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CogniGuide

Free Mind Map Software for Students

Create interactive mind maps from PDFs, slides, text files or a typed topic. The free plan includes 5 creations a week.

No credit card required

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Trusted by learners from top universities

University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of MichiganGeorgetown UniversityUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

CogniGuide at a glance

What you get
Interactive mind maps of the main ideas and how they connect. Free: overview maps (detailed maps on your first 3 creations). Plus: detailed maps with supporting concepts.
Exports
Your first PDF or PNG export is free; Plus exports anytime.
Price
Free plan: 5 creations a week, up to 3 a day. Plus: $9.99/month or $99.90/year (USD; local prices at checkout).
Sign-up
A free account is required before you create anything (Google or email). No credit card.
What you can upload
PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), plain text or Markdown, and images (PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF), or type a topic. One file per creation on the free plan; several at once on Plus.

How it compares: vs Knowt · vs Quizlet · vs NotebookLM · vs Mapify

What the Free Mind Map Software Does

Turn your own study material into a map you can expand, edit and test yourself on.

Build from your own files

Upload a PDF, Word, PowerPoint, text, Markdown or image file and get a map from its content.

Expandable branches

Expand any node with AI, edit its text and keep the structure clear as your map grows.

Test yourself

Turn the finished map into a quiz, or create flashcards from the same notes to revise.

How to Make a Free Mind Map

Three steps from notes or a topic to a map you can study and share.

  1. 1

    Add your material

    Upload a file or type a topic into the free mind map software.

  2. 2

    AI builds the map

    The tool sorts your content into a main topic with linked branches and subtopics.

  3. 3

    Study, expand, export

    Expand branches, quiz yourself, then export as PNG or PDF or share a link.

Free Mind Map Software: How It Works

Free mind map software lets you organize ideas visually, starting from a topic or from existing notes. A mind map places a central idea in the middle and branches out to its main parts, such as causes, key terms, examples and dates. Reviewing these links helps you see how a subject fits together before an exam or essay.

  • Central topic: the main idea placed at the center of the map
  • Main branches: the major themes that split the topic
  • Subtopics: supporting details, terms and examples under each branch
  • Links: connections between branches that show cause and effect

Use a map like this to revise, plan an essay or check your understanding. CogniGuide builds a personalized mind map from your own notes, so you can start with the material you actually need to learn.

Explore related topics

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Free Mind Map Software Questions

Answers about free mind map tools and how CogniGuide works.

What makes a mind map different from a list of notes?

A mind map arranges ideas around one central topic and links related ideas through branches. This shows relationships that a linear list hides, which makes it easier to recall and organize information.

Can I use mind map software for an essay plan?

Yes. Start with your thesis at the center, add your arguments as main branches and place evidence under each one. You can then reorder branches to shape the structure of the essay.

Which files can I upload to CogniGuide?

You can upload PDF, Word (DOCX), PowerPoint (PPTX), text, Markdown or image files, or simply type a topic. The AI turns the content into an interactive mind map.

Is CogniGuide free to use?

There is a free plan that allows 5 creations a week without payment. Paid plans raise these limits. You can also turn a finished map into a quiz to test yourself.