CogniGuide Logo
CogniGuide

Free Mind Mapping Online With AI

Upload a PDF, Word file, slides or type a topic, and get an interactive mind map you can expand, edit and export.

No credit card required

AI Generated Preview

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 You Get on the Free Plan

Build maps from your own material without paying to begin.

Maps from your files

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text, Markdown or image and the AI builds the map for you.

Expandable branches

Expand any node with AI, edit its text, and reshape the map as your understanding grows.

Quiz and flashcards

Turn a finished map into a quiz to test yourself, or make flashcards from the same notes.

How Free Online Mind Mapping Works

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

  1. 1

    Add your material

    Upload a file or type a topic into the mind map generator.

  2. 2

    AI builds the map

    The AI groups your content into a main topic with branches and sub-branches.

  3. 3

    Study, expand or quiz

    Expand weak branches, export as PNG or PDF, share a link, or turn it into a quiz.

Free Online Mind Mapping Explained

A mind map is a diagram that places one central idea in the middle and draws branches outward for related subtopics. Free online mind mapping lets you build this layout in a browser without installing software. The main branches usually group a topic by its parts, causes, stages or examples, and each branch can split into finer details. Starting from a clear central idea keeps the map organized as it grows.

  • Central idea: the single topic or question the map is built around
  • Main branches: the major categories that split the topic
  • Sub-branches: specific facts, terms or examples under each category
  • Links and notes: connections between branches that show how ideas relate

Use a finished map to revise, plan a project or check your understanding. CogniGuide can build a personalized mind map from your own notes, so you start from your material rather than a blank page.

Free Mind Mapping Questions

Answers about making maps online for free.

Can I make a mind map online for free?

Yes. CogniGuide has a free plan that allows 5 creations a week, and no payment is needed to start. Paid plans raise those limits.

What files can I use to create a map?

You can upload PDF, Word (DOCX), PowerPoint (PPTX), text or Markdown files, or images. You can also skip files and type a topic.

Can I turn a free mind map into a quiz?

Yes. Once the map is built, you can turn it into a quiz to test yourself on the key branches and terms.

Can I export or share my map?

You can export the map as a PNG or PDF, or share it with a link so others can view it.