Mindmap by Dumbnote Try Mindmap

Offline-First Visual Mind Mapping, Built to Last

The offline mind map for studying, writing, researching, and sorting the tangle in your head. One HTML file. No login. Works forever.

no login no cloud no friction
Try Mindmap Download HTML
my-novel.mindmap

mind map · rich nodes · tags · float notes · all offline

The whole studio for thinking.

Some people open it the night before a literature review is due. Some open it at 35,000 feet to plot chapter twelve. Some open it because there are seventeen thoughts in their head and none of them will sit still long enough to become a sentence. Dumbnote Mindmap is a single page that loads once and works forever — offline, account-free, the same shape on a school Chromebook as on a research workstation.

One tool. One HTML file. Yours forever.

Why Dumbnote Mindmap

Truly Offline

No cloud. No login. Just download the HTML file and open it in your browser. Your ideas stay private.

Forever Yours

No subscriptions. No vendor lock-in. One HTML file that works today and will work in 10 years.

Markdown Export

Take your work anywhere. Export to clean Markdown that flows straight into Google Docs, Obsidian, or any editor.

Keyboard-Driven

Tab, Enter, arrow keys, hotkeys for tags. Mindmap as fast as you can think — no mouse fatigue.

Optional Cloud Sync

Want devices in sync? Connect Google Drive on your terms. Default is local-only, and always will be.

Mindmap mode

Start with a thought. Press Tab. Watch a map appear.

Hierarchical mindmapping that's faster than your mouse. Tab, Enter, and arrow keys are all you need — but when your hand reaches for the cursor, the map answers back.

drop a child on a new parent

Move a child to a new parent.

Pick up any node and drop it on a different parent. The connector re-routes mid-drag — the child re-parents as soon as you let go.

click a branch · click empty to release

Click a branch to focus it.

Click any branch and the rest of the map fades to a quiet background — the branch you're working on outstands. Click empty space to bring everyone back.

click · pick tags · pick a color

Tag and color any node.

Click a node, pick a tag (or two), pick a color. Tags appear above the node like sticky labels; color recasts the whole branch's stroke at once.

Open Mindmap mode

Graph mode

Sometimes ideas don't fit in a tree.

Open a Graph document for ideas that don't fit in a tree — nodes anywhere, connections in any direction, shapes that mean what you mean. Like Obsidian's graph view, but offline and free.

  • Five shapes: circle, rectangle, diamond, sticky, image.
  • Bidirectional connections — argue with yourself in loops.
  • Force-directed physics keeps clusters legible.
Open Graph mode

Rich content nodes

A mindmap node isn't always a label.

Sometimes it's a paragraph, an image, an idea that needs room to breathe. Expand any node into a full card with rich text, images, and Read-more. For ADHD brains: dump the whole thought, not just the title.

  • Expand inline — siblings auto-reflow around the larger card.
  • Embed images directly in nodes for visual thinkers.
  • "Read more →" opens a full-screen editor for long content.
See rich nodes in action

Hold a paragraph, an image, an idea — right inside a node.

Offline collaboration

Same map. Every cursor. No middleman.

Real-time collaborative mindmapping over end-to-end encrypted peer-to-peer connections. No account to create, no platform that owns your draft. Works after the first handshake, even when the WiFi doesn't.

  • E2E encrypted — the signaling server can't read your map.
  • Live cursor presence with awareness names and colors.
  • Degraded-mode detection: clear status when peers can't connect.
Try live share
end-to-end encrypted · peer-to-peer · no server in the middle

three editors · one shared map · end-to-end encrypted

Reader mode

The same map. Read like a story.

When the mapping is done, switch to Reader Mode and your mindmap becomes a clean, distraction-free article — the same content, rendered for focus. Built for students reviewing for exams without the visual chaos.

  • Section-aware color accents from your branch palette.
  • Scroll progress bar with sunrise gradient.
  • Print-to-PDF for offline sharing or archiving.
Read your map

the same map · read like a story

More tools

Small features. Big leverage.

The mindmap toolkit goes deeper than the headline modes — these are the small, sharp tools that change how you think.

Focus Branch

Shift+click any branch and the rest of the map fades to 35%. Read the part you care about without losing the room.

Tag Filter

Tag any node, then filter the whole map to just the tags that matter. Press 1–9 as hotkeys.

Study Mode

Right-click any branch and its children collapse into dots. Click each dot to reveal — like flashcards on your map.

Float Node

Pull a thought off the tree and stick it anywhere on the canvas. For ideas that don’t fit the hierarchy yet.

Built for the brains that need these tools most: For ADHD brains For students For researchers

Feature parity

One tool. Every mode of thinking.

Mind-mapping tools usually trade off a few axes — free or offline, rich-text or graph, collaboration or privacy. Dumbnote refuses the trade-off.

Feature Dumbnote MindMeister XMind Coggle Heptabase Capacities
Free ✓ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
Offline-first ✓ × × × partial ×
No login required ✓ × × × × ×
Rich-text nodes ✓ partial ✓ × ✓ ✓
Graph mode ✓ × × × ✓ ×
P2P collaboration ✓ cloud × cloud × cloud
Reader mode ✓ × × × × ×
Study mode ✓ × × × × ×
Float / sticky ✓ × × × ✓ ×
Tag filter ✓ ✓ ✓ × ✓ ✓
Keyboard-driven ✓ partial ✓ × ✓ ✓
Markdown export ✓ × × × × ✓

Comparison reflects publicly documented features as of June 2026. "Partial" = available with caveats. "Cloud" = supported only through a hosted service.

Perfect for

Built for every brain that thinks in shapes.

Students, researchers, writers, ADHD brains — the same offline tool meets each of them on their own terms. No login, no cloud, no friction between the thought and the page.

Offline Mind Maps for Students & Exam Prep

Outline essays, map readings, and revise for finals without a login, a subscription, or a working WiFi connection. Runs on any school laptop.

See it for students

Literature Maps That Stay on Your Laptop

Map sources, trace arguments, and synthesize findings in a private offline mind map. Nothing syncs unless you say so.

See it for researchers

Plot, Character Webs & Article Outlines Offline

From novel arcs to longform features, build the shape of what you’re writing in a mind map that opens on any device, even at 30,000 feet.

Outline your next chapter

A Mind Map for ADHD Brains

Dump every thought as a node, then drag the tangle into something you can actually do. No login, no setup, no friction between you and the idea.

See it for ADHD brains

The Offline Brainstorming Tool That Loads in a Second

Capture every idea as fast as you can type — no signup, no internet, no waiting. Brainstorm on a plane, in a meeting, anywhere.

Start brainstorming

Plan Projects Without a Project Tool

Break work into branches, focus on one, ship it. The offline mind map that doesn’t bill you per seat.

Plan a project

Build a Second Brain You Actually Own

A local-first mind map and graph view for the notes you’d never trust to a cloud you don’t control.

Start your second brain

How it works

Three steps from blank page to finished map.

  1. Open in Browser

    No installation needed. Just open the HTML file in any modern browser and start mapping.

  2. Build Your Map

    Use keyboard shortcuts or mouse to add nodes. Drag to reorganize. Add descriptions for details.

  3. Export & Continue

    Export to Markdown or SVG when done. Your ideas flow seamlessly into your next tool.

Why offline

Why Choose Offline?

Cloud-first tools rent you a workflow. Offline-first tools give you one — the same shape on a school Chromebook, a research workstation, and a plane.

Feature Dumbnote Mindmap Cloud Alternatives
Works Offline ✓ Always × Requires Internet
Data Privacy ✓ 100% Local × Stored on Servers
Cost ✓ Free Forever × Subscription Required
Future Proof ✓ HTML Standard × Service Dependent
Export Options ✓ MD, SVG, PNG, Mermaid Varies
Speed ✓ Instant Network Dependent

A free alternative to

Free Mind Mapping Alternative to Popular Tools

Switch from any of these — keep the workflow, lose the subscription, the login wall, and the cloud lock-in.

Alternative to MindMeister

Unlimited offline mind maps, free forever. Your visual brainstorming tool works anywhere without internet.

Switch from MindMeister

Alternative to XMind

No installation needed — just open in browser. Simple keyboard-driven mind mapping for fast idea capture.

Switch from XMind

Alternative to Coggle

Complete privacy with no login required. Create unlimited concept maps offline with markdown export.

Switch from Coggle

Alternative to FreeMind

Modern web-based mind mapping tool with clean UI. Export to markdown for seamless workflow integration.

Switch from FreeMind

Alternative to Lucidchart

Focused on simple visual note-taking and brainstorming. Perfect for personal knowledge management.

Switch from Lucidchart

Alternative to MindNode

Cross-platform mind mapping that works on any device with a browser. No ecosystem lock-in.

Switch from MindNode

Research-backed

Mind Mapping Benefits: Research-Backed Results

The studies are unambiguous: visual thinking measurably outperforms linear note-taking across productivity, retention, and creative output.

Average productivity increase

When teams replaced linear notes with mind maps.

Better memory retention

Spatial structure beats linear recall on recall tests.

Creativity boost

Branching visuals unlock more associative ideas.

Social proof

4.8 / 5

Loved by 156 makers, students, and researchers.

Read more on GitHub

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before you open a single mind map. No fine print, no upsell.

How does offline mode work exactly?

Dumbnote Mindmap is a single HTML file with all code embedded. Once downloaded, it runs entirely in your browser without any server connection. Your data is stored in browser IndexedDB, staying completely private on your device.

What browsers are supported?

Any modern browser works: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Brave. The app uses standard web technologies that have been supported for years, ensuring compatibility.

How do I save my work?

Your mindmap auto-saves to browser IndexedDB as you work. To create backups or share, use the Export feature to save as Markdown or SVG files.

What's the file size limit?

There's no hard limit, but browser IndexedDB typically allows much more storage than localStorage. That's enough for thousands of nodes with descriptions. For very large maps, regular exports are recommended.

Can I customize the appearance?

Node types come with predefined colors to help you organize your thoughts visually.

Is there a mind map app made for ADHD?

Yes. Dumbnote Mindmap is designed for thought-dumping first, structuring second. You can spawn nodes as fast as you can type, then drag them into hierarchies later. There’s no login wall, no onboarding flow, and no setup — so the idea you just had doesn’t escape while a sign-up form loads.

What's the best offline mind map for students?

Dumbnote Mindmap runs from a single HTML file in any browser — including school-issued Chromebooks and locked-down library machines. No account needed, no internet required after the first load, and it exports to Markdown so your essay outline travels with you into Google Docs or Word.

Can I use a mind map for a literature review?

Yes — and offline matters here. Researchers working with unpublished findings, interview transcripts, or sensitive sources can map sources, themes, and arguments in Dumbnote without anything syncing to a third party. The Graph view also reveals citation clusters your linear notes miss.

How do writers use mind maps for outlining?

Fiction writers map plot beats and character relationships as branching hierarchies; nonfiction writers map argument structure before drafting. Dumbnote supports both — hierarchical Mindmap for outlines, freeform Graph for character webs — and works fully offline, so you can plot on a plane.

Do I need an account to use Dumbnote Mindmap?

No. Ever. There’s no signup, no email, no free trial. You open the page, you start mapping. Your data lives in your browser. Optional cloud sync is available if you want it, but the default is local-only and always will be.

What's the difference between a brain dump app and a mind map app?

A brain dump captures; a mind map organizes. Dumbnote is both. Start by typing every thought as a node — that’s the dump. Then drag, group, and connect them into branches — that’s the map. Useful for ADHD brains, overthinkers, and anyone who needs to externalize before they can sort.