MindMapVault

MindMapVault is a mind-mapping app that pairs encrypted cloud storage with local desktop and self-hosted options. It is best for people who value control over their data more than live group editing. Its strongest case is deployment flexibility; credential loss can make encrypted vault contents inaccessible.

Overview

Maps can contain notes, attachments, and relationships, making MindMapVault useful for connected planning and reference work, not just diagrams. Choose it when you want a choice of cloud, offline desktop, or your own server. It is less suitable for teams that need to edit together in real time, or users who need a way to recover a forgotten password.

Key features

Cloud map content is encrypted on the device with AES-256-GCM before upload, and the server stores ciphertext. The security overview also describes hybrid key encapsulation using X25519 and ML-KEM-768. That is a meaningful privacy-oriented design, but it puts extra importance on safeguarding credentials: the maker says existing encrypted vault contents cannot be recovered if they are lost.

Import and export support varies by deployment. The self-hosted edition imports FreeMind, Freeplane, WiseMapping, XMind, and Markdown, and exports to FreeMind, Freeplane, WiseMapping, and XMind. The on-premise offering adds SAML or OIDC single sign-on, a REST API, and webhooks, useful for organizations connecting the software to existing access and automation workflows.

There is no real-time collaboration, so shared editing that depends on colleagues seeing one another's changes as they happen calls for another tool. AI assistance is available, though the listed capabilities do not establish what it can do in practice.

Pricing

Cloud Free costs nothing and includes 25 MB of encrypted storage, 3 active shares, 5 published maps, and a 5 MB maximum file size. Those caps make it a useful way to try the cloud service or maintain a small collection, but not a generous home for larger attachments or a growing library.

Cloud Pro costs $50 a year, billed $50 / year. It raises storage to 1 GB, allows 100 active shares, effectively unlimited published maps, and files up to 50 MB. This suits an individual who has outgrown the free quotas; the plan details do not state a seat allowance, so it should not be assumed to cover a team.

Desktop Local + Self-Hosted is free and includes Windows and Linux desktop builds plus a self-hosted Docker deployment. The desktop app is offline-only, needs no account or server, and keeps data on the device. The server edition requires PostgreSQL and S3-compatible storage and has no team management or enterprise controls, making it a poor substitute for a managed organization-wide service.

On-Premise Installation has custom pricing and offers Docker or Kubernetes deployment, SAML/OIDC SSO, a REST API, webhooks, deployment guidance, rollout support, priority support, and SLAs for production incidents. It is the relevant option for organizations that need those controls and support commitments. MindMapVault is maintained by solo developer Kornel, and non-urgent replies may take a few days; there is no general support team or ticketing system, a consideration for anyone relying on the lower-cost offerings for critical operations.

Platforms

MindMapVault supports web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API, and self-hosted use. The web app can be installed as a PWA on iPhone and Android, with offline use supported through service-worker caching. The FOSS desktop app is specifically offline-only; do not mistake it for a synced desktop cloud client.

Who it's for

MindMapVault is a strong fit for privacy-conscious individuals who can protect their credentials, want offline access, or prefer to run their own infrastructure. The free desktop and self-hosted routes are especially appealing when keeping data local or under your administration matters more than centralized team features. Look elsewhere for live co-editing, password recovery, or team and enterprise controls in the self-hosted server edition.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Device-side AES-256-GCM encryption and ciphertext storage suit users seeking encrypted cloud maps.
• Pros: Cloud, local desktop, and self-hosted options let users choose where their work resides.
• Pros: FreeMind, Freeplane, WiseMapping, XMind, and Markdown imports give self-hosted users several ways to bring existing maps in.
• Cons: No password recovery means losing credentials can permanently lock users out of existing encrypted vault contents.
• Cons: No real-time collaboration makes it unsuitable for teams that need concurrent map editing.
• Cons: The self-hosted server lacks team management and enterprise controls, while general support comes from a solo maintainer rather than a support team.

Alternatives

Consider EdrawMind if you want a freemium option with a free trial and a free plan that includes 100 MB of storage and 100 topics. GoMind is another freemium choice, with a free tier described as including core mind mapping, rich notes and layouts, and import and export workflows. If a free trial matters, Mindomo is also worth comparing; its free plan is listed as free.

Thortspace offers a free license centered on public spheres, with a limited number of them. Xmind has a free plan for classic and essential mapping features, with 10 online maps and a 3-day version history. Comapping is an alternative with freemium pricing and a Personal Edition — Online at $25 a year for 1 user. ideaBraid offers a free Reader for opening, searching, and presenting maps, with PNG, PDF, Markdown, OPML, ICS, and CSV export. Mapify is another freemium alternative with a free trial and a free plan that includes 30 AI credits and limited document and video-to-map conversions.

Browse more options in Mind Mapping Software.

Verdict

Choose MindMapVault if encrypted maps and a choice of cloud, local, or self-hosted storage matter more than collaborative editing. Its privacy-oriented design and deployment flexibility are compelling, but the lack of password recovery is a serious responsibility, and the absence of real-time collaboration makes it the wrong fit for shared work built around live co-editing.