Mind Map Maker
Turn an outline into a radial mind map - free, no signup.
What this tool does
Type or paste your topic as an indented list - one idea per line, indented two spaces (or one tab) for each level below the centre topic - and this draws it as a radial mind map: your topic in the middle, main branches fanning out around it, and sub-ideas branching further out from those. There's no canvas to drag boxes around on; restructuring the map is just reordering or re-indenting lines of text.
Draws a radial mind map from an indented text outline you type or paste - each level of indentation becomes a ring further from the centre topic.
Sizes each branch's share of the circle in proportion to how many ideas it contains, so a branch with more sub-ideas gets more room and the map stays readable.
Counts your ideas, main branches, and levels automatically.
How to use it
- Type your central topic on its own line, then indent each branch below it by two spaces (or one tab).
- Add a chart title if you want one, and pick a colour palette.
- Export as PNG or SVG.
Why use this chart maker
Mind maps organise ideas around a central topic. An outline is faster to write than dragging nodes.
Why we built it
We built the mind map maker to start from a plain indented outline, so brainstorming stays as fast as typing. Organise the result with the org chart maker and compare ideas with the Venn diagram maker.
Related tools worth a look: the Sankey Diagram Maker.
Who this tool is for
- Students planning essays and revision
- Teams brainstorming
- Writers outlining projects
When to use it
- Planning essays, projects or talks.
- Studying and revision.
- Brainstorming.
- Presentations.
Why an outline instead of a drag-and-drop canvas
Brainstorming is faster as a list than as boxes you have to position.
Most mind-mapping tools ask you to place bubbles on a canvas and draw connecting lines by hand - which is slow when you're actually brainstorming, because the visual layout competes for attention with the thinking itself. Typing ideas as a simple indented outline lets you capture and reorganise thoughts as fast as you can type, and the radial layout is generated automatically from the structure of your outline, not drawn by hand.
This uses the same indented-text convention as this site's org chart and cladogram makers - two spaces (or one tab) per level - so switching between them needs no relearning.
What you give it, and what you get back
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Input | An indented outline; the first line is the centre. |
| Output | A radial map with branches sized by content. |
| Export | Save the chart. |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Map is dense | A large outline produces a large map. | Reduce levels or split the outline. |
| Branch order is not as expected | It follows outline order. | Reorder the outline. |
| Levels are wrong | Indentation is inconsistent. | Use the same indent. |
Assumptions and limitations
- A very large outline (many branches, many levels) produces a correspondingly large, dense diagram rather than automatically simplifying to fit a fixed size.
- Branch position around the circle is determined automatically by outline order and size, not manually adjustable - to reposition a branch, reorder the outline.
- The chart is drawn as SVG and exported to PNG at a fixed resolution suited to slides and documents, not large-format print.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a mind map online for free?
Type your topic as an indented outline - one idea per line, two spaces or one tab per level - and the mind map draws instantly. Download it as a PNG or SVG with no signup and no watermark.
How does the indentation work?
The first, unindented line becomes the centre topic. Each line indented one level further than the line above it becomes a sub-idea branching off it, drawn as a ring further from the centre.
Can I reposition a branch on the map manually?
Not by dragging - branch position is calculated automatically from your outline's order and the size of each branch. To change where something appears, reorder the outline text.
How many levels can a mind map have?
As many as you type - there's no fixed limit, though a very deep outline produces a correspondingly large diagram.
Can I download the mind map as an image?
Yes - PNG for a slide, document or social post, or SVG for print or further editing. Both download directly with no watermark.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The mind map is drawn entirely in your browser using the text you type or paste - nothing is sent to a server, and closing the tab clears it.