Mind mapping is one of the best ways to organize your thoughts and ideas. It's a visual way to brainstorm, create to-do lists, plan projects, and more. The goal is to create an overview of how everything is related to a plan.
Mind maps help you see the whole picture to develop creative solutions that make sense in your context.
It is a unique way of brainstorming content and structuring it by associating verbal constructs with visual constructs. It brings a non-linear approach to a linear process and helps to structure complicated concepts in an easy-to-understand manner.
Simply put, mind mapping can help you:
- Organize your thoughts so that they make sense to you
- Visualize ideas to see how they relate to each other
- Identify patterns and relationships between ideas
- Explore new perspectives by looking at things from different angles
Mind mapping software makes this even easier by allowing you to create mind maps in an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
Mind mapping software can be used for anything from planning a family vacation to keeping track of project deadlines at work. The best part is that mind-mapping software is not just for visual thinkers — it can be helpful for anyone who wants to organize ideas and information in a way that makes sense to them.
And since it's so versatile, several different types of mind mapping applications are available. Some are free, and some cost money, but all offer something unique to help you get things done faster and more effectively.
Of these, MIRO is often a go-to choice for most. Still, if you have been struggling with the tool, we have curated a comprehensive list of a few MIRO alternatives based on their features, usability, price, and popularity.
Why should you look for MIRO alternatives?
MIRO is a white boarding software that lets you create and share diagrams, flowcharts, and more. You can use it with a free account or by purchasing a license to access all features.
MIRO is a great mind mapping software that helps you brainstorm, organize and visualize your ideas. It's packed with valuable features that make it easy to get started, but it also has advanced options for those who want more control over the look and feel of their maps.
Nevertheless, it has some disadvantages that make users look for alternatives. Let's take a look at the main cons of using MIRO.
1. Lack of collapsible nodes
The biggest problem with MIRO is that it lacks key features, like collapsible nodes and searchable content. This can be frustrating when you want to focus on just one branch of your mind map.
If you want to hide something in your mind map, you have to go into the node itself and then delete the text. This can be annoying if you keep specific ideas in mind but don't want them to clutter up your map too much.
TLDR; You can't hide the details of a node by clicking on its title.
If you need these features, you should look for a MIRO alternative.
2. CSV exports are glitchy
You cannot export your mind map directly from MIRO, so it will be inconvenient if you want to share your work with others.
MIRO's CSV export feature is not the best and still needs some work. It's not as reliable as it should be, so sometimes, you'll end up with an empty CSV file. This can be very frustrating if your data is important to you!
Sometimes it even creates useless files or duplicate items in the list. This can be infuriating if you're trying to use your mind map as a reference or data source for another program or department.
3. No way to zoom in on large maps
If you have an extensive mind map with hundreds of nodes and connections, it can be challenging to see everything clearly at once.
There's no way in MIRO to zoom in on specific parts of your mind map; if you want to see more detail about something, you'll have to do so manually by clicking on the node and then clicking on it again when the node expands outward.
4. Poor visual appearance
One of the most common complaints about MIRO is that it looks old-fashioned and unattractive.
MIRO's poor visual appearance makes the created mind maps look ugly and unprofessional. In addition, the layout of the interface is very confusing, making it hard for beginners to use.
5. User-friendliness is not MIRO’s priority
It is not user-friendly. The interface is complex, and it takes time to learn how to use it effectively.
There is a steep learning curve for new users, which may frustrate them. And it may be particularly difficult to use if you're unfamiliar with mind mapping concepts. Furthermore, it doesn't have an extensive help section or tutorials, and most of its features are hidden behind menus and submenus that can be hard to find.
7. You can only work with one map at a time
You can't open multiple mind maps simultaneously and switch between them as quickly as you can with other programs.
This may not be an issue if you're working on one project at a time and don't need to switch between them frequently. Still, it does make things inconvenient if you're trying to look at two different aspects of the same topic side by side without having to save and reload files constantly.
8. Cross-account collaboration is a mess
MIRO does not support cross-account collaboration, which means you cannot share your mind maps with people on other accounts even if you've subscribed to their paid plans. This is a significant limitation for organizations with multiple teams working together on the same project.
TLDR; If you want to collaborate with people outside your organization, then MIRO is not the right tool for you.
So, if you're looking for a way to collaborate effectively with people from other companies or organizations, you may have to look elsewhere.
List of the best MIRO alternatives for mind mapping software
Below listed are some of the best alternatives to MIRO for mind mapping. While the list is not restricted to only these softwares, we do recommend exploring them first as you shortlist options.
1. ThoughtFlow
Pricing
Key differentiating features
Who is this product best suited for?
Best suited mind-mapping software for SMBs, startups, solopreneurs and growing teams.
What do the users have to say?
2. Mural
Pricing
Mural offers four extensive plans -
Key differentiating features
- Supports freehand writing and drawing
- Super lock objects on your whiteboard to keep them in place
- Get access to a vast library of icons
- Ability to make quick voice calls for team collaboration
- Integrate with Azure DevOps, Microsoft Teams, and Asana
Who is this product best suited for?
This is an ideal mind-mapping software for growing teams with a huge demand for effective team collaboration.
What do the Mural users have to say?
Mural is considered a people's favorite tool, with an average rating of 4.5 stars on G2. Here's a review posted by a Mural user on the platform -
3. ClickUp
Pricing
ClickUp offers five main plans -
Key differentiating features
- Feature-rich free version for all users
- Easy team collaboration with real-time editing
- Integrate with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack
- Embed other platforms and apps like YouTube, Google Docs, Sheets, etc
Who is this product best suited for?
Since ClickUp offers a wide variety of plans specially designed for different target audiences, we believe anyone and everyone can use it. However, we highly recommend it for small and mid-size teams.
What do the ClickUp users have to say?
With an average rating of 4.5 stars on G2, ClickUp users cannot stop raving about how excellent the project management software has proven to be for mind mapping. Here's an example -
4. Explain Everything
Pricing
Explain Everything offers four plans -
Key differentiating features
- Video record your whiteboard discussions and download them in MP4 format
- Easily create custom clipart
- Add voice overs to the screencasts
- Easy share using access codes
Who is this product best suited for?
This product has been specifically designed for the education sector and is best for students, teachers, and schools.
What do the Explain Everything users have to tell?
Explain EverythingEverything has grown to become one of the favorite tools by school teachers across the globe. It boasts a 4.5 stars rating on G2.
5. Ziteboard
Pricing
Ziteboard offers five main plans -
Key differentiating features
- Invite external contributors to join your board
- Archive your board by exporting it to PNG or SVG files
- Easy import and export capabilities
Who is this product best suited for?
Ziteboard is best for individuals working on small side projects or planning daily activities.
What do the Ziteboard users have to say?
Although Ziteboard doesn’t have a very strong online presence, it still manages to gather a 4.5 stars rating on G2 with loyal users who can’t stop praising the benefits the tool has to offer -
6. Fibery
Pricing
It offers three very affordable plans -
Key differentiating features
- Elaborate flowcharting for effective brainstorming
- Customer journey features
- Create collaborative documents and Kanban boards
Who is this product best suited for?
This excellent product management tool can be a good alternative to MIRO for mind mapping for agencies, software developers, and startups.
What do the Fibery users have to tell?
Fibery holds a perfect five stars review on G2! And its users have nothing but good things to say about its capabilities.
7. Microsoft Whiteboard
Pricing
It is part of the Microsoft 365 bundles offered for both homes and businesses -
Key differentiating features
- Add and edit sticky notes
- Access a never-ending canvas
- Easily add any document to your whiteboard
- Access the whiteboard within a Microsoft Teams meeting
Who is this product best suited for?
This tool is ideal for enterprises and educational institutions that function on a large scale across all functions.
What do the Microsoft Whiteboard users have to say?
Microsoft Whiteboard holds a rating of 4.2 stars on G2. Here’s what one of its users had to say about the app -
8. Conceptboard
Pricing
Conceptboard offers four plans -
Key differentiating features
- Comments for effective communication feedback
- Different levels of access for various users to ensure smooth functioning
- Complete overview of all activity
- Add and annotate multimedia files on the whiteboard
- Share whiteboards across teams using password-protected links
Who is this product best suited for?
This is a tremendous mind-mapping software for companies that work remotely and need to streamline their processes for practical functionality.
What do the Conceptboard users have to tell?
With a G2 rating of 4.6 stars, Conceptboard users vouch for their product and service to be of the best quality. Here’s a review posted by a happy user -
9. Google Jamboard
Pricing
It is part of the Google Workspace account.
Key differentiating features
- Easy setup if you have a Google account
- Different backgrounds to format your Jamboard
- Collaborate using Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Who is this product best suited for?
This is an ideal solution for companies that have already subscribed to GSuite to carry out their brainstorming sessions easily.
What do Google Jamboard users have to say?
Currently, there are no reviews for Jamboard on G2; but it is still being used by many Google workspace users as it comes with the entire bundle of apps in the suite.
10. Lucidspark
Pricing
Lucidspark offers four plans to choose from -
Key differentiating features
- Chat feature within boards
- Emoji reactions, voting, and tally features
- Summoning feature to call multiple team members to specific spots on your board
- Breakout boards to collaborate in small groups
Who is this product best suited for?
Lucidspark is the perfect tool for product management teams to ideate, plan and execute their processes with no hassle whatsoever.
What do the Lucidspark users have to tell?
Lucidspark has over 1,894 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars on G2.
11. GroupMap
Pricing
It offers three main plans -
Key differentiating features
- Simple interface
- 60+ pre-designed templates
- Easy collaboration with multiple teams
Who is this product best suited for?
GroupMap is an excellent solution for teachers, conference planners, and remote teams with simple yet meticulous requirements.
What do the GroupMap users have to tell?
GroupMap has a decent average rating of 4 stars on G2. Here’s a review posted by a user -
Wrapping up
It's worth looking into each of these mind-mapping software solutions and seeing which one best meets your needs. And the more you use mind mapping software, the more adept you'll become at creating great visual representations of knowledge and information.
The best tool for you will depend on how you want to use the software and what your computer can handle. The key is understanding your own user needs and choosing the tool that best fulfils them.
If you're still unsure which application to use, look at the reusability and flexibility of the tool to evaluate if it meets your current and future needs across multiple teams within your organization.
TLDR; Checkout ThoughtFlow if you’re looking for a new-age mind mapping alternative to MIRO or reach out to us for more help.
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