Freeplane
A serious desktop mind mapper with outlines, formulas, attributes, filters, and local files; excellent depth, unmistakably utilitarian furniture.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- GPL-2.0+
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopone-click install
- Installation
- Desktop installer/archive from the official download page; some Linux packages require a compatible Java runtime
- Operational Setup
- The first obstacle is its traditional Java desktop packaging and interface; on Linux, users may also need to supply the right Java runtime or distribution package
- Where Your Data Lives
- Mind maps are ordinary local .mm XML files and can export to formats including HTML, PDF, images, and office-document formats
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Freeplane is powerful but gives up Xmind's modern interface, mobile apps, real-time collaboration, visual polish, and smooth presentation mode.
Replaces 1 paid app
Freeplane FAQ
Common questions
Is Freeplane free and open source?+
Freeplane is an open-source tool licensed under GPL-2.0+ that runs on local. A serious desktop mind mapper with outlines, formulas, attributes, filters, and local files; excellent depth, unmistakably utilitarian furniture.
What paid software does Freeplane replace?+
Freeplane serves as a free replacement for 1 paid SaaS application: Xmind.
How do you install and set up Freeplane?+
Installation: Desktop installer/archive from the official download page; some Linux packages require a compatible Java runtime. Setup notes: The first obstacle is its traditional Java desktop packaging and interface; on Linux, users may also need to supply the right Java runtime or distribution package
What is the catch or trade-off with Freeplane?+
Freeplane is powerful but gives up Xmind's modern interface, mobile apps, real-time collaboration, visual polish, and smooth presentation mode.