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Mindmeister.com is an online mind-mapping application. Users can create simple or complex mind-maps, containing text, links, images, tasks and files. Text size and color can be formatted by the user, and a mind-map can consist of any number of interconnected nodes. The site features a WYSIWYG mind-map editor which is entirely browser-based. A desktop application can be downloaded for working on mind-maps offline. Mind-maps can easily be shared with others, and other users can collaborate on mind-maps as well. Users can export and import mind-maps from the FreeMind and MindManager mind-mapping applications. The site also offers applications for adding ideas to mind-maps from the user's desktop, from within a browser, via email or via SMS text message. There are also iPod and iPhone apps available for editing mind-maps. Mind-maps can also be exported as a Word outline DOC file, a PDF file or an image file. The site offers special hosted editions of its software for educational institutions, NGOs and businesses who need to run the software behind a restrictive firewall. A special business version is also available which allows for team collaboration and user management.

Mindmeister was founded by MeisterLabs GmbH, a Munich, DEU-based company in February 2007. MeisterLabs GmbH was founded by Till Vollmer and Michael Hollauf, and has offices in Vienna, AUT as well.

Competition to Mindmeister.com comes from sites such as Mindomo and Bubble.us. Mindomo is the most similar to Mindmeister, and is a paid service as well. Bubble.us does not offer as many features, but is a free application. Mindmeister and Mindomo allow the creation of more complex mind-maps with more elements than Bubble.us.

The Mindmeister.com site has a very clean and uncluttered look and feel. The site is quite responsive, and page loads happen quickly. The browser-based mind-map editor is very responsive as well. There is a short learning curve involved with using the Mindmeister editor. Navigation of the site is intuitive, as are most of the controls in the editor. File transfer and import/export operations are quite responsive. There is no advertising displayed on the Mindmeister.com site.

Registration to Mindmeister.com is free and is required to use the site. The registration process asks for name, username, email address and password. Validation of the email address is required. A free basic account is limited to 3 mind-maps, allows the ability to share mind-maps and collaborate, and allows for import of mind-maps to Freemind and Mindmanager. There are two types of premium plans available – Premium and Business.

The Premium plan is designed for individuals and personal projects, and allows for unlimited mind-maps, enhanced security, upload of files and images, and the ability to import and export from Freemind and MindManager. The Premium plan costs $59 per year. The Business plan allows for collaboration and sharing, enhanced security, unlimited mind-maps and the ability to create and edit mind-maps offline. The Business plan costs $9 per user per month.

Mindmeister.com is recommended to any individual or organization that needs a complete, versatile mind-mapping solution. The application offers the ability to create quite complex mind-maps, and the sharing and import/export capabilities are excellent. If a simpler solution will suffice, Bubble.us provides basic mind-mapping capability for free, but for more complex mind-maps, Mindmeister is an excellent application.

• Simple to complex mind-maps can be created
• Mind-maps can consist of text, links, files, tasks and images
• The browser-based editor is intuitive and easy to use after a short learning period
• Offline, iPod and iPhone apps available
• Ideas can be inserted into mind-maps via email, from the desktop and via text (SMS)
• A free account is limited to 3 mind-maps and import only capability
• Paid accounts offer unlimited mind-maps and the ability to import/export to Freemind and MindManager

MindMeister video

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