Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Freeplane VS Coggle

Compare Freeplane VS Coggle and see what are their differences

Freeplane logo Freeplane

Freeplane is a powerful and free software for building mind maps.

Coggle logo Coggle

Coggle is a simple, beautiful, powerful way of structuring information.
  • Freeplane Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-17
  • Coggle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-15

Freeplane features and specs

  • Open Source
    Freeplane is open-source software, which means it is free to use and has a large community of developers contributing to its improvement and maintenance. Users can also customize the software according to their needs.
  • Cross-Platform
    Freeplane is a cross-platform application that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems, providing flexibility and convenience for users irrespective of their preferred OS.
  • Feature-Rich
    Freeplane offers a robust set of features for mind mapping, including node styling, advanced formatting, scriptable tasks, and the ability to integrate with third-party tools, making it suitable for both simple and complex projects.
  • Extensive Customization
    The software allows extensive customization options for creating and managing mind maps. Users can adjust the appearance, functionality, and integrate with other tools as needed.
  • Active Community and Support
    Freeplane has an active user community and abundant online resources, such as forums, tutorials, and documentation, which helps users get support and improve their mind mapping skills.

Possible disadvantages of Freeplane

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features, Freeplane can have a steep learning curve, especially for new users who are not familiar with mind mapping tools. It requires time and effort to become proficient.
  • Overwhelming Interface
    Freeplane's user interface can be overwhelming for beginners as it is packed with numerous options and tools. This might make it less user-friendly compared to more simplistic mind mapping tools.
  • Lack of Real-Time Collaboration
    Freeplane does not support real-time collaboration features, which can be a limitation for teams that need to work on mind maps simultaneously.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Some users have reported occasional stability issues and bugs, which can interrupt workflows and require restarts or workarounds.
  • Limited Integration Options
    While Freeplane can be integrated with some third-party tools, it lacks the seamless integration capabilities found in some commercial alternatives, which might be a drawback for users who rely heavily on interconnected productivity tools.

Coggle features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Coggle provides a simple and intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create and edit mind maps, suitable for users of all skill levels.
  • Real-time Collaboration
    The platform offers real-time collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work on the same mind map simultaneously, which is great for team projects and brainstorming sessions.
  • Version History
    Coggle automatically saves a version history of your mind maps, enabling users to track changes and revert to previous states if needed.
  • Integrations
    Coggle integrates with popular tools like Google Drive, making it easy to export, share, and import documents and mind maps.
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility
    Available as a web application, Coggle can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, providing flexibility and convenience.

Possible disadvantages of Coggle

  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of Coggle has limitations, such as the number of private diagrams you can create. Upgrading to a paid plan is required for more advanced features.
  • Performance Issues
    With very large or complex mind maps, users may experience performance issues such as lag or slow loading times.
  • Limited Customization
    The customization options for colors, fonts, and styles are somewhat limited compared to other mind mapping tools, which can be a drawback for users seeking highly personalized diagrams.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, there is a learning curve for more advanced functionalities, which may require some time and effort to master.
  • Dependency on Internet
    Since Coggle is mainly a web-based application, it requires a stable internet connection to function, limiting offline accessibility.

Analysis of Coggle

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Coggle is generally considered a good tool for creating mind maps and organizing information visually. It is user-friendly and offers collaborative features.

Why this product is good

  • Coggle is appreciated for its simplicity and intuitive design, making it easy to create and share mind maps. The tool's real-time collaboration feature allows multiple users to work on the same diagram simultaneously, which is beneficial for group projects or brainstorming sessions. Additionally, Coggle integrates well with various other tools and platforms, enhancing its usability.

Recommended for

  • Students who need to organize their study notes
  • Teachers creating educational materials
  • Teams looking to brainstorm or plan projects collaboratively
  • Individuals who prefer visual organization tools over traditional note-taking methods

Freeplane videos

Freeplane Quickstart Guide

More videos:

  • Review - user review: freeplane 127_08 mindmapping tool quick test of hot keys and SVG export
  • Review - user review: freeplane-1.2.7_07 mindmapping tool

Coggle videos

Coggle Review - Coggle Mind Map Tool

More videos:

  • Review - Coggle It Review
  • Review - Coggle Review - Visual Mapping Review Series 2014

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Freeplane and Coggle)
Brainstorming And Ideation
Idea Management
28 28%
72% 72
Digital Whiteboard
19 19%
81% 81
Mind Maps
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Freeplane and Coggle

Freeplane Reviews

  1. More features than Freemind, more active development

    Freeplane began as a fork of the Freemind project. While maintaining comparability with Freemind file format, it has far outpaced in features and development. As of 3/5/2022, the latest Freeplane update (1.9.3) is 3/5/2022 vs Freemind was last updated (1.0.1) 2/5/2016. Active, helpful community.

Coggle Reviews

Compare The 10 Best Mind Mapping Software of 2021
Coggle’s useful features include auto-arranging branches, image uploads/attachments, a full change history, and collaborative drawing. You can download your mind maps as PDFs or image files, and you can also export as .mm and text as well as export to Microsoft Visio. Another way to share your mind maps is through embeddable diagrams, meaning that you can display your Coggle...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Coggle seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 12 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Freeplane mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Freeplane yet. Tracking of Freeplane recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Coggle mentions (12)

  • I tried and failed
    I find that reflecting on my experiences and going out of my way to really analyze the pitfalls and things done correctly helps a lot. I normally use coggle.it to mind map the whole experience overview and then which elements of the project seemed to be improvements and which parts where potentially poorly executed. I often find a lot more nuance this way than just scanning over it in my head. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How do I guide the Web dev?
    In any case, any software that can create a visualization of a tree-like diagram will do the job. I'd recommend https://coggle.it/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Mind Maps
    I have spent more time than I'd like to admit researching the different programs out there. Mindmup , Coggle, and Mindmesiter came the closest, but definitely not perfect. These are some of the features I am looking for:. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Need help reviewing my thought process around organizing my data
    Did it using https://coggle.it .. I have mindmaps self-hosted too but I feel this is much easier on the eye. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Question: is there a comprehensive list of people who are part of the fandom menace?
    Ah, because I found this mapping website called coggle.it and I was just wondering what if we made a map of including all the members of the fandom menace to see how big and how many members or connections they have, that's all really. Source: almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Freeplane and Coggle, you can also consider the following products

Xmind - Xmind is a brainstorming and mind mapping application.

FreeMind - FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping software written in Java.

MindMeister - Create, share and collaboratively work on mind maps with MindMeister, the leading online mind mapping software. Includes apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.

vym - VYM (View Your Mind) is a tool to generate and manipulate maps which show your thoughts.

MindManager - With MindManager, flexible mind maps promote freeform thinking and quick organization of ideas, so creativity and productivity can live in harmony.

TheBrain - TheBrain: The Ultimate Digital Memory