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Productivity · head to head

Capacities vs MindMeister

Capacities logo

Capacities

Productivity

A studio for your mind with object-based notes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MindMeister logo

MindMeister

Productivity

Collaborative online mind mapping, free for three maps in total

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Capacities pro plan pricing not prominently displayed on website; MindMeister the free plan allows three mind maps in total, and a map is a whole document rather than an item, so the cap is reached in a first afternoon of genuine use, making it a demonstration with no clock rather than a usable tier.
  • They diverge on capability: Capacities covers Object-based notes, MindMeister covers Real-time collaboration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Capacities and MindMeister actually diverge.

Attributes where Capacities and MindMeister differ
AttributeCapacitiesMindMeister
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2020Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Capacities

  • Object-based notes
  • Daily notes
  • Properties and relations
  • Graph view
  • AI assistant
  • Readwise
  • Web clipper
  • GDPR

Only in MindMeister

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Presentation mode
  • Free plan
  • File export
  • Attachments
  • Version history
  • MeisterTask handoff
  • Custom branding

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Capacities

  • Productivitynot MindMeister
  • Collaborationnot MindMeister
  • Task managementnot MindMeister
  • Organizationnot MindMeister

MindMeister

  • Running a live brainstorm with people in different places, where everyone edits the same map simultaneously.not Capacities
  • Teaching or training where the map doubles as the slide deck through presentation mode.not Capacities
  • Structuring a project or an argument visually before it becomes a document or a plan.not Capacities
  • Teams already using MeisterTask who want ideas to become tasks without transcribing them.not Capacities

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Capacities

  • Pro plan pricing not prominently displayed on website
  • Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Notion or Obsidian
  • Limited third-party integration marketplace

MindMeister

  • The free plan allows three mind maps in total, and a map is a whole document rather than an item, so the cap is reached in a first afternoon of genuine use, making it a demonstration with no clock rather than a usable tier.
  • Exporting is a paid feature, since the free plan cannot export files at all, Microsoft-format export begins at the Pro tier and compliance export at Business, so retrieving your own work in a portable form costs more than the entry subscription.
  • Pricing is per user and a map's value comes from being seen, so an organisation pays the same rate for people who only read and comment on maps as for the few who actually build them.
  • Attachments are rationed by tier at two per map on the entry plan, so using a map as a project hub rather than a sketch pushes you to a higher tier for a limit that has nothing to do with mapping.
  • Single sign-on and the administrative controls an IT department requires sit on the Business tier and involve a sales conversation, which is where a tool adopted quietly by individuals becomes an organisational purchase at several times the entry price.

Pricing, plan by plan

Capacities

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited spaces and objects
    • Device synchronization
    • Unlimited custom object types
  • Pro$10/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Unlimited notes
    • Advanced graph views
  • Believer$149.88/year
    • Everything in Pro
    • Beta access to new features

MindMeister

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 mind maps
    • Unlimited collaborators
    • Templates
  • Personal$6/month
    • Unlimited mind maps
    • 2 attachments per map
    • 7-day version history
  • Pro$10/month
    • Unlimited attachments
    • Unlimited version history
    • Multiple admins
  • Business$15/month
    • Group sharing
    • Compliance exports/backups
    • SAML SSO (contact sales)

Which should you pick?

Choose Capacities if

  • You need object-based notes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want daily notes.
Capacities review

Choose MindMeister if

  • You need real-time collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want presentation mode.
MindMeister review

Questions people ask

Is Capacities or MindMeister better?
Neither clearly leads. Capacities starts at Free and MindMeister at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Capacities or MindMeister?
Capacities starts at Free and MindMeister at Free.
Does Capacities or MindMeister run on more platforms?
Capacities runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android. MindMeister runs on Web.
Can I use Capacities for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Capacities best used for?
Capacities is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization. Of those, productivity and collaboration are not what MindMeister is typically brought in for.
What can Capacities do that MindMeister cannot?
Capacities covers Object-based notes, Daily notes, Properties and relations, Graph view. MindMeister covers Real-time collaboration, Presentation mode, Free plan, File export.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Capacities: What platforms does Capacities support?

Capacities is available on Web, Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux), and Mobile (iOS, Android), allowing seamless work across devices.

Source
MindMeister: What does the free plan allow?

Three mind maps in total, with unlimited collaborators, templates and presentation mode. It does not include file export, so maps made on the free plan stay in the browser.

Capacities: Does Capacities have a free plan?

Yes, Capacities offers a free plan with unlimited spaces, objects, and blocks, device synchronization, unlimited custom object types, and 5GB media uploads total.

Source
MindMeister: Can I export my maps?

On paid plans. The entry tier adds file export and printing, and Microsoft formats arrive at Pro. What comes out is an image, a PDF or a document, not an editable map another tool can open.

Capacities: What AI features does Capacities include?

Capacities includes an AI Assistant available on Pro and higher plans for brainstorming, summarization, and contextual Q&A about your notes.

Source
MindMeister: Does it work offline?

Treat it as needing a connection. If you are running a workshop somewhere with unreliable network, export or print what you need beforehand rather than relying on the browser.

MindMeister: How does it relate to MeisterTask?

Same vendor, separate products and separate licences. Map branches can be sent into MeisterTask as tasks, which is the main reason to prefer it over a general whiteboard tool.

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