Alternatives to MindManager - Detailed Comparison
Choosing the best mind mapping software can be a hard decision. There are many alternatives to MindManager on the market, but which one offers what you need?
MindManager VS Mindomo
MindManager and Mindomo are two cross-platform offline and online mind mapping tools. Both software offers advanced functionalities, a big variety of diagrams, and can be really helpful for project management, personal life, and education.
But which one fits your needs best? Which one should you choose?
Let’s make a detailed comparison of these tools and figure it out.
1. Diagram Editing Functionalities
When you choose a mind mapping software the diagram editing functionalities are very important. You will express yourself and you will use them every time you use the tool.
1.1. Map Styling
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Topic shape |
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Topic style |
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Topic gradient |
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Color | Color picker for:
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Padding |
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Topic size |
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Topic border’s weight |
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Text formatting |
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Connections |
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Boundary |
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Themes | Theme Editor that contains:
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Relationships | Fully customizable relationships between topics:
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Summary |
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Floating topic |
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The MindManager’s online mapping tool is very limited and it doesn’t offer many map styling options. However, Mindomo is an advanced online mind mapping software that allows you to customize your diagrams exactly how you imagine. When you have ideas to capture, organize or explain it’s important to have freedom when it comes to illustrating them in a visual way.
MindManager and Mindomo also have Desktop apps. Let’s take a closer look at their map styling characteristics:
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Topic shape |
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Topic style |
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Topic gradient |
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Color | Color picker for:
| Color picker for:
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Padding |
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Topic size |
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Topic border’s weight |
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Text formatting |
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Connections |
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Boundary |
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Themes | Theme Editor that contains:
| Theme Editor that contains:
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Relationships | Fully customizable relationships between topics:
| Customizable relationships between topics:
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Floating topic |
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Numbering |
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Summary |
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Callout |
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Tag/Hashtag |
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Shapes and Smart Shapes |
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Text box |
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When it comes to the Desktop mind mapping tools, MindManager has more features to offer compared to its online version. The online version of MindManager is very rudimentary. Compared with Mindomo, we can notice that both tools have common features but each of them has to offer something extra, it all depends on what you are looking for.
Map styling is a very important aspect because we are talking about visual diagrams, it’s a mandatory criterion when you are going to use a tool to visually organize information.
First of all, Mindomo is a more intuitive mind map app and has a fresh, modern, and minimalist interface. This minimalist design gives you more space on the screen for your mind maps. Moreover, you have everything in handy and a cool and modern design. MindManager has a loaded interface, with two toolbars, many buttons, and options all over the screen.
At first look at the comparison table, it seems like MindManager comes with more extra features. In MindManager, you can add a text box, shapes, or callouts. With Mindomo you don’t have these separate options, but if you want to add a “text box” you can simply add a floating topic with no border, and you’ll have the same result. Mindomo doesn’t have a “callout” separate option, but you can add a topic that has the topic shape just like the “callout” one, and you will get the same result.
MindManager comes with some extra options for the theme editor, like cascading text sizes option, 3 map density options, and 4 topic predefined sizes. On Mindomo, you can only manually customize all of these. MindManager also offers the advantage of having the option to match width with other topics, more fonts, and an option to add shadow to connections.
However, Mindomo has some other features that MindManager doesn’t offer, like more topic shapes, freely resizing topics’ width and height by dragging and dropping them, multicolor palettes, predefined topic styles, the boundary is applicable on multiple topics (and subtopics), gradient options, import and export themes.
1.2. File & Multimedia Attachments
The file and multimedia attachments are crucial aspects when you create mind maps. A mind map diagram should be easy to read with keywords, not long phrases, but be rich in information.
That is the reason why your mapping tool should allow you to add as many types of files or multimedia attachments.
Mindomo (Online) | MindManager (Online) | |
Images | ✅Upload images from PC | ✅Upload images from PC |
Icons and Emojis | ✅Big variety of icons sorted into categories | ✅Big variety of icons sorted into categories |
Videos | ✅Upload videos from PC, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive | ❌No option to upload videos from PC, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive |
Audio files | ✅Upload audio files from PC, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive | ❌No Option to Upload audio files from PC, Google Drive Dropbox, and OneDrive |
Documents | ✅Upload document files from PC | ✅Upload document files from PC |
Links | ✅Insert URL | ✅Insert URL |
Notes panel | ✅Revamped notes panels (normal and maximized) | ✅Revamped notes panels (you can manually change the size) |
Comments panel | ✅Revamped comments panels (normal and maximized) | ✅Revamped comments panels (normal and maximized) |
The online version of MindManager is also very limited compared to Mindomo when it comes to file and multimedia attachments.
Mindomo (Desktop) | MindManager (Desktop) | |
Images | ✅Upload images from PC | ✅Upload images from PC |
Icons and Emojis | ✅Big variety of icons sorted into categories | ✅Big variety of icons sorted into categories |
Videos | ✅Upload videos from PC | ❌No option to Upload videos from PC |
Audio files | ✅Upload audio files from PC | ✅Upload audio files from PC (only as a document) |
Documents | ✅Upload documents files from PC | ✅Upload documents files from PC |
Links | ✅Insert URL | ✅Insert URL |
Notes panel | ✅Revamped notes panels (normal and maximized) | ✅Revamped notes panels (you can manually change the size) |
Comments panel | ✅Revamped comments panels (normal and maximized) | ✅Revamped comments panels (you can manually change the size) |
Map or map parts | ✅You can insert a map or a part of the map (using copy and paste branch functionality) | ✅ You can insert a map or a part of a map |
Mindomo offers more file and multimedia attachment options than MindManager on both offline and online mind mapping tools.
This is a very useful advantage if you use the tool for project planning, task management, education, or personal life.
1.3. Features
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Presenter mode |
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Visualization options (switch view) | ✅Mind map | ✅Mind map (Standard) ❌No Fishbone (Left or Right) |
Templates |
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Public Gallery |
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Undo/Redo |
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History of changes |
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Dashboard |
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Duplicate diagram |
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Drill down |
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Full screen mode |
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View Mode |
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Night Mode |
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Import | 14 import formats:
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Export | 20 export formats:
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6 printing formats:
| 2 custom printing formats:
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Editing with no network connection |
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Filtering |
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Folder organization |
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Shortcuts |
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Cloud storage |
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When it comes to features, Mindomo is again the winner of these two online software. It has more features to offer.
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Online-Offline Synchronization |
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Cloud storage |
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Presenter mode |
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Visualization options (switch view) | ✅Mind map ✅Fishbone (Left or Right) | ✅Mind map (Standard) ❌No Fishbone (Left or Right) |
Templates |
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Public Gallery |
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Undo/Redo |
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History of changes |
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Duplicate diagram |
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Drill down |
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Full screen mode |
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Night mode |
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Import | 14 import formats:
| 6 import formats:
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Export | 20 export formats:
| 7 export formats:
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6 printing formats:
| 23 printing formats:
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Filtering |
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Shortcuts |
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Topic Properties |
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AutoCalc |
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Formulas |
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Split topics |
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Sort |
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Smart Rules |
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Insert other elements |
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Find & Replace |
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The Desktop mapping tools are both advanced, and MindManager comes with a series of great extra features, such as smart rules, sorting options, elements that can be inserted, topic properties, etc.
The MindManager Desktop app has more features that are great for calculations, task management, and project management.
2. Collaboration
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Share | ✅Share with specific people (by email address) | ❌No option to share with specific people (by email address) |
Password protected diagrams | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
Real-time collaboration | ✅Yes ✅Undo/redo ✅Chat ✅Comments ✅Votes ✅Attachments | ✅Yes - Co-edit option has limitations ✅Edit |
When it comes to collaboration and especially real-time collaboration, Mindomo is the best choice between the two online collaborative mind mapping tools.
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Share | ❌No option to share with specific people (by email address) ✅Option to set rights to collaborators (can view, can copy, can edit the diagram) - after you sync the diagram with the online account, you can set rights to the people you share it with
| ✅Share with specific people (by email address) ✅Option to set rights to collaborators (Co-edit option) ✅You can upload your diagram on a cloud storage service provider (Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint) |
Pack Map | ✅Yes | ❌No |
Real-time collaboration | ✅Yes: | ✅Yes - using the Co-edit option that has limitations You have to store your diagram on Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, Dropbox, or SharePoint first. ✅Edit |
Both tools allow you to collaborate with other users. However, Mindomo is easier to use when it comes to real-time collaboration.
3. Task Management Functionalities
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Tasks | ✅Tasks with checkboxes | ❌No tasks with checkboxes |
Tasks notifications/ | ✅Email notifications | ✅Email notifications |
iCal task feed | ✅Automatically sync your tasks with your calendar | ❌No |
Team Administration panel | ✅Yes | ✅MindManager Enterprise |
Mindomo and MindManager are both amazing tools you can use for task management. Mindomo has the advantage of showing the checkboxes and organizing information in a simpler way for you. On the other hand, MindManager offers a few extra options if you want to add to your tasks.
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Tasks | ✅Tasks with checkboxes | ❌No tasks with checkboxes |
Tasks notifications/ | ✅Email notifications | ✅Email notifications |
iCal task feed | ✅Automatically sync your tasks with your calendar | ❌No |
Team Administration panel | ✅Yes | ✅MindManager Enterprise |
Like the online version of the software, MindManager comes with a few extra features that can be useful for very complex projects. However, if you want to keep a complex but minimalist design of your plan, Mindomo is a great option.
4. Education Features
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Organization | ✅Create classes ✅Create schools | ❌No option to create classes |
Assignments | ✅Blank mind map assignments Multiple sharing options: ✅By email | ❌No blank mind map assignments
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Grading | ✅Private grades for assignments | ❌No private grades for assignments |
Mindomo is your mind mapping tool if you plan to use mind mapping for educational purposes. It has dedicated functionalities such as assignments, grading options, and dedicated mind map templates.
5. Types of Diagrams
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Online Diagrams | ✅Mind map ✅Fishbone (Left or Right) | ✅Mind map (Radial) |
Desktop Diagrams | ✅Mind map ✅Fishbone (Left or Right) | ✅Mind map (Radial) ❌No Fishbone (Left or Right) |
Both Mindomo and MindManager have a big variety of diagrams, some of them can be created as blank diagrams, and some of them can be transformed into, for example in MindManager you can not start a blank outline, but after you create for example a mind map you can turn it into an outline by changing its view.
MindManager has more blank diagram options on the Desktop app.
6. Available Platforms
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Platforms | ✅Web app (Online) | ✅Web app (Online) |
MindManager and Mindomo are both cross-platform tools. They can be accessed online from a browser or via their apps available for Desktop and Mobile.
*MindManager has four products:
MindManager Professional
MindManager Essentials
MindManager for Microsoft Teams
MindManager Enterprise
7. Integrations
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Integrations for educational institutions | ✅Canvas | ❌No Canvas |
Business & Personal integrations | ✅Google Drive | ✅Google Drive |
The integrations of MindManager are oriented to business and personal purposes, and not in the education directions. However, Mindomo offers integrations for education, business, and personal purposes.
8. Other Features
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Secure backup and export data |
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Two factor authentication |
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Extensions |
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E-mail support |
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Chat support |
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Phone (support) |
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Forum (support) |
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Help page (support) |
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FAQ (support) |
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Video tutorials |
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Both Mindomo and MindManager have help pages, support, and contact information.
9. Accounts and Plans
Mindomo | MindManager | |
Account types & Prices | 🏷️Free - free (always) | 🏷️Free - free (30 days trial) |
The difference between the prices of Mindomo and MindManager is noticeable. Both can be used as free mind map software, but with limitations.
MindManager’s price is higher than Mindomo’s, and MindManager doesn’t offer a free account – it only offers a 30 days trial. On the other hand, Mindomo offers a free account for an unlimited time.
When it comes to pricing, Mindomo is more convenient than MindManager.
Which One is Better?
Both MindManager and Mindomo are professional mind mapping software. Each tool offers amazing features and a great experience for its users.
This detailed comparison shows a lot of aspects, and in the end, you should choose the tool that is right for you and offers the features that you need more.
Mindomo is more versatile, and it has a minimalist and fresh design. It is also a more intuitive mind map tool. The web version of Mindomo has many more features to offer compared with MindManager. Moreover, if you plan to use mind mapping for educational purposes, for sure Mindomo is the tool that will suit your needs better.
When it comes to value for money, Mindomo is clearly a great deal. It is much cheaper than MindManager, and it offers so many features.
On the other hand, MindManager comes with extra features that can be useful for very complex project planning. It is a good Desktop app, but the web version is limited. This can be a good choice if your purpose is project management and you want to use a Desktop app. If this is your case, go back to the task management table and think if the price difference is worth the money for you.
You can see full comparison charts for more mind mapping apps. Check out alternatives to MindMeister, and alternatives to Xmind.