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CmapTools

Free concept mapping software from the IHMC research institute, used widely in education.

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About CmapTools

CmapTools is concept mapping software developed by the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), grounded in research on how people learn. Unlike a mind map, which branches from one central topic, a concept map links ideas with labelled relationships (for example, "photosynthesis requires light"), which makes it useful for teaching, studying and capturing expert knowledge. The desktop app lets you build maps, attach documents and resources to concepts, and link maps into larger knowledge models, and maps can be shared through public or private Cmap servers for collaboration. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with an iPad app, and is free for educational, personal and commercial use. The interface is plain and somewhat old-fashioned, and it is less suited to quick freeform brainstorming than mind mapping tools.

Best for: Teachers, students and researchers building concept maps with labelled links.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Free for personal, educational and commercial use
  • Proper concept maps with labelled relationships
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and iPad
  • Shareable via Cmap servers

Why people leave

  • Old-fashioned interface
  • Slower than mind mappers for quick brainstorming
  • Not open source despite being free

Top CmapTools alternatives

See all 4
  1. 1Mindomo logo
    Mindomo

    Concept and mind maps in the browser with classroom features.

    66.5
  2. 2TheBrain logo
    TheBrain

    Free desktop knowledge maps where any idea can link to any other.

    62.6
  3. 3MindManager logo
    MindManager

    Commercial tool that also does concept maps, with business features.

    59.6
  4. 4Scapple logo
    Scapple

    Freeform notes and connections for quick, informal concept sketches.

    57.2

Why people left CmapTools

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CmapTools: common questions

Is CmapTools free?

Yes, CmapTools is free to use.

Is CmapTools open source?

No, CmapTools is not open source.

What platforms does CmapTools run on?

CmapTools is available for Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS.

What are the best alternatives to CmapTools?

The highest-ranked CmapTools alternatives right now are Mindomo, TheBrain and MindManager. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 CmapTools alternatives