Mind mapping is a versatile way to visually organise ideas. Whether you’re brainstorming, outlining an essay, revising for exams, or planning a project, mind maps offer a creative, structured approach to thinking. For learners who use assistive technology—or anyone who prefers a more visual way of working—digital mind mapping can be a game-changer.
Why Use Mind Mapping?
Mind mapping helps users:
- Break complex tasks into manageable pieces
- See connections between ideas
- Improve memory and recall using visuals
- Reduce overwhelm and support focus
- Engage both creative and logical thinking
- Meet learners where they are, and build on their existing knowledge
For learners with learning differences or processing difficulties, this non-linear method can ease the challenges of organising thoughts and getting started.
Mind Mapping Tools
Many mind mapping tools are available, either standalone or within literacy support packages and some work especially well with assistive technologies like screen readers, text-to-speech, and speech recognition software. While learners often start with pen and paper, digital mind mapping offers a cleaner presentation and easy transfer to apps like word processors or presentation software. You don’t need specialist software—programs like PowerPoint can be used to create mind maps, as shown in the video below.
PowerPoint mind map tutorial
Popular Mind Mapping Tools
These tools vary in complexity and cost (free, subscription, or one-time payment). We’ve selected popular options used in education and support settings, listed roughly from simpler to more advanced. Trialling different tools is recommended to find the best fit. Where available, we’ve included links to short videos for a closer look.
Coggle
Coggle is a simple online tool for creating mind maps and flowcharts. It helps you visually organise ideas by connecting branches to a central topic. You can collaborate in real time and add text, images, or links. It’s great for brainstorming, planning, and studying in a clear, visual way. It is a lovely tool for anyone new to mind mapping.
Cost: Free (limited private diagrams), Awesome plan €5/month, Organisation plan €8/member/month.
Popplet
Popplet is a simple, yet creative mind mapping app designed to help users visually organise ideas, facts, and concepts. It uses customisable squares called “popples” that can contain text, images, drawings, and videos, all arranged on a visual canvas. Users can draw directly on popples, add annotations, and link to external resources. It’s fun and intuitive, especially for younger learners, and supports iOS dictation.
Here is a video of a learner from Galway using the app –Alex Using Popplet
Cost: Free version with limited features, Solo plan ~ €1.85/month or ~ €18.50/year. Group pricing is available.
Inspiration (Windows & Online)
Inspiration mind mapping software has been around for a long time. It offers flexible visual outputs, allowing users to create mind maps, process diagrams, and outlines, making it ideal for learners, educators, and professionals. It’s excellent for revision, planning, and presentations. Its Outline View helps turn a mind map into a clear writing plan. Its RapidFire brainstorming tool helps with quickly capturing ideas and visually arranging them using symbols, images, and colour-coded themes. It includes over 150 templates, a citation tool for referencing, and the ability to export work to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs, and more, but users may need to manually format headings to generate a Table of Contents in Word. Mac users can access the online version, though the Windows version offers the full feature set.
Cost: Free 30-day trial, Perpetual licence for single user €127.92. Organisation licence available.
Ayoa Mind Maps for Kids
Ayoa Mind Maps for Kids is an engaging mind mapping tool for younger learners. It provides a child-friendly space where children can visually express ideas, tell stories, and develop independent thinking through colourful Mind Maps. With intuitive tools like drawing features, emojis, sound effects, and a snapshot camera, it’s great for homework, projects and topic work in school. Children can save and share their creations with teachers; it is a great app to introduce young minds to the world of mind mapping and creative learning.
Cost: Free with no in-app purchases.
Mindmapping in Notebook LM
Google Notebook’s LM Mind Mapping feature, which is part of Google Notebook LM, is a great tool if you want to transform your notes and source materials into interactive visual diagrams. It is designed to handle a lot of different source content, such as Word documents, PDFs, audio notes, website links and YouTube videos, and creates a mind map based on the information found in the source(s) uploaded. It takes key concepts and organises them into branching nodes—ideal for visualising relationships and subtopics. Users can expand or collapse branches, interact with the map in full-screen mode, and download static versions for offline use. Customisation of the mind map is limited, but it’s ideal for managing dense content, so it is especially useful for educators, learners, and professionals.
Cost: Free
X mind
X-Mind is a powerful mind mapping tool used to organise ideas, brainstorm, and plan projects visually. It offers multiple diagram styles, like tree charts, fishbone, and timelines, to suit different thinking styles. You can add lots of additional items to your mind map, such as notes, audio, labels, and even mathematical equations. Due to the richness of the features, X-mind may be more suited to those familiar with mind mapping.
Cost: Free with limited features, Pro: €4.92/month, Premium: €8.25/month.
MindView
MindView is a professional-grade mind mapping tool used by learners, researchers, and academic staff. It offers a rich set of features tailored for both individual and collaborative work. Key capabilities include built-in referencing tools, Gantt charts and Kanban views for project planning, and seamless export options to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF. The software supports full Microsoft Styles export and automatically applies heading levels for structured documents. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac. It also integrates with Microsoft Teams for streamlined teamwork. Accessibility is a core strength, with support for Dragon voice commands, voice notes, and compatibility with various assistive technologies.
Cost: Free trial; 1-year subscription ~€18.50/month, 2-year ~€15.75/month, 3-year ~€13.90/month. Organisation licences available.
MindGenius
MindGenius is another structured, powerful tool—ideal for learners who want a focused academic or project-management experience. Key features include task assignment, Gantt chart views, deadline tracking, and seamless integration with Microsoft Office tools. Its user-friendly interface supports both individual productivity and team collaboration. While Windows-only, it’s a strong choice for detailed planning and breaking down long-form assignments.
Cost: ~€11.70/month. 14-day free trial available, no credit card required. Options for annual subscriptions and volume licensing.
MindMapping as part of Fully Featured Literacy Support Tools
For some people, mindmapping may only be one element of a comprehensive solution to manage their literacy needs. In such cases, they may already be using software, like the one below, to help with reading, writing and understanding text, and mind mapping may be one of the tools included in their solution.
- Clicker Boards in Clicker 8
Clicker 8 includes a mind-mapping tool with symbol support, making it ideal for younger learners or those who benefit from visual prompts. Users can create visual maps and export them into word banks for writing tasks in Clicker Docs. Clicker Boards Demo Video - DocsPlus
Designed for older learners, DocsPlus offers features like mind mapping, text-to-speech, word prediction, and spelling support. It’s less visually playful than Clicker, which may appeal more to teens and adults who prefer a mature look and feel. DocsPlus Demo Video - ClaroRead
Claro Software offers a companion product called ClaroIdeas that supports visual thinking and idea organisation. ClaroIdeas allows users to create concept maps using text, images, and colour-coded branches, which can help structure thoughts before writing. - TextHelp Read and Write
TextHelp Read&Write includes a feature called Fact Mapper, which supports mind mapping by helping users visually organise ideas and information before writing. This tool allows learners to create structured diagrams using keywords, images, and colour-coded branches, making it easier to plan essays, reports, or creative writing.
Practical tips
Five practical tips for introducing mind mapping effectively, especially in educational settings:
- Start with a Simple Example– Use familiar topics like “My Day” or “Favourite Foods” to introduce branching ideas without overwhelming learners.
- Use Visuals and Colour– Encourage images, colours, and symbols to support visual learners and boost engagement.
- Explain the Purpose– Explain how mind mapping aids memory, planning, and creativity—tailor this to your audience (e.g. study skills or team brainstorming).
- Model the Process-Create a mind map in real time—on paper, a whiteboard, or using software—so learners can see how ideas evolve and connect.
- Make It Interactive– Let learners build their own maps—individually or in groups—using prompts or templates to guide them.
Tips and Tricks
- Use voice notes or templates to overcome blank-page anxiety.
- Stick to short phrases, keywords, and visuals.
- Try colour coding themes and using arrows or shapes to show connections.
- Tech isn’t required—paper and pencil work well, especially for beginners.
- Start with a template to show how ideas group together.
- For kids, co-create a fun, low-pressure mind map to build confidence and familiarity.
Conclusion
Mind mapping offers a flexible way for learners to express, plan, and structure their ideas. With the right tool—especially one that supports assistive technology—learners can build confidence, reduce overwhelm, and produce better work.
Whether you’re supporting someone with a learning difference, an international learner working from home, or just looking for a smarter way to think visually, there’s a tool out there to meet your needs.
You might also want to read our post on the Top 5 Apps for Primary Education 2024 and Top 5 Apps for Secondary Education 2024.