Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.
-Gene Fowler
Whether you are trying to get organized, struggling to bring a product to market, or just find yourself facing the solid, unbreakable wall of writer’s block, we all need help on occasion to come up with new ideas. Mind mapping, or brainstorming, is a great way to get past some of these obstacles. And it should probably come as no surprise that there are a variety of AI-driven solutions available that can greatly help you to get the most from your brainstorming sessions.
But how do you know which of these tools is right for you or your company’s needs?
What to look for in an AI brainstorming tool
Your success with any AI mind mapping tool will depend largely on finding one that meets your needs. These tools all vary a bit from each other in terms of their feature sets and what they can actually do, so give some thought to the following before setting out to find the perfect tool.
Compatibility
What apps or platforms does the tool integrate with? Is it compatible with project management software, Slack, Google Workspace, etc.? If your organization currently depends on something like Slack, this can be a big consideration.
User interface
Spending days or even weeks just trying to figure out how an AI tool works is never fun. An AI brainstorming tool UI should be intuitive, straightforward, and easy to understand. A good way to get a feel for the various interfaces is to take advantage of robust free trials to get a feel for them (more on this in a bit).
Exporting
What type of export capabilities does the tool have? If you have specific programs or formats you need to use your mind maps in, make sure they are supported.
Collaboration
If you are looking for a brainstorming tool to use with your team, be sure it supports collaboration. In particular, consider tools with real-time collaboration features, as this will allow multiple team members to work on the same project at the same time.
Templates
If a tool offers an extensive library of predefined templates, you will be better positioned to hit the ground running, regardless of what type of project you are working on.
Type
Brainstorming tools can cover quite a bit of area in terms of type. And by type, we mean mind maps, whiteboards, flow charts, and more. If you have a preference in this area, be sure the tool supports it.
Pricing
Many of the tools here are tier-based in terms of pricing; the more you pay, the more you will be able to use the tool (and often with an advanced feature set). Monthly fees can add up fast, and you can often save considerably by opting to pay annually. Many of these also offer free trials and even forever free plans, so you can test drive the tool (or even use it full time, if your needs are light) with no obligation.
What is the AI adding?
Finally, do you really need an AI-driven brainstorming tool? There are a wide variety of non-AI whiteboards and mind mapping tools out there, often much cheaper than those that add in AI. If paying up for an AI assist, be sure you really need it and that you will get your money’s worth using it.
The best AI brainstorming tools
Ayoa
Ayoa features a number of different tools on its platform that you can use to brainstorm the way you want. Included here are whiteboard tools, Gantt charts, freehand drawing tools, collaboration features, and a variety of integration and export options. This tool comes in two “flavors”: Ayoa Free, and Ayoa Ultimate ($13/month per user, billed annually). You can check out our own write-up on Ayoa, or visit their website to start using the tool for free.
Boardmix
Boardmix is a whiteboarding tool designed for team collaboration (up to 500 people). Teams can use this tool for mapping and diagramming, brainstorming, meetings and workshops, or just run of the mill strategy and planning sessions. They offer a variety of pricing options, from a $4.90/month Business plan (billed annually), to a $99 lifetime plan. They also have a free plan, where you can try out Boardmix with a single workspace and up to three editable boards. Check out our own write-up on Boardmix, or visit their website to get started using it for free.
Coggle
Also leaning heavily into team collaboration is Coggle. Real-time collaboration and sharing is key here, and users can create everything from mind maps to flowcharts. We really love the Coggle Gallery, where you can see what other users are creating, as well as a tool set for creating more complex maps through multiple starting points, loops, and joining branches. Tiered pricing starts at $5/month, and they also offer a forever free plan with three private diagrams to start you off. See our own write-up on Coggle, or visit them online to start using this tool for free.
Whimsical AI
Whimsical AI offers a variety of tools to organize your ideas, create flowcharts and mind maps, make wireframes and documents, and more. This also offers a variety of robust team tools, and a template section so you can get up and running with the tool quickly. Tiered pricing starts at $10/month/editor for a Pro account (billed annually), or you can try out their forever free plan (three team boards) to get a feel for the tool. Check out our own page on Whimsical AI, or visit their site to try it out yourself for free.
Wondershare EdrawMind
Available for a range of platforms that include Mac, Linux, Android, iOS or the web, Wondershare EdrawMind is a mind mapping and brainstorming tool designed with tools in mind. A big plus here is that you can use this tool to turn ideas into slideshows, and hence into presentations. Pricing here starts at $39 for a semi-annual plan ($59 annually), or you can opt for lifetime access for $118. They do also offer a free trial, so you can try this out without obligation. See our write-up on Wondershare EdrawMind, or visit their website to try out EdrawMind for free.
Have you used any of these tools, or do you have a favorite AI brainstrorming tool that we did not include? Share in the comments below!
