VYM (View Your Mind)
VYM (View Your Mind) is desktop software for making and editing tree-like mind maps.
What VYM (View Your Mind) is
VYM (View Your Mind) is desktop software for making and editing tree-like mind maps. It can help organize tasks, manage time, brainstorm, and map complex contexts. Users can move or reorder branches and change their colors with mouse actions. A separate note editor stores extra text, such as notes and emails. Maps can contain images saved in the .vym file and toolbar flags to mark items as important or time-sensitive. VYM supports XML and zipped .vym files, with the zipped format keeping data in a single file. Import and export options include FreeMind map import, CSV export, HTML export, and scripted exports. It can fetch data from Bugzilla and update bug status for items in a map subtree, though this requires an extra package. Other listed features include presentation mode, partial D-Bus support, branch-heading web links, and printing that fits map size and orientation to selected paper. VYM runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, is released under the GPL, and is free at no cost.
Good
- Reorder branches and change their colors with mouse actions.
- Images are stored within the .vym file.
- Imports FreeMind maps and exports CSV or HTML.
- Includes presentation mode and scripted exports.
- Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Watch out
- Bugzilla status updates require an extra package.
- D-Bus support is partial.
Who it suits
VYM suits people organizing tasks, managing time, brainstorming, or seeking an overview of complex contexts. Its desktop versions cover Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Verdict
VYM offers mind-map editing with notes, images, flags, and several import and export options. It is a free, GPL-licensed desktop choice for users who want to organize ideas as branches.
Plans and prices
From VYM (View Your Mind)'s own pricing page, checked 12 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| VYM | Free | GPL-licensed software · desktop download |
The facts
Each one read from VYM (View Your Mind)'s own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Desktop availability
- The maker links to Linux downloads and to Mac and Windows downloads; release notes describe native Mac and Windows support.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Editing
- Users can move map branches, change their colors, and reorder parts of a map.checked 12 Oct 2026
- File format
- VYM supports XML and zipped .vym files, and the site says the zipped format stores all data in one file.checked 11 Oct 2026
- File formats
- The feature page lists XML and zipped .vym files, and says XML can be exported to HTML.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Flags
- Toolbar flags can mark map items as important or time critical.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Images
- Images can be added to a map and are saved within the .vym file for sharing.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Images and flags
- Maps can include images saved in the .vym file and toolbar flags for marking information such as importance or time sensitivity.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- The listed features include FreeMind map import, CSV export, HTML export, and scripted exports.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integration
- VYM can fetch data from Bugzilla and update bug status for items in a map subtree; the page says an extra package is required.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The maker describes uses including time management, task organization, and getting an overview of complex contexts.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Interoperability
- The 2.0.0 feature list states that VYM has partial D-Bus support.checked 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The maker says VYM is released under the GPL and describes a GPL exception to allow linking against non-GPL libraries for Windows builds.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Links
- The maker describes a function that copies a branch heading into the URL used to open a web browser.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Map editing
- Users can reorder map branches and change their color with mouse actions.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Notes
- A separate note editor can store additional text such as notes and emails.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Presentation mode
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Printing
- VYM uses a Qt printer dialog and sets map size and orientation to fit the selected paper.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- VYM creates and edits tree-like mind maps to organize tasks, sort ideas, and explore complex contexts.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- The official pages opened provide no security or compliance claims.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Security and privacy
- The maker’s pages opened for this research do not state security or compliance certifications.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker links to PDF documentation, an FAQ, a mailing list and forum, and a GitHub issue tracker.checked 12 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- The maker's download links list Linux variants and Mac and Windows downloads.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windows,macOS,Linuxchecked 20 Sep 2026
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