the size for a sharp result, SVG is a vector file, and PDF fits an A4 page. Copy picture places the image on the clipboard. The background can be white or see-through. The New map button starts again from a single central idea, and Undo brings the old map back if you pressed it by mistake.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a branch quickly?
Select an idea and press Tab to add a branch under it, or Enter to add a next idea at the same level. Then type to name it.
Can I turn a bullet list into a mind map?
Yes. Paste an indented list into the outline box and press the button. The first line becomes the centre and each indent becomes a deeper level.
What is OPML?
It is a plain outline format that many outliner and mind map apps can open. The OPML button saves your map in that form.
Can I put all branches on one side?
Yes. Set Branches to All to the right and the map reads from left to right like an outline.
How do I hide part of the map?
Select a branch and press Space. Its sub-ideas fold away, and pressing Space again opens them.
Is my map stored online?
No. It stays in your browser on your own device and is never uploaded.
More free tools
- flowchart maker: Draw flowcharts with joined shapes or build one from typed steps, then save it as PNG, SVG or PDF.
- org chart maker: Make an org chart from an indented list or a CSV and save it as PNG, SVG or PDF.
- Markdown editor: Write Markdown with a live preview, then save it as .md, HTML or PDF.
- Word cloud generator: Make a word cloud from text or a counted list in any shape, then save it as PNG or SVG.
- timeline maker: Turn dated events into a timeline across or down the page and save it as PNG, SVG or PDF.