When comparing Zoho Notebook vs MindMeister, the Slant community recommends MindMeister for most people. In the question“What is the best cross-platform note-taking app?” MindMeister is ranked 33rd while Zoho Notebook is ranked 37th. The most important reason people chose MindMeister is:
In addition to web software, MindMeister is available on iOS and Android mobile platforms as well.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Completely free, ad-free, with unlimited devices
Zoho (the company behind Notebook) has been providing free, advertisement-free, productivity applications for over a decade, and this one is no different.
Pro Cloud sync
As an Evernote alternative, Notebook securely stores notes to the cloud, allowing you to access notes on all of your mobile devices, while the sync is seamless. Also, web app support is coming soon.
Pro Easy to use
If you've ever used Evernote, then you know it has lot's of menus and that doing simple things requires lots of taps. Notebook is designed to be more functional, and lets you take and access notes quickly.
Pro Pre-built checklist and audio notes
Rather than create a checklist within a text note, Notebook has a pre-built checklist card, which makes creating them really easy. Plus the items you check off move to the bottom of the note. Audio notes work the same way. Rather than treat audio notes like attachments (as Evernote does), Notebook has a pre-built audio note which is really nice, very similar to Evernote in that fashion, which makes it a good alternative.
Pro Great UI
Pro Web and mobile versions available
In addition to web software, MindMeister is available on iOS and Android mobile platforms as well.
Pro Notes can be shared and collaborated on in real-time
MindMeister allows sharing maps with an unlimited number of collaborators so it's possible to take notes and brainstorm together. Mind maps can be shared by inviting people either directly via email or by sending them a link to the map. Even people without a MindMeister account can access the maps and even edit them.
Pro Comments and votes
Users can create polls and have collaborators vote individual topics up or down, or comment on them.
Pro Various layouts
User can switch between classical mind map layout, a layout where all topics are aligned on the left or the right, and org chart layout.
Pro Clear overview without losing any details
The mind mapping format provides with a clear overview of connections, hierarchies and relationships of notes. At the same time, it's possible to add more detailed notes, links, pictures and even whole files to the keywords, so that no important information gets lost.
Pro One node can have marks, emoticons and comments
Pro Adding a Table or Matrix
Xmind is one of the few mind maps that allows you to add a table or matrix to your mind map. Very useful when you have content that works better in a table.
Cons
Con Migrate from Evernote non functional
The migrate from Evernote function resulted in blank notes. The headers are there but blank notes
Con Available on limited platforms
Currently there is no web app or Windows version available.
They are working on both, but there is no set release date.
Con No good offline mode
You can only work completely offline when using an iOS or Android device. For your browser there's only a clumsy 'offline mode' available. If you didn't hit the switch before you have the need for working offline (for instance: in a meeting, at a customer's location, in a plane, etc.) than your out of luck... no tool for note taking. Especially with all those HTML5-capable browsers and the Chrome App store (including Desktop apps), this limits the usage of this commercial product.
Con Expensive compared to the competition
A basic monthly subscription ($92 USD) gives you no more than XMind FREE except PDF exporting. XMind paid with PDF export is $79. $20 less for lifetime use of an app with more features as of writing.
Con Free option limited to 3 mind maps
A free XMind app/online account or MindMup account both provide unlimited mind maps.
Con MindMeister has very poor Evernote integration
Evernote is the number one 'store-everything-archive' when it comes to unstructured data or information. MindMeister markets there Evernote integration as a very cool feature. But this integration is very basic and buggy: only the last 50 (?) notes from Evernote's default notebook are shown in the list, and it takes about 30 seconds to one full minute to generate that list. After that it takes about the same amount of time to add a copy of the selected note as an attachment to a topic. MindMeister support is well aware of this poor implementation, but doesn't put any effort in fixing it.
Con Very basic
Con The interface has only very basic features
For example, it lacks the possibility to define a long text under the node title showing it in a permanent way. The software is 1000 less powerful than Microsoft Visio. Meanwhile it should just be more specific.