Mind Map Maker — Outline to Mind Map
Type an indented outline, get a mind map instantly — export to PDF or SVG. No account, no drag-and-drop.
Everything runs in your browser — your diagram is never uploaded. Scroll to zoom, drag to pan. PDF export opens your print dialog: choose "Save as PDF".
This free mind map maker works the way your brain dumps ideas: as a list. Type your central topic on the first line, indent two spaces for each branch level — exactly like a nested bullet list — and the mind map renders live on the right. No dragging nodes around, no account, no watermarks.
Outline-first mapping is dramatically faster than canvas tools for the common cases: meeting notes, project planning, brainstorming, study notes, and talk outlines. Restructuring is just re-indenting lines, and your source stays as plain text you can paste anywhere — including back into this tool later.
How to use
- Type your central topic on the first line.
- Add branches below it, indenting 2 spaces per level — sub-branches get 4 spaces, and so on.
- Keep node text to 2–4 words; mind maps read best as keywords, not sentences.
- Scroll to zoom, drag to pan, Fit to re-center. Export with Download PDF or Download SVG, or load an example from the toolbar to see the pattern.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create branches and sub-branches?
Indentation is the whole syntax: the first line is the center of the map, lines indented 2 spaces become main branches, 4 spaces become sub-branches, and so on — the same way you'd structure a nested bullet list. Empty lines are ignored.
Can I save my mind map and edit it later?
Your map is plain text — copy the outline into any notes app or file, and paste it back in to continue editing. The exported SVG and PDF are for sharing the visual; the outline is your editable source.
Is anything uploaded to a server?
No — the map renders entirely in your browser. Your outline never leaves your device, so it's safe for confidential planning, strategy notes, and unreleased ideas.
Why a text outline instead of drag-and-drop?
Speed and portability. Typing an indented list is faster than dragging nodes, restructuring is just re-indenting, the text diffs cleanly in version control, and you can generate or edit the outline with any tool — including AI assistants — then paste it here to visualize.
How is a mind map different from a flowchart?
A mind map radiates from one central idea outward and shows hierarchy — ideal for brainstorming, planning, and note-taking. A flowchart shows sequence and decisions with arrows between steps — ideal for processes. If your content has an order ('then... then...'), you want a flowchart; if it has a center and categories, you want a mind map.
What mind maps are best for
• Meeting notes — center is the meeting, branches are wins / blockers / decisions / actions. The built-in example shows the pattern.
• Project kickoffs — dump every workstream and task, then re-indent until the structure makes sense. The re-indenting is the planning.
• Study and reading notes — hierarchy mirrors how memory works; recalling the branch recalls the leaves.
• Talk and article outlines — see whether your structure is balanced before you write a single paragraph.
Tips for maps people can actually read
Keep nodes to a few words — the map's value is scannable structure, and eight-word nodes destroy it. Aim for 3–7 main branches; more than that usually means two of them are really the same branch. Depth beyond four levels is a sign the deepest material belongs in a document, with the map as its table of contents. And when a branch keeps growing, promote it: make it the center of its own map.
Related free tools
- ER Diagram Maker — Write your database schema as text, see the entity-relationship diagram render live — export to PDF or SVG.
- SERP Snippet Preview — Preview how your page title and meta description will look in Google — with live character-count checks.