Mind map maker
Brainstorm visually — add connected ideas around a central topic, restyle nodes and links, drag to arrange, and export an SVG or PNG.
Open Mind map maker →What is the mind map maker?
A free, private mind map maker for brainstorming visually around a central topic. Add connected ideas, restyle the nodes and links, drag everything into place, and export the result. It runs entirely in your browser, saves your map to your device, and keeps working offline.
How to use Mind map maker
- Start from a sample map — Click the lightbulb in the canvas toolbar to open the sample gallery — an HSE management system, HSE processes, HSE pain areas, an organisational setup, a supply chain, a receivables cause map or the family chores — then load one and make it yours.
- Name your central topic — Start from the central node and rename it by double-clicking. Set the map's name in the field above the canvas, top left.
- Add connected ideas — Hover a node and click a + button to grow a connected branch. Each click adds one idea and opens its label for typing — keep clicking the same + to stack a whole column of siblings, and they space themselves without landing on each other.
- Arrange and restyle — Drag nodes to reposition them, or switch between the pointer and hand buttons at the top right: the pointer selects — click one idea, shift-click several, or drag a box round a group and move them together — while the hand drags the whole canvas. Change node shapes, colours and link styles to suit your map. Select a node to get its own toolbar of rename, add and delete actions.
- Fold branches you are not working on — Each side of a node that carries a branch gets a small toggle out on its connector, where the children join. Click it to fold just that branch away; the toggle then shows how many ideas are hidden, and clicking it again brings them back. A node's own toolbar has a fold button that folds or unfolds every branch at once. Folds are saved with the map, and exports match what you see.
- Export your map — Download the finished map as a crisp SVG vector or a PNG image to share or embed.
Frequently asked questions
Is my mind map saved if I leave the page?
Yes. A single working map is saved to your browser's local storage, so it reloads when you come back. It stays on your device and is never uploaded.
Are there ready-made mind maps I can start from?
Yes. The lightbulb button in the canvas toolbar opens a gallery of eight sample maps, from a plain quick-start topic to a full HSE management system. Loading one replaces the map on the canvas, and every node is then ordinary content: rename it, restyle it, drag it, add branches, delete what you do not need, then export or download the result. The samples are built into the tool, so they also work offline and inside the downloadable single-file copy.
How do I add a new idea?
Hover over an existing node and click one of the + buttons that appear — this creates a new node already connected to it. You can also select a node and use its toolbar, which offers rename, add and delete buttons.
Can I change how nodes and links look?
Yes. Nodes can be pill, rectangle, circle or diamond shapes with their own colour — labels automatically switch to white on dark fills. Links can be curved, straight or stepped, with a marker (arrow, dot or diamond) at either end, and branches are colour-coded automatically.
Can I label a connection, like yes/no on a decision?
Yes. Double-click any connecting line (or select it and press the label button) to type a label such as Yes or No. The label sits in a small pill at the midpoint of the line and is included in exports.
What's the difference between the SVG and PNG export?
SVG is a vector that stays sharp at any size and is ideal for print or further editing. PNG is a fixed-resolution image that's easy to drop into a slide, document or chat.
Can I undo a mistake?
Yes. The canvas has full undo and redo (Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y), and you can delete a selected node or reset the whole map.
Can I move several ideas at once?
Yes. With the pointer tool (the arrow button at the top right) drag a box across empty canvas to rubber-band every idea it touches, or shift-click to add them one at a time. Dragging any one of them moves the whole set, and Delete removes them together — the central topic is always kept. Press Escape to clear the selection, or switch to the hand tool to drag the canvas itself instead.
Can I hide part of a big map?
Yes. Every side of a node that has children shows a small toggle on its connector, at the point the branch leaves the node — click it to fold that branch away. The toggle then shows a badge with the number of hidden ideas, so nothing is lost; click it again to unfold. Sides fold independently, so you can keep the left of a map open while the right is packed away, and the fold button in a node's toolbar does every branch at once. Adding a new idea to a folded side unfolds it automatically.
Tips
- Double-click any node to rename it, and drag to reposition it.
- Press V for the pointer and H for the hand, the way you would in a drawing app.
- Collapse the branches you are not working on to keep a large map readable — the badge remembers how many ideas are folded away.
- Select a line to restyle it: set start and end markers, pick a colour, or add a label — handy for yes/no decision branches.
- Use the centre button in the zoom bar, top right of the canvas, to snap the view back if you pan too far.
- Export as SVG when you plan to print the map or scale it up large.
- Loading a sample replaces whatever is on the canvas — download your current map first if you want to keep it.