MindNode
Apple-native mind mapping, outlining, tasks, and visual tags
The visible mind mapping loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. MindNode earns its keep through interaction polish, collaboration, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- high-fidelity import and export
- presentation and enterprise controls
- multiplayer cursors and comments
- large template libraries
Why people still pay
MindNode: The shapes are easy; customers pay for low-friction editing, reliable exports, collaboration, and a canvas that never fights them.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- Runtime and tools: TypeScript, React, SVG or Canvas and IndexedDB with a versioned JSON project format.
- Before starting: A browser with IndexedDB, licensed example assets and fonts, and an agreed output size.
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Project rule — domain: Store TopicNode, ParentID, SiblingOrder and FoldState; enforce one parent per node, prohibit cycles and preserve ordering across outline/map edits.
Project rule — scope and recovery: Choose one tree layout and keyboard navigation before elaborate themes. Multiple-parent concepts require a separate graph model rather than corrupting the tree.
Project rule — acceptance: Drag a parent below its own descendant, rename a collapsed branch and export; reject the cycle and keep hidden children present in the structured export.
Project rule — delivery: document real setup commands and permissions; do not claim a build, accuracy level, performance result or security certification that has not been demonstrated.
Recommended skill: vercel-composition-patterns — separate document tools, property inspectors and export controls into explicit reusable React components. Follow the maintainer's installation instructions and match its requirements to the chosen runtime.
Recommended skill: web-design-guidelines — review keyboard access, focus, validation, error recovery and the readable work/review interface or HTML report. Follow the maintainer's installation instructions and match its requirements to the chosen runtime.
Implementation plan
Phase 1
Pin the working slice and create its example input: Create a mind map and synchronized outline, fold branches, add notes and export an SVG plus structured outline. Confirm setup: A browser with IndexedDB, licensed example assets and fonts, and an agreed output size.
Phase 2
Implement persistence and write-time invariants before decorating the UI: Store TopicNode, ParentID, SiblingOrder and FoldState; enforce one parent per node, prohibit cycles and preserve ordering across outline/map edits.
Phase 3
Connect the working view to real saved state. Maintain one document model for preview, undo and export. Use stable element IDs; save after completed gestures, handle storage quota errors and provide explicit file backups.
Phase 4
Expose the app-specific limits and recovery path in context: Choose one tree layout and keyboard navigation before elaborate themes. Multiple-parent concepts require a separate graph model rather than corrupting the tree.
Phase 5
Walk through this concrete acceptance case and preserve its exported evidence: Drag a parent below its own descendant, rename a collapsed branch and export; reject the cycle and keep hidden children present in the structured export. Finish the README and backup/restore instructions; report unfinished capabilities explicitly.
Build the following focused alternative to MindNode. This is a deliberately limited personal or small-team substitute, not parity with the paid service. WORKING SLICE Create a mind map and synchronized outline, fold branches, add notes and export an SVG plus structured outline. SETUP AND ARCHITECTURE Use TypeScript, React, SVG or Canvas and IndexedDB with a versioned JSON project format. Prerequisites: A browser with IndexedDB, licensed example assets and fonts, and an agreed output size. Before integrating anything, record actual versions and permissions, plus model files or provider limits only where used, in the README; make unavailable dependencies visible rather than simulating success. DOMAIN MODEL AND INVARIANTS Store TopicNode, ParentID, SiblingOrder and FoldState; enforce one parent per node, prohibit cycles and preserve ordering across outline/map edits. IMPLEMENTATION CONTRACT Maintain one document model for preview, undo and export. Use stable element IDs; save after completed gestures, handle storage quota errors and provide explicit file backups. Provide an input/setup view, the main work view, and a review/export view appropriate to this workflow. Preserve the last saved state if a job or save fails. Include empty, loading, permission-denied, partial and retryable-error states. Log identifiers and error categories without secret values or unnecessary private content. APP-SPECIFIC BOUNDARY AND RECOVERY Choose one tree layout and keyboard navigation before elaborate themes. Multiple-parent concepts require a separate graph model rather than corrupting the tree. ACCEPTANCE SCENARIO Drag a parent below its own descendant, rename a collapsed branch and export; reject the cycle and keep hidden children present in the structured export. Also reopen the app after an interrupted operation, confirm the saved record/export remains inspectable, and document the recovery action. These are implementation acceptance requirements, not a claim that this guide has been tested. DELIVERY Deliver a runnable repository with migrations or project-format versioning, a non-sensitive example, environment/permission setup, the exact manual acceptance steps, and a backup/export-and-restore walkthrough. Implement the working slice before optional integrations; list any deferred paid-product capabilities honestly. Do not add capabilities outside the working slice just to resemble the original product. PROJECT RULES FOR AGENTS.md Keep the domain invariants above executable at the write boundary. Propose scope changes before adding providers or permissions. Never fabricate source evidence, publish results, identity matches or successful delivery. Preserve user originals and require an explicit confirmation for destructive changes or external publication.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy or download AGENTS.md
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MindNode pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| mindnode free | $0/user | $0/user | No published document cap; create/edit documents, basic mind mapping, import/export, iCloud sync and joining shared documentsApple platforms only. |
| mindnode plus | $2.99/user | $2.08/user | No published document cap; adds outlining, AI/Apple Intelligence, notes, tasks, tags, themes, collaboration and Apple Watch$24.99/year; includes both current MindNode and MindNode Classic and comes with an unspecified-length free trial. |
free tierNo published document/map cap; basic mind mapping, editing, import/export, iCloud sync and shared-document participation
billingmonthly $2.99 or annual $24.99 (equivalent to $2.08/month)
hidden costsApp Store pricing/tax can vary by storefront. Setapp is a separate bundle subscription. The trial converts automatically unless canceled before it ends.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-12 · pricing source ↗
Questions about MindNode
Can you build your own MindNode with AI?
Partly. The visible mind mapping loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. MindNode earns its keep through interaction polish, collaboration, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope.
What does the MindNode build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Create a mind map and synchronized outline, fold branches, add notes and export an SVG plus structured outline. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: high-fidelity import and export; presentation and enterprise controls; multiplayer cursors and comments. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the MindNode prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this MindNode project take?
The catalogue estimate is multi-day for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing MindNode?
high-fidelity import and export; presentation and enterprise controls; multiplayer cursors and comments; large template libraries. MindNode: The shapes are easy; customers pay for low-friction editing, reliable exports, collaboration, and a canvas that never fights them.
What can I use instead of building MindNode?
Freeplane: Deep local mind mapping, outlining, attributes, filters, and scripting; powerful in the way software with several decades of menus tends to be. AFFiNE: Mind maps, outlines, tasks, tags, and presentation frames in one app; less Apple-native polish, much less Apple-only lock-in. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.