Desktop mind mapping · Local-first
Think visually.
Plan completely.
Stay private.
A desktop mind map that turns ideas into plans — with AI on your own terms. No account. No cloud. No subscription for thinking.
Free Reader · 7-day Editor trial · $59 one-time
v1.0 · macOS · Windows · Linux · No account required
Three threads of thought, woven into one plan.
The problem
Thinking tools ask you to give something up.
Your ideas live on someone else’s server.
Web tools sync your private thinking to the cloud by default — and lock it behind an account.
AI features come with a monthly bill.
You pay a subscription for AI that runs on their servers, on their terms, with your data.
Planning tools aren’t visual — visual tools can’t plan.
You juggle a mind map, a task board, and a Gantt chart in three different apps.
The solution
One app that does all three, and keeps your data yours.
Think visually
Mind maps, a free-form canvas, and seven layout modes — from balanced trees to org charts, timelines, and fishbones. Ideas take the shape your thinking needs.
Plan completely
Every node can become a task with dates and assignees. Switch to a Board, a Gantt with dependencies, or a live Dashboard — same map, no export.
Stay private
Desktop-first. No account, no cloud, no telemetry. Your maps are plain .mind files on your disk, and AI runs on your own key.
Bring your own AI
AI on your machine, your key, your rules.
Web AI tools send your data to their servers. ideaBraid connects to the provider you choose — or none at all.
Anthropic
Bring your Claude API key. Expand branches, summarize, structure — nothing leaves your machine except your own request.
OpenAI
Prefer GPT? Use your OpenAI key. You choose the provider and the model, per map.
Ollama
Run entirely offline with a local model. No key, no network, no exception to the privacy rule.
See it in action
One map. Every way to work.
The same document, seen four ways — no exports, no copies. Think it as a map, run it as a plan.
Received a .mind file? Open it free in your browser — no install, nothing uploaded.
Open the Web Reader →Features at a glance
Everything from first spark to shipped plan.
AI work breakdown
Turn a goal into a structured tree of subtasks — then refine each branch by hand.
Free-form canvas
Drop nodes, sticky notes, and tables anywhere. Structured when you want it, loose when you don’t.
Seven layouts
Balanced, org chart, timeline, fishbone, radial, and free — switch instantly, no re-drawing.
PM built in
Tasks, dependencies, a critical-path Gantt, reminders, and a project dashboard — no second app.
Present & export
Pitch mode for full-screen walkthroughs. Export to PNG, PDF, Markdown, OPML, ICS, and CSV.
Open format
Every map is a .mind file you own. Link maps with [[wikilinks]] and see who links back.
A visual home for connected thought.
Coming from Obsidian or Logseq? Keep the linking and the privacy, gain a canvas. Wikilinks weave your maps into a graph you can actually see.
One tool instead of three subscriptions.
Brainstorm, break down, schedule, and present without leaving the app — or paying Miro, Notion, and Asana every month.
Pricing
Free to view. $59 to create. Forever to own.
Always free for viewing, presenting, and exporting. Editing is a one-time license — no subscription, no recurring fees, no account. Try every editing feature free for 7 days.
Reader
Free, forever
$0
- ✓ Open any .mind map
- ✓ Zoom, search, navigate
- ✓ Pitch (presentation) mode
- ✓ Export PNG, PDF, Markdown, OPML, ICS, CSV
- ✓ No account, no limits
Editor License
One-time · 1 year of updates
$59 once
- ✓ Everything in Reader, plus:
- ✓ Full editing, AI, free-form canvas
- ✓ Board, Gantt, Dashboard, reminders
- ✓ macOS + Windows + Linux, one license
- ✓ Offline activation — no account
Optional $39/year renewal for continued updates. 15-day money-back guarantee.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is it really free to use? +
Yes — viewing, presenting, and exporting are free forever, no account. Editing needs a one-time license after a 7-day full trial that starts automatically.
What does the license cost? +
$59 one-time. It includes one year of updates and covers macOS, Windows, and Linux under a single license. An optional $39/year renewal keeps updates coming — the app keeps working either way.
Is this a subscription? +
No. The license is a one-time purchase you own. Renewal is entirely optional and only extends updates; it never disables the app.
Do I need an account? +
Never. There is no sign-up and no login. License activation is offline — no server ever sees you.
Where is my data stored? +
On your device, as .mind files, wherever you save them. There is no cloud and no telemetry. The only network traffic is an anonymous update check and AI calls you initiate.
How does the AI work? +
You bring your own key (Anthropic or OpenAI) or run a local model with Ollama. Map content is sent only when you run an AI command, and only to the provider you chose.
Which platforms are supported? +
macOS 10.15+, Windows 10+, and Linux (AppImage or .deb). A single license covers every platform.
Can I open maps without a license? +
Yes. The free Reader opens any .mind map — zoom, search, present, and export — so anyone you share a map with can view it.
What happens after the trial? +
The app drops to Reader mode. Nothing is deleted; editing simply pauses until you enter a license. Your maps stay exactly as they were.
What’s your refund policy? +
A 15-day money-back guarantee. If the license isn’t for you, email us within 15 days for a full refund.
Start weaving your ideas today.
Download ideaBraid, try every editing feature free for 7 days, and keep the Reader forever.