Best MIRO alternatives - 10 best mind mapping software

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. There are many tools out there, and not each one is for you like you can see in this table.

	ThoughtFlow	Miro	Mind Meister
Sync with Project Management tools
Kanban view
Sheet View
Top Down Layout
Presentation View
Sticky notes
Additional fields
Data Modelling
Manual Layout
Real-time collaboration

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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.

While MIRO is a versatile white-boarding software, it may not be the best option for mind mapping specifically. Despite being advertised as a mind-mapping tool, some users have reported that its features are limited and not designed specifically for mind-mapping purposes. Therefore, if your primary goal is mind mapping, it may be better to consider alternative tools that are more specialised for this purpose, such as Thoughtflow.

Let's take a look at the main cons of using MIRO.

1. 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.

2. Hard to navigate larger mind maps

When you're dealing with a mind map that has numerous nodes and connections, it can be quite challenging to make sense of everything at once. MIRO doesn't have a feature that lets you focus on a specific section of your mind map or view it from various angles, which can make it overwhelming for first-time users.

To gain a better understanding of a specific topic, you'll have to manually click on each node to expand it and reveal more information. While this can be time-consuming, it's the only way to dive deeper into the information presented in the mind map.

Miro's mind map feature is like a superpower for visualizing complex information and breaking it down into manageable chunks. However, it can be a bit of a struggle when it comes to navigating larger mind maps. As the number of nodes and branches increases, it's easy to get lost and spend more time searching than working.

This is especially frustrating for teams working on larger projects where the mind map can quickly become a jumbled mess of information. Although Miro provides some tools for zooming and panning, they can be a bit limited, especially for new users. Therefore, it's important for Miro to consider enhancing its mind map feature to make it more user-friendly for those who need to work with larger and more complex mind maps. By addressing this issue, Miro can provide a better and more efficient experience for its users and help teams collaborate more effectively on complex projects.

3. Cannot Delegate Tasks

Miro is a highly regarded platform that has revolutionized the way teams collaborate and brainstorm. Its mind map feature is a valuable tool for organizing ideas and monitoring project progress. However, it falls short in providing a built-in task delegation feature for mind maps. This shortcoming can have significant consequences for project managers and team leaders who rely on clear task delegation to keep their projects on track.

Not having a feature to assign and track tasks within the mind map can lead to confusion and communication breakdowns among team members. Furthermore, manually transferring tasks to another tool or writing them down in a to-do list can be tedious and time-consuming, adding an additional burden on project managers.

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

Key differentiating features

Syncing Mind maps with a Project management tool

Unlike Miro, Thoughtflow offers a seamless syncing feature that allows for effortless task delegation and progress tracking by integrating with project management tools like monday.com.

With this feature, you can easily assign tasks to team members directly from your mind map, and updates are automatically synced with your monday.com board, ensuring everyone is on the same page. This means you can say goodbye to the hassle of manually transferring tasks between tools or juggling multiple platforms to keep track of progress.

Thoughtflow's syncing feature also offers a clear and straightforward way to monitor the progress of your project. As team members update their tasks, the mind map is automatically updated, giving you a real-time view of progress. This makes it easy to see where you are in the project timeline, identify potential bottlenecks, and make informed decisions about how to move forward.

If you're interested in mind mapping with monday.com, be sure to check out the monday.com marketplace.

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Converting nodes into tasks

One of the most useful features of "Mind mapping on monday.com by Thoughtflow" is the ability to turn nodes into tasks. By doing this, you can assign responsibilities to individuals, set deadlines, and track progress. This feature is particularly helpful for team collaboration, as everyone can see what tasks are assigned to them and what they need to accomplish. Additionally, it allows you to prioritize and organize your work in a visual and intuitive way.

Center around any node to see a sub-map

Sometimes a mind map can become overwhelming, especially if it has a lot of nodes and sub-nodes. By centering around a specific node, you can zoom in and focus on that particular topic. This allows you to see a sub-map, which is a smaller version of the larger map that only shows the nodes related to the selected topic. This feature helps you to break down complex ideas into smaller, more manageable pieces and makes it easier to see how each node relates to the overall structure of the mind map.

Add additional properties - like values, status, tags etc.

Another powerful feature of Thoughtflow is the ability to add additional properties to your nodes, such as values, status, tags, and more. These properties help you to organize your mind map and provide more context to your nodes. For example, you might use a value property to indicate the priority of a node, or a status property to track its progress. Tags can be used to group related nodes together, making it easier to find and work with them. With these additional properties, you can customize your mind map to fit your specific needs and workflow.

Visualize the mind map as a list

With Thoughtflow, you can take your mind mapping to the next level by visualizing each node of your map as a list, providing a more comprehensive and organized overview of your project or thoughts. This innovative feature allows you to easily manage and manipulate your data, enabling you to quickly identify critical details and take action.

This functionality can be particularly helpful when working on complex projects or brainstorming new ideas. By viewing each node as a list, you can gain valuable insights into important information, such as due dates, assigned team members, or associated files. You can also sort and filter the data based on various criteria, making it simple to focus on what's most important and track progress more effectively.

Visualize the mind map as a spreadsheet

One of the most interesting features of Thoughtflow is the ability to visualize the map as a spreadsheet. This feature allows you to manipulate your data, export it to other tools, and even create reports. By presenting the data in a spreadsheet format, you can get a different perspective on your work and see it in a more structured way.

Visualize the mind map as a Kanban board

Finally, you can visualize your mind map as a Kanban board. This feature is particularly useful for project management, as it allows you to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and visualize the flow of work. By using a Kanban board, you can collaborate with your team and stay on top of things, making sure everything is moving forward smoothly.

Onboarding people to use mind maps

If you're a fan of mind mapping, you're likely already familiar with the benefits of visualizing your thoughts and ideas in a clear and structured way. However, when it comes to collaborating with a team, getting everyone on board with mind mapping can be a challenge.

Fortunately monday.com is something that many teams already use. And with the automatic syncing feature, team members can stay informed about progress without having to navigate the mind map. Also, the intuitive interface of Thoughtflow makes it easy for anyone to get started.

Who is this product best suited for?

Thoughtflow is the ideal mind-mapping software for SMBs, startups, and growing teams who are looking for a seamless and integrated solution to keep their projects organized and their team in sync. Entrepreneurs, Project Managers, and Product Managers who are building something complex can benefit from this tool's intuitive interface and powerful features. With the ability to visualize each node of your map as a list, easily assign and track tasks, and integrate with project management tools like Monday.com, Thoughtflow is the perfect solution for those who need to keep their team on the same page and their projects running smoothly.

What do the users have to say?

"When it comes to envisioning your business journey - you have ideas on the Xmind and you have project management on Monday. I was looking for something to relate the two and I found you on monday.com."

- Ons Bouali, Founder & CEO of finbudd

If you also want to smoothen collaboration with your teams and take collaboration and creativity to next level. Give Thoughtflow a shot now!

Not only it will be a great alternative to Miro but will also make it easier for you to manage your ideas, team and projects.