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CogniGuide

Mind Maps for Mac Users

Turn your notes, PDFs and slides into an interactive mind map you can open in any Mac browser. Start from a file or a single topic.

No credit card required

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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 Can Do on a Mac

CogniGuide runs in your browser, so you can build and edit maps on your Mac without installing anything.

Build from your own files

Upload a PDF, Word or PowerPoint file, a text or Markdown file, or an image, and get a mind map from it.

Expand and edit branches

Expand any node with AI, edit its text, and reorganize branches as your understanding grows.

Export, share or quiz yourself

Export your map as PNG or PDF, share a link, or turn the map into a quiz to test what you remember.

How It Works on Mac

Three steps from your notes or a topic to a finished map you can study or export.

  1. 1

    Add your material

    Upload a file from your Mac or type a topic into the box.

  2. 2

    AI builds the map

    The AI reads the content and arranges it into a branching map with main ideas and details.

  3. 3

    Study, expand, export

    Expand branches, edit text, take a quiz or export a PNG or PDF.

Choosing a Mind Mapping Tool for Mac

A mind map is a diagram that places one central idea in the middle and branches out related ideas, facts and examples. Mind maps for Mac are useful for brainstorming, organizing lecture notes and planning essays. Because the central idea sits at the root, you can see how each subtopic connects to the whole. Browser-based tools work on any Mac without a separate install.

  • Central topic: the main idea placed at the center of the map
  • Main branches: the key themes that link back to the root
  • Sub-branches: supporting facts, examples and definitions
  • Connections: links that show relationships between branches
  • Export: saving the finished map as an image or PDF

Use the map to review before an exam, outline a paper or plan a project. To build one from your own notes on your Mac, try CogniGuide's AI mind map generator.

Explore related topics

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Mind Maps on Mac: Common Questions

Answers about using mind maps on a Mac and building them with CogniGuide.

Do I need to download an app to make mind maps on a Mac?

No. CogniGuide works in your browser, so you can create and edit mind maps on a Mac without installing software.

What file types can I turn into a mind map?

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

Can I export my mind map as an image or PDF?

Yes. Export any map as a PNG or PDF to print, share or add to your study notes.

Is there a free plan for making mind maps?

Yes. The free plan includes 5 creations a week and needs no payment. Paid plans raise these limits.