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Productivity · head to head

FigJam vs MindMeister

FigJam logo

FigJam

Productivity

Free online whiteboard for teams

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: FigJam organization and Enterprise tiers are billed annually only, with no monthly billing option; 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: FigJam covers Infinite whiteboard, MindMeister covers Presentation mode.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FigJam and MindMeister actually diverge.

Attributes where FigJam and MindMeister differ
AttributeFigJamMindMeister
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 FigJam

  • Infinite whiteboard
  • Sticky notes
  • Drawing tools
  • Shapes
  • Widgets
  • Templates
  • Voting
  • Slack

Only in MindMeister

  • Presentation mode
  • Free plan
  • File export
  • Attachments
  • Version history
  • MeisterTask handoff
  • Custom branding
  • Single sign-on and compliance export

Both cover

  • Real-time collaboration

What people use each for

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

FigJam

  • Teams running collaborative brainstorming and whiteboarding sessions bundled into an existing Figma plannot MindMeister

MindMeister

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

Where each one falls short

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

FigJam

  • Organization and Enterprise tiers are billed annually only, with no monthly billing option
  • Free Starter plan caps AI credit usage at 150 credits per day and 500 per month, well below the 3,000 monthly AI credits on a Professional full seat

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

FigJam

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited editable boards
    • Basic tools
    • Unlimited viewers
  • Paid$5/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced templates
    • Moderation tools

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 FigJam if

  • You need infinite whiteboard.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want sticky notes.
FigJam review

Choose MindMeister if

  • You need presentation mode.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want free plan.
MindMeister review

Questions people ask

Is FigJam or MindMeister better?
Neither clearly leads. FigJam 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, FigJam or MindMeister?
FigJam starts at Free and MindMeister at Free.
Does FigJam or MindMeister run on more platforms?
FigJam runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. MindMeister runs on Web.
Can I use FigJam for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is FigJam best used for?
FigJam is most often used for teams running collaborative brainstorming and whiteboarding sessions bundled into an existing figma plan. Of those, teams running collaborative brainstorming and whiteboarding sessions bundled into an existing figma plan is not what MindMeister is typically brought in for.
What can FigJam do that MindMeister cannot?
FigJam covers Infinite whiteboard, Sticky notes, Drawing tools, Shapes. MindMeister covers Presentation mode, Free plan, File export, Attachments. Both handle Real-time collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FigJam: Is FigJam included with Figma or sold separately?

FigJam is included at no additional cost with all Figma plans, from the free Starter plan through Enterprise.

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.

FigJam: How many AI credits does each Figma plan include for FigJam?

The Professional plan includes 3,000 AI credits per month, Organization plan includes 3,500 AI credits per month, and Enterprise plan includes 4,250 AI credits per month. Starter (free) does not include AI features.

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.

FigJam: What can I do with FigJam's open sessions feature?

FigJam allows anyone to join open sessions for 24 hours without needing a Figma account, and you can create unlimited open sessions across your team.

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.

FigJam: What diagramming capabilities does FigJam include?

FigJam includes advanced shapes for technical diagramming such as AWS, GCP, Azure, and Kubernetes components, plus standard diagramming tools and connectors. All these features are available on every paid plan.

Source
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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