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iThoughts alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave iThoughts: no more updates or bug fixes, and can't buy new licences. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces iThoughts, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. MindNode currently ranks first.

iThoughts has been discontinued. toketaWare ceased trading on 30 January 2024; the apps get no further updates or support.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1MindNode logoMindNodeFree plan + paidNomacOS, iOS5 of 566.5
2SimpleMind logoSimpleMindFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +13 of 362.6
3Xmind logoXmindFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +35 of 559.6
  1. MindNode logo

    1. MindNodeTop pick

    Best for: Apple users who want a simple, good-looking personal mind mapping app

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from iThoughts

    Actively developed Apple-native mind mapping app with a free tier.

    Pros

    • Very clean and easy to use
    • Native on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro and Watch
    • Data stays encrypted in your own iCloud
    • Free tier covers basic mind mapping

    Cons

    • Apple devices only
    • Outlining and styling need a subscription
    • Light on team features
    Visit MindNode Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is MindNode a good iThoughts alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free version
    Yes, basic mind mapping
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mindnode.com(opens source in a new tab)
    MindNode Plus price
    $2.99/month or $24.99/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mindnode.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Mac, iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, Apple Watch
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mindnode.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Encrypted in your personal iCloud
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mindnode.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    IdeasOnCanvas GmbH
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mindnode.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. SimpleMind logo

    2. SimpleMind

    Best for: Individuals who want a cross-platform mind mapper without a subscription

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from iThoughts

    One-off purchase like iThoughts, on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android.

    Pros

    • Pay once per platform, no subscription
    • Runs on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android
    • Free edition for basic use
    • Sync through common cloud storage

    Cons

    • No web app or real-time collaboration
    • Pro must be bought separately per platform
    • Interface less modern than newer apps
    Visit SimpleMind Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SimpleMind a good iThoughts alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Pricing model
    Single purchase per platform, no subscription
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplemind.eu(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Mac, Windows, iPhone & iPad, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplemind.eu(opens source in a new tab)
    Editions
    Pro, Free, Trial and Viewer
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplemind.eu(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Xmind logo

    3. Xmind

    Best for: Individuals who want a polished mind mapping app on every device

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from iThoughts

    Imports common mind map formats and runs on every major platform.

    Pros

    • Runs on desktop, mobile and the web, including Linux
    • Many structures beyond basic mind maps
    • Presentation mode built in
    • Affordable paid plans

    Cons

    • Free tier limits slides, history and AI
    • Plans and features change frequently
    • Team admin features are basic
    Visit Xmind Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Xmind a good iThoughts alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, US$0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xmind.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    US$4.92 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xmind.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium price
    US$8.25 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xmind.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Linux builds
    Snapcraft, Flathub, Deb
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xmind.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    100M+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xmind.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best iThoughts alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

MindNode logo

Best iThoughts alternative for most people

MindNode

Actively developed Apple-native mind mapping app with a free tier.

Freeplane logo

Best iThoughts alternative for a free option

Freeplane

Free, open-source and able to open FreeMind-format exports.

SimpleMind logo

Best iThoughts alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

SimpleMind

One-off purchase like iThoughts, on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android.

Freeplane logo

Best iThoughts alternative for open source

Freeplane

Free, open-source and able to open FreeMind-format exports.

Xmind logo

Best iThoughts alternative for Mac

Xmind

Imports common mind map formats and runs on every major platform.

MindManager logo

Best iThoughts alternative for Windows

MindManager

Reads MindManager files exported from iThoughts, with business features.

Xmind logo

Best iThoughts alternative for Linux

Xmind

Imports common mind map formats and runs on every major platform.

SimpleMind logo

Best iThoughts alternative for iPhone and Android

SimpleMind

One-off purchase like iThoughts, on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android.

Xmind logo

Best iThoughts alternative for working in the browser

Xmind

Imports common mind map formats and runs on every major platform.

iThoughts alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to iThoughts?

MindNode ranks first right now. Actively developed Apple-native mind mapping app with a free tier. SimpleMind and Xmind follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to iThoughts?

Yes. MindNode (free plan + paid), SimpleMind (free plan + paid), Xmind (free plan + paid) and Freeplane (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to iThoughts?

Yes: Freeplane.

Which iThoughts alternatives work on Linux?

Xmind and Freeplane run on Linux.

Why do people switch from iThoughts?

The complaints we hear most: no more updates or bug fixes; can't buy new licences; may stop working after future OS updates.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces iThoughts, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.