FreeMind - free mind mapping software

FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping software written in Java. The recent development has hopefully turned it into high productivity tool. We are proud that the operation and navigation of FreeMind is faster than that of MindManager because of one-click "fold / unfold" and "follow link" operations.

So you want to write a completely new metaphysics? Why don't you use FreeMind? You have a tool at hand that remarkably resembles the tray slips of Robert Pirsig, described in his sequel to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance called Lila. Do you want to refactor your essays in a similar way you would refactor software? Or do you want to keep personal knowledge base, which is easy to manage? Why don't you try FreeMind? Do you want to prioritize, know where you are, where you've been and where you are heading, as Stephen Covey would advise you? Have you tried FreeMind to keep track of all the things that are needed for that?

Did FreeMind make you angry? Write a complaint.

Download

See Download.

Get yourself what more than 4 000 users download each day. stats

Project news

See more at News.

New beta FreeMind 1.1.0-Beta2. For the overview of new features, see here: FreeMind 1.1.0: The New Features. See also: Open-Discussion Page with download link (Mac users see below!) (7 Feb 2016).

New beta FreeMind 1.1.0-Beta1. For the overview of new features, see here: FreeMind 1.1.0: The New Features. See also: Open-Discussion Page with download link (Mac Mountain Lion users see below!) (22 Jun 2015).





New release FreeMind 1.0.1 available for download. It is a bug fix release for 1.0.0. For details see the Open-Discussion Page ('Mac Mountain Lion users see below!) (12 Apr 2014).'http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&action=protect





New Release FreeMind 1.0.0 available (19 OCt 2013). The release has a lot of new functions (in comparison with the 0.9.0 release two years ago). Especially clones, collaboration and geographical maps are the major new functions. The most important usability addition is the spell checker (thanks to Eike). For an overview over new features, see FreeMind 1.0.0: The New Features.

Information for Mac Maverick (10.9) and Mountain Lion (10.8) Users (20 Aug 2012). After the download, the operating system reports that the application has not been signed and reminds you that the default security preferences prevent you from running such applications. There is an easy workaround, namely control-clicking on the icon and selecting Open.

FreeMind has made it as the finalist for the 2009 Community Choice Award in the category "Most likely to change the way you do everything"!! Thanks for your trust in our project.

Running

To run FreeMind, do one of the following.

in Windows, double click Freemind.exe , or

, or on any operating system, double click freemind.jar in the lib/ folder of the folder in which FreeMind has been installed.

Getting a taste of FreeMind

You can view mind maps created with FreeMind now in your web browser, if you have Java 1.4 installed.

Map Note FreeMind documentation Shown as a mind map, using a Java applet with around 700 KB. Mind Map Gallery Mind maps contributed by FreeMind users, embedded into this wiki. Daniel's public map Some bookmarks and remarks. Daniel's public map (HTML) Map exported into HTML; some bookmarks and remarks.

Screenshots

See more in Screenshots.

Uses of FreeMind

Current users of FreeMind use it for the following purposes:

Keeping track of projects , including subtasks, state of subtasks and time recording

, including subtasks, state of subtasks and time recording Project workplace , including links to necessary files, executables, source of information and of course information

, including links to necessary files, executables, source of information and of course information Workplace for internet research using Google and other sources

using Google and other sources Keeping a collection of small or middle sized notes with links on some area which expands as needed. Such a collection of notes is sometimes called knowledge base .

with links on some area which expands as needed. Such a collection of notes is sometimes called . Essay writing and brainstorming , using colors to show which essays are open, completed, not yet started etc, using size of nodes to indicate size of essays. I don't have one map for one essay, I have one map for all essays. I move parts of some essays to other when it seems appropriate.

and , using colors to show which essays are open, completed, not yet started etc, using size of nodes to indicate size of essays. I don't have one map for one essay, I have one map for all essays. I move parts of some essays to other when it seems appropriate. Keeping a small database of something with structure that is either very dynamic or not known in advance . The main disadvantage of such approach when compared to traditional database applications are poor query possibilities, but I use it that way anyway - contacts, recipes, medical records etc. You learn about the structure from the additional data items you enter. For example, different medical records use different structure and you do not have to analyze all the possible structures before you enter the first medical record.

of something with that is either or . The main disadvantage of such approach when compared to traditional database applications are poor query possibilities, but I use it that way anyway - contacts, recipes, medical records etc. You learn about the structure from the additional data items you enter. For example, different medical records use different structure and you do not have to analyze all the possible structures before you enter the first medical record. Commented internet favorites or bookmarks, with colors and fonts having the meaning you want.

Features

Apart from other things, this release of FreeMind features:

Fully functional following of HTML links stored in the nodes, be it www links or links to local files.

stored in the nodes, be it www links or links to local files. From very early versions, Freemind supports folding which is its essential property.

which is its essential property. Fast one-click navigation , including folding / unfolding on one click and following links on one click at the same time (you don't have to make choice between fast following of links and fast fold/unfold). You can move the map by dragging the map's background as well as using mouse wheel.

, including folding / unfolding on one click and following links on one click at the same time (you don't have to make choice between fast following of links and fast fold/unfold). You can move the map by dragging the map's background as well as using mouse wheel. Undo

Smart Drag'n Drop , including the possibility to copy nodes or copy style of nodes; dragging and dropping of multiple selected nodes; dropping of texts or list of files from outside

, including the possibility to copy nodes or copy style of nodes; dragging and dropping of multiple selected nodes; dropping of texts or list of files from outside Smart copying and pasting into , including pasting of links from HTML or structuring the pasted content on the basis of the number of leading spaces in a line; pasting of lists of selected files

, including pasting of links from HTML or structuring the pasted content on the basis of the number of leading spaces in a line; pasting of lists of selected files Smart copying and pasting from , including plain text and RTF (MS Wordpad, MS Word, MS Outlook messages).

, including plain text and RTF (MS Wordpad, MS Word, MS Outlook messages). Export of map to HTML , with folding (see example)

, with folding (see example) Find facility, where found items are shown one by one as you do "find next", and the map is unfolded only for the current item.

facility, where found items are shown one by one as you do "find next", and the map is unfolded only for the current item. Possibility to use and edit long multiline nodes ; even with newlines

; even with Possibility to decorate nodes with built-in icons , colors and different fonts.

, colors and different fonts. Low costs of risk of switching away to another mind mapping tool, because FreeMind stores maps in XML format. If you have a lot of maps created by FreeMind and you want to switch to another program, writing a conversion program should be easy, especially if that program features Visual Basic scripting facility. Christoph Rissner describes in his article at IICM site his implementation of data exchange between FreeMind and MindManager.

to another mind mapping tool, because FreeMind stores maps in format. If you have a lot of maps created by FreeMind and you want to switch to another program, writing a conversion program should be easy, especially if that program features Visual Basic scripting facility. Christoph Rissner describes in his article at IICM site his implementation of data exchange between FreeMind and MindManager. File mode enables you to browse the files on your computer , seeing the folder structure as mind map .

, the folder structure . See more details in Freemind development tree

Weak spots include:

The support of pictures in nodes is in preliminary stage. When you want to carry a map around with you, you have to take care that you take the image files with you.

in nodes is in preliminary stage. When you want to carry a map around with you, you have to take care that you take the image files with you. FreeMind is basically one user application. Although users can in principle work on the same map, there is only preliminary locking mechanism to prevent conflicts, at the time, switched off by default.

application. Although users can in principle work on the same map, there is only to prevent conflicts, at the time, switched off by default. In rare cases , following of HTML links in the web browser does not work on some computers; the same holds for opening local files.

, links in the web browser on some computers; the same holds for opening local files. Limited support for fancy graphics.

License

FreeMind is free software and open source software, licensed under GNU GPL V2+ (GNU General Public License), where "V2+" means "version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version". Basically, that means that you are free to use FreeMind to whatever purpose you want without paying for that, and that any code derived from current FreeMind's code must also be licensed under GPL V2+. See also Licensing.

Get help from other users

Ask a question on FreeMind's Help forum. Also, consider looking at the collection of asked questions, using the search function of your browser. If you're unlike most of computer users, you may also consider reading the documentation, accessible from the menu Help > Documentation; press Ctrl + F to search through the documentation. For Linux users, FreeMind on Linux page may be helpful.

Documentation

See detail in Documentation.

Documentation available includes the following.

Mind map documentation: Application menu: Help > Documentation .

. Windows help-like documentation: Application menu: Help > Help .

. Printable documentation in PDF

Alternatives to using FreeMind

See detail in Alternatives to FreeMind.

To achieve that which FreeMind offers, you can use variety of tools.

Authors and contributors

See detail in Authors and contributors.

Several people have substantially contributed to the development of FreeMind, including the following.

Jörg Müller

Daniel Polansky

Petr Novak

Christian Foltin

Dimitry Polivaev

Many other people have contributed.

FreeMind team uses:

YourKit Java Profiler, donated by YourKit, for analysis of memory consumption and performance issues

Enterprise Architect, donated by Sparx Systems, for design tasks.

Do you want to reward authors for their work?

Drop us a line saying that you like FreeMind. You can do it on our Thank you for the music forum - just start a new thread and click "Post commment"; it's really easy. We are always glad to read that someone finds FreeMind useful. This definitely increases our motivation. Also, we appreciate to read what attracts you on FreeMind, and what is your most important case of use of FreeMind.

Please, address any questions with problems to the Help forum.

Testimonials

What users say about FreeMind includes the following.

Krishna Teja, 24.3.2011: For about 6 years I have only been [i]dreaming[/i] of organizing my life in some manner. There are far too many variables and unknowns, and I never knew [b]how or where to begin organizing[/b]. After 6 years of procrastination and a catastrophic crash in life, I hit mind maps and FreeMind. It looks like the search is over, I can now organize my thoughts in one place and get a clear picture of my own life. The flexibility of the software is only limited by one's imagination. [b]Hats off to the team[/b] for contributing this gem to the open source world. After only days of using this software I can say its the best thing since sliced bread. My joy is boundless. I hope to stick to FreeMind throughout my life to organize stuff.

Krishna Teja, Hyderabad INDIA



Petr: 31 Jan 2009:

Subject: my second brain

did not know i have second one... until i've found freemind. no more feeling like an idiot on morning company meeting after a big hangover - just ten minutes long look on mindmap and you're back in saddle, ready to go champion! not even mentioning other pluses it has in ordinary work situations, of course :) what i want is to say big THANK YOU



Andrea, 25.7.2008: I rediscovered Freemind last week while my proposal for a multi million USD contract was being reviewed in a tender in a ministry. The reviewer was keeping all details under perfect control at lightspeed, giving hard times to us proposers noticing every single missing or glitch in our documents.

How could he be doing this?

I just asked: mind mapping software was the response. He made a big mind map of the whole proposal and checked all the nodes one by one. As easy as this.

Well, I was fascinated, after passing the tender review (YESSSSSSS!!!) I just browsed my PC where freemind was sitting quiet since a couple of years. I just launched it and applied it to my current project: a BIG software system delivery to an important bank.

Guys, in 3 days I made a perfect job in tracking activities, preparing project status meeting, todo lists, reports, software test result diagrams... I'm just amazed.

>From now on I'll use it for everything.

Thanks for this precious piece of software.



Rich, 14.4.2004: First off, congratulations on a truly awesome application with a fantastically intuitive interface... I thought I'd spend 10 minutes evaluating it but I had so much fun I ended up playing for hours - I even missed lunch!

Daniel, 1.2.2003: How do I know that FreeMind is a high productivity tool? The answer is I don't. I am using FreeMind on daily basis and am very satisfied with the benefits it brings me. What I really consider important is that when I use FreeMind, most of the time I don't have to ask myself "how do I do this thing in FreeMind", but I rather just do what I need without thinking about it. FreeMind makes my task of collecting, organizing and analyzing information on a given topic much easier.

James, 14.10.2002: Now, having tried out the new release, I can tell you: It's brilliant! Well done!

Henning, 21.11.2002: I recently started using FreeMind and I'm rather delightet. After getting to known it, it immediately became one of my every-day-use-tools.

Joe, 20.1.2003: I downloaded Freemind several months ago and it has become a vital part of my daily activites. I am enormously grateful for the program.

Paul, 9.2.2003: What a splendid piece of work!

Tom, 13.2.2003: I appreciate version 6.1 very much. Having the DnD capability into and out of my emails has now made Freemind the source document for my management work. 6.1 is stable, simple and elegant in text, lines, and manipulation. I prefer such elegance to commercial versions because I have work to do, not time to make things look better. This is a superb complexity organizer.

I also use it at home to capture my martial arts learning as I head towards a black belt. I put in the basic movements and the katas or arranged groups of movements. I use that when I practice at home.

Perry, 10.4.2003: I have been using FreeMind for two or three months now, and find it totally indispensable! I simply can't say enough good things about how it has helped me get on top of an overwhelming workload. I've tried task managers and project managers ad-nauseam, and they are either too simplistic or too cumbersome.

See more of positive reactions on Thank you for the music forum.

Reviews

So you want to know what electronic press has to say about FreeMind? FreeMind has been reviewed in the following articles and blogs.

See more at marketing page.

More pages

This website also features the following pages.

Forums ~ Requests for enhancements ~ Import and export ~ Flash browser ~ FreeMindPDA ~ Freemind Win Collab ~ Sandbox ~ Documentation efforts ~ Plugins ~ Short patches ~ Tutorial effort ~ User.properties