Choosing the best mind-mapping software for YOU

Mind-mapping has been a phenomenon in cognitive science ever since its beginnings at the hands of Tony Buzan, but it is only in the past few years that the market has been flooded with various types of mind-mapping software.

Mind-mapping software has big advantages over the pen-and-paper model started by Tony Buzan, because a big map can fit into a small screen (due to the use of map-nodes and their inter-relationships through visual markers,) it is easily re-organizable, and web files or desktop files can be attached to it. Almost all software allows the use of ready made and export into other software, and collaborative mind-mapping is now a reality.

But to find a mind-mapping software amongst this bewildering array of products to really suit all your needs, it might be wise to evaluate your requirements and the budget you can allocate towards it. The mind-mapping needs of a housewife or a student can be very different from those of an executive at a multi-national, and they are likely to have very different budgets to work with. Mind-mapping can be effectively used for enhancing productive creativity", whether personal or professional, but this can only happen if the software is perfectly matched to the needs of the user

At a personal level, mind-mapping can help you set milestones, plan tasks and possibly to sort out tricky issues at home. In this case pen and paper usually work almost as well as a software, because the issues at stake are usually relatively uncomplicated.

Free software available on the internet like Freemind or Bubbl.us are adequate for tasks that involve simple brainstorming, or planning a vacation or a party. Bubbl.us is your mind-mapping software also if you are a writer or a blogger, because it has useful features. It allows you to collaborate online on projects through mind-mapping and lets you email and print mind-maps as well. The best part is, you don't have to spend a dime on softwares like Freemind, which give you sufficient basic features.

On a professional level, the requirements are not so simple. For those in the academic fields like professors, students, teachers and even other professionals like doctors and architects, mind-mapping software needs to be able to connect to a lot of documents from the same mind-mapping page.

FreeMind
MindJet Mindmanager 8.0
Compendium

Information-retrieval is key, and software like Mapit could be useful with its various categories suited to different needs. Novamind could be suitable as well, especially because it has separate modules for screenwriters, teachers and students, and can run on both Windows and Macintosh.

But mind-mapping software truly comes into its own when it comes into the corporate level, where it affords a unique perspective into the issues and concerns facing the organization and going forward could even help in the formation of strategies, plans and programs.

This is where important criteria like system requirements, flexibility, display, map enhancements, editing, import-export options, templates, print options, manipulation, screen views and design options come into play.

Some mind-mapping software like Mapit, MindManager, OpenMind 2 Business Edition, ConceptDraw MindMap and iMindMap can satisfactorily fulfill these criteria and be especially useful for project management, which requires presentations, brainstorming, critical insights, follow-up of action-items, inclusion of spreadsheet views and so on.

For slightly cheaper software on the same lines, you could try out MindGenius as well. Desktop-based software is especially good if you do not have to work online on the mind-map in a collaborative scenario, or the documents associated with the mind-map are confidential in nature. These software also have some of the fastest, smoothest user interface.

The Word 2007 Map Editor for Mindjet MindManager could help you if you need to collaborate, and are already using MindManager. But if you would truly like a collaborative mind-mapping software, go for a web-based software like MindMeister rather than a desktop-based one like MindManager.

There are a number of comparable web-based software for you if you are a knowledge worker who needs to collaborate on mind-maps: for instance, Comapping, Mindomo, Thinkature, and many others.

Users of mind-mapping software have studied and compared the pros and cons of various mind-mapping software. But more important than other's reviews and opinions, it is crucial that you test out the software before making your decision.

Almost all desktop mind-mapping software is available on the internet for free trial download for a limited time period: MindManager, Mapit, ConceptDraw, and MindMapper to name but a few. Most web-based software offer free basic versions, which you can try out before purchasing the advanced version.

The good news is that the market is full of a wide diversity of mind-mapping software which are constantly improving and adapting to your needs. Evaluating your exact requirements for mind-mapping and the budget you have for your purchase are good starting points, and from then on, you will have to explore the features of various mind-mapping software to find one that is made for you.

For some links to free and trial mind mapping software solutions