TechRadar Verdict
Mindomo is an ideal tool for developing ideas, brainstorming with others, and tracking progress as you take it from concept to implementation. A range of plans support varied working methods, and Mindomo is available for desktop, mobile, and the web.
Pros
- +
Clean user interface
- +
Native desktop and mobile apps
- +
Easy collaboration features
Cons
- -
Web version restricted to specific plan
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Expert Software Application (Exswap), a Romanian software company, launched Mindomo in 2006, aiming for it to be one of the best mind-map software tools based on the (now discontinued) Adobe Flash platform. It released a web app in 2007 and a native desktop app in 2008.
In 2010, Exswap added real-time collaboration to Mindomo, which has become the software’s most defining feature. In 2012, the company released native Mindomo mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Mindomo is very popular with educators. Over 1,000 schools worldwide use it to help teachers effectively interact and collaborate with students.
We tested Mindomo extensively to give you an exhaustive, unbiased review. Our review is based on specific criteria, including pricing, features, compatibility, customer support, and ease of use.
Mindomo:Plans and pricing
Available as a desktop app with a browser-based cloud version, Mindomo can be installed on Windows, macOS (Intel), and Linux (as an AppImage). The free option is desktop-only, whereas the subscription option gives you cloud and mobile access.
The Free plan supports 8 import formats, 11 export formats, sharing, and is limited to 40 diagrams. Anyone can sign up to the Free plan to try Mindomo for free.
Mindomo’s Subscription plan is $5.50 per month, with an annual subscription. This can be used on 2 computers, in a browser, and on a mobile device, with unlimited syncing between them. As well as the Free plan features, it adds unlimited diagram topics, unlimited searches, and unlimited cloud diagrams. You also get support and software updates.
The Desktop Premium option offers some extra features to the Free plan. It is $69 for a lifetime license, with 1 year of support and update, use on 2 computers, unlimited diagram topics, and a year of unlimited searches. If you like Mindomo and need the updates beyond a year, you can extend it for $36 each year.
Volume licenses (10 or more) are available for enterprise use, with quotes available on request. Mindomo subscriptions can be paid using PayPal, wire transfer or credit card. Mindomo provides a 30-day money-back guarantee for every purchase.
Mindomo:Features
Mindomo’s core feature is building and presenting mind maps. Mind maps are diagrams that visually organize information. It's hierarchical and shows relationships between pieces of information. It's a practical technique of visualizing your thoughts and ideas and sharing them with others.
Mindomo provides built-in templates to create various mind maps and convert them into presentations. You can stylize these mind maps to make them as visually appealing as possible. The app lets you build mind maps solo or with your colleagues within a school or workplace.
To make your mind maps as detailed as possible. Mindomo lets you add a range of objects. You can add hyperlink resources to link specific parts of your mind maps to external URLs. You can also attach files on the mind map by uploading them from your computer. Notes add more detailed text bodies to the topics in your mind maps, and you can upload videos from your PC or embed directly from YouTube and Vimeo.
You can search for photos directly from the web and insert them into your mind maps, and Mindomo even lets you import files from your computer, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive accounts and convert them into mind maps.
When you’re done, mind maps and other creations can be exported in a wide variety of file formats. You can import mind maps you created with other tools into Mindomo. Likewise, you can export mind maps you create on Mindomo into similar platforms like MindManager, SimpleMind, and iThoughts.
The Presenter Mode feature turns any mind map into a slide-by-slide presentation. Should you need to take your projects with you, the tools supports downloading all your mind maps in one single ZIP file.
For complex mind maps, Mindomo’s search feature helps you easily find any information you want. The app also enables you to organize your mind maps into folders to declutter them and make information easily accessible.
When using the web-based interface, you can continue editing your mind maps even if you’re disconnected from the net, and your changes will automatically sync once the connection restores.
Mindomo: Ease of Use
We found it pretty easy to use Mindomo. The first step is to subscribe through the official website, either for the free or premium version. If you choose the premium version, you must pay before use. You have to provide basic data like your name and email for a subscription. Google login is supported, as is Facebook, Apple, Office 365, and various others.
After subscribing, Mindomo sends an activation link to the email you provided. Click on this link, and you’re good to go.
A simple and clean user interface makes Mindomo easy to use. The design window is doesn’t rely on sidebars, preferring context menus to add elements, change layout, and alter design style.
Template selection is good, which means it might take you a while to find what you are looking for. However, with the free account, templates cannot be heavily edited – new topics and subtopics are a premium feature. Creating a mind map or similar diagram from scratch doesn’t have this restriction, however.
Mindomo: Customer support
If you encounter any difficulty using Mindomo, a detailed help resource is available at help.mindomo.com. This is searchable, so you should find the solution you need with the right search term.
Mindomo provides customer support through email, live chat, or telephone. There are also video tutorials and a customer support forum available in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
Mindomo: The competition
Common alternatives to Mindomo include Freemind, XMind, and SimpleMind. They offer similar features and are comparably priced.
Mindomo’s large design workspace helps it to stand out, and the free version is also a bonus.
Mindomo: Final verdict
With many alternative mind-mapping tools available, Mindomo’s free version should be enough to entice you to try it out. That should be enough to tell you if this is the right choice.
Mindomo is an ideal tool for visualizing your thoughts and ideas in the form of mind maps and sharing them with others. It’s valuable to individuals and professionals, mainly educators interacting with students.
If you’re looking for a mind-mapping and diagramming solution that is available on a range of desktop and mobile platforms, Mindomo should be top of your list.
