Alternative to XMind: Detailed Comparison

XMind and Mindomo are two of the most popular mind map creators on the market. Both have online versions, Desktop, and mobile mind map apps. That makes them complex cross-platform tools.

But which one is better and why choose it?
Let’s compare them and find out!

It’s very important to have enough features to express yourself while you create your diagrams, without being limited.

Therefore, the diagram editing functionalities are one of the key elements for a professional mapping tool.

There are no differences between the Desktop app and the online version of Mindomo when it comes to map styling features.

Mindomo has some map styling options that XMind doesn’t have and vice versa. Both tools offer a big variety of customization options, it depends on what is more important for you.

For example, XMind has customizable text on boundaries, and Mindomo doesn’t have it.

XMind has some features that Mindomo also has, divided into more different ones. It gives the impression that it has extra features. For instance, the “Auto balance map”, “Compact map” or “Branch free-position” are 3 different options at XMind.

Mindomo has the “Auto balance map option” that contains all modifications of these 3 features in only one option. It’s 3 in 1, and you can have the same effect with only one click.

Mindomo is a professional mind map maker that has more options for line formats, topic styles, it has anchor point options, customizable weight, and freely resize topics’ width and height by dragging and dropping them, while XMind has customizable text on boundaries, etc. Mindomo has a bigger variety of map styling options overall. Taking a look at the above table helps you choose what is more important for you when you customize your diagrams.

When learning how to create a mind map, it’s important to choose a tool that gives you the freedom to add unlimited files and multimedia attachments—so your ideas can grow without limitations.

The variety of formats helps you create information-rich diagrams with a minimalist design. Therefore, it’s one of the most important aspects you should consider when you’re choosing professional software.

There is a huge difference in file and multimedia attachments between Mindomo and XMind. Mindomo is definitely the better option when it comes to information you can add to your mind map diagrams. It allows you to keep a huge variety of files in your topics, comments, and notes. XMind has partly caught up (file attachments on Pro/Premium, audio notes, comments), but it still can’t embed videos.

In Mindomo, the online mind map tool and the Desktop version offer the same attachment options, while XMind keeps a few, such as audio recording, on the Desktop app only.

Mindomo still offers more online features overall, such as concept maps, history playback, education tools, and more task filters.

XMind’s online version has improved a lot: it now has cloud storage, Pitch Mode, a Gantt view, templates, version history, import, and real-time collaboration. Much of it depends on the plan, though: Free users get 10 cloud maps, 5 pitches, a view-only Gantt chart, and PNG-only export, and the browser app needs an internet connection.

The big advantage of XMind is that it has more visualization options. In other words, you can change the structure of your diagram with one click.

Here is how the Desktop apps compare:

Comparing the Desktop apps features of XMind and Mindomo we see noticeable differences. XMind has some advantages over Mindomo: it has more printing formats and more visualization options.

Mindomo still has the edge in several areas: a concept map view, a full history of changes you can play back, more task filters (by date, assignee, or deadline), and an Auto Night mode (it changes depending on the theme color you’re using on a diagram).

XMind has closed several gaps in recent years. It syncs maps through its own cloud (My Works), offers a Gantt view and version history on paid plans, and publishes templates in its Template Marketplace. Its Pitch mode can be customized with themes, aspect ratios, and per-topic slides, and exported to PowerPoint and PDF.

Both tools offer a wide library of mind map templates, and Mindomo also groups them by account type (education, business, and personal).

The online version of XMind now supports collaboration: you can invite people by email with view or edit rights, share with your team, embed diagrams, and add comments. Real-time co-editing requires the Premium or Business plan, and free users can only share for viewing.

Published links can be protected with a password. In Mindomo, real-time collaboration and chat are available on every plan, including the free one.

The two Desktop apps have advantages and disadvantages when it comes to collaboration.

Both Desktop apps support real-time collaboration with users on other devices. In Mindomo it works whenever you have an internet connection and the diagram is synced with the cloud; in XMind it requires a Premium or Business plan.

On the other hand, XMind allows you to encrypt your local diagrams with a password from the Desktop app. In Mindomo you can only encrypt diagrams with a password from the online version (you still need to add the password when you open the diagram from the Desktop app).

In addition, XMind allows you to share your diagrams directly via the Desktop app: by email, with a link, as an embed code, on the XMind Gallery, on social media, a blog, and Evernote. In Mindomo you can’t share diagrams directly from the Desktop app, you have to sync them with the cloud so you can further share them from the web version.

XMind has added task management features in recent versions: To-Do checkboxes on the Pro plan, and on Premium, tasks with assignees, start and due dates, dependencies, a Gantt view, and export to a calendar file. It also has comments. It still has no votes, recurring tasks, task reminders, or live calendar feed.

If you need a tool with complete task management features, Mindomo is the winner between these 2 (both online and Desktop apps), and its task features start with the Premium plan.

The types of diagrams are slightly different between the two tools. XMind has some extra diagram types: brace map, tree table, and matrix.

However, you can create a brace map with Mindomo using a template from the Mindomo library. Mindomo has Concept map diagrams, which XMind hasn’t, and both tools now offer a Gantt chart view. Depending on what you use more often, you can pick which tool is better at this aspect.

The types of diagrams are the same on the online and Desktop apps.

Both Mindomo and Xmind are cross-platform tools, and they have the same available platforms.

XMind’s older desktop app, Xmind 8, has reached the end of maintenance: only existing Xmind 8 Pro license holders can still download it. This comparison covers the current Xmind app.

Mindomo and XMind have different types of plans. XMind sells one subscription (Pro or Premium) that covers its web, desktop and mobile apps, plus a Business plan for teams, while Mindomo has 8 options including a completely free one. The other 7 subscription plans are dedicated to specific uses and they come with dedicated features and templates.

The Desktop plans are also different. Both tools provide free versions of their mind mapping software, along with paid plans that unlock additional features. With Mindomo you can choose an annual/6-months subscription or a lifetime unique purchase. The lifetime option gives access forever to that version and one year of updates and support. You can extend the updates and support for another year for 36€. There are custom offers for institutions, universities, etc.

XMind has no lifetime purchase for individuals (it offers lifetime licenses only to businesses, through its sales team): you subscribe monthly or yearly. There are education discounts, but they don’t give you access to special features (Mindomo has dedicated features and templates for each account type to support its use cases).

Mindomo and XMind are two great mind mapping software that offer many features for an amazing experience. They have intuitive interfaces and both are user-friendly. Both tools are cross-platform, offering an online version, Desktop apps, and mobile apps as well.

XMind has caught up in many areas: its web app now has cloud storage, real-time co-editing, comments, Xmind AI, Pitch presentations, and Gantt and task planning, under one subscription for web, desktop, and mobile. Most of these features require its Premium plan.

Mindomo is better at map styling, has way more options to attach files (including videos), and offers real-time collaboration and chat on every plan, including the free one. Its task management goes further (recurring tasks, reminders, votes, an iCal feed), and it has dedicated educational features and LMS integrations that XMind lacks. Not to mention Mindomo has a huge variety of templates, concept maps, history playback, and multiple account types for specific purposes.

In other words, Mindomo is better for collaboration on a budget, education purposes, and task management. It also has the huge advantage of having a huge variety of templates applicable for a lot of use cases. Mindomo provides specific features and resources for your use (education, personal, and work), and is not a simple mind mapping tool.

On the other hand, XMind has some great features which Mindomo hasn’t: you can switch the view of your diagrams into more formats with one click, you can make more types of diagrams (tables as well). You also have the labels on topics, more printing formats, and smaller editing features.

That is to say, XMind can be your choice if you need to work with more types of diagrams, including tables. Otherwise, Mindomo has more to offer.

Compare more tools to find the best mind mapping software: alternatives to MindMeister, alternatives to MindManager.