MindNode
Founder-owned mind mapping app from Vienna, built for Mac, iPad, iPhone and Vision Pro
Quick Overview
| Company | IdeasOnCanvas GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Mind Mapping Software |
| Headquarters | Vienna, Austria |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Austria (EU) |
| Data Location | Your iCloud account |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Mind maps, outline view, live collaboration, Apple Shortcuts, themes, tags, exports to PDF, SVG, FreeMind, OPML and Markdown, Apple Watch and Vision Pro apps |
| Pricing | Free MindNode app; MindNode Plus is a monthly or yearly subscription with a free trial (price shown in the App Store) |
| Best For | Apple users who want a native mind mapping app with an outline mode |
| Replaces | XMind, MindManager |
Detailed Review
MindNode is made by IdeasOnCanvas GmbH, Mariannengasse 10/3, 1090 Vienna (company register FN 372333z, Handelsgericht Wien). The site says the company is owned by its founder and does not answer to investors.
The app treats a map and an outline as two views of the same content, so a plan can be sketched freely and then read as a list.
Native Apple design
MindNode is built for Apple platforms: Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and Vision Pro. Layouts can be vertical, horizontal, compact or radial, with manual positioning when the automatic layout is not wanted.
Apple Shortcuts support lets recurring workflows run from the app, and nodes can link to other nodes across documents.
Privacy through iCloud
The site states that data is stored encrypted in the user's personal iCloud, which means maps are kept in the user's Apple account and not in a MindNode database. The company's privacy policy refers to the EU GDPR.
Exports cover PDF, SVG, FreeMind, OPML, PNG, Markdown, TextBundle and plain text.
Free and Plus
The base app is free. MindNode Plus unlocks connections, notes and tasks, images and stickers, focus mode, themes, collaboration and the Apple Watch app. It is sold as a monthly or yearly subscription with a free trial, and is also available through Setapp.
Limitations to Consider
MindNode runs only on Apple platforms, so there is no Windows, Android or browser version, and a team with mixed devices cannot all use it. Collaboration is part of the paid Plus subscription, and prices are only shown in the App Store, not on its own site. The older MindNode Classic app remains supported but is the previous version.
Who Should Use MindNode
Individuals and Apple-only teams who want a native mind mapping app that keeps data in their own iCloud.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Mind map and outline as two views
- Data kept in your own iCloud
- Founder-owned, no investors
- Exports include FreeMind and OPML
- Apple Shortcuts support
Cons
- Apple devices only
- Collaboration requires MindNode Plus
- Prices visible only in the App Store
- No browser version
Alternatives to MindNode
Other European mind mapping software worth comparing before you decide:
MindMeister
Germany · Browser mind maps hosted in Germany, with a free plan
Mindomo
Romania · Mind and concept maps with outline and Gantt views
SimpleMind
Netherlands · One-off purchase mind mapping app for four platforms
Coggle
United Kingdom · Real-time mind maps and flowcharts hosted on AWS Ireland
See all European mind mapping software or compare them directly against XMind on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Its site describes it as designed for Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and Vision Pro.
The site says all data is stored encrypted in your personal iCloud.
Yes, the base MindNode app is free and MindNode Plus is a monthly or yearly subscription with a free trial.