Comparison · 2026
Miro vs XMind:
a whiteboard or a mind mapper?
They solve different problems. Miro is an online whiteboard where a mind map is one object among sticky notes and diagrams. XMind does only mind maps, in native apps that work offline.
Facts read 28 October 2026
We make a third tool, Atlas Red, and it appears in the table so you can see where it fits. Everything about Miro and XMind was read from their own pricing, product and help pages on 28 October 2026. Where a vendor page was unclear, we say so. Check the vendor before you buy.
The short answer
Pick Miro if your team runs workshops, retros and planning on one canvas, live, and the mind map is part of a bigger board.
Pick XMind if the map is the work — an outline, a study plan, a book structure — and you want it offline, on any platform, as a real file.
On price, XMind Pro is $59 a year; Miro Starter is $96 a year per member, and grows with every person you add.
Side by side
| Miro | XMind | Atlas Red | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | General online whiteboard; a mind map is one object on the canvas | Dedicated mind mapping app, desktop-first | Dedicated mind mapping app, in the browser — ours |
| Cheapest plan for one person | Starter, $8/member/mo billed yearly | Pro, $4.92/mo billed yearly ($10 monthly) | Pro, $99 once, updates included |
| Cost over 1 / 3 / 5 years | $96 / $288 / $480 | $59 / $177 / $295 | $99 / $99 / $99 |
| Free plan | 3 editable boards, unlimited members | 10 online maps, 50 AI credits, watermark | 10 maps, 1,000 topics each, no end date |
| Export on the free plan | Low-resolution board images only | PNG only, with watermark | Every format: PDF, PNG, SVG, JPEG, Markdown, OPML, XMindMark, HTML, JSON, text, slides |
| Export on paid plans | High-res JPG and PDF from Starter; no mind-map file format | PNG, SVG, PDF, Markdown, OPML, Word, Excel | Same — export is never behind the paywall |
| Imports | No mind-map file import; paste text into Miro AI | FreeMind, MindManager, MindNode, Markdown, OPML, Word | .xmind, FreeMind .mm, OPML, Markdown, YAML, XMindMark, text — plus AI import of photos and PDFs |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android — no Linux | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Browser on any OS; installs as an app (PWA) |
| Offline | No offline mode | Yes, in the native apps | Yes — maps cached, edits sync when back online |
| Live co-editing | Yes, real-time, on every plan including Free | Real-time on Premium ($8.25/mo yearly); basic sharing below that | No — one author, read-only share links |
| AI | Credits: 10 a month on Free, 25 per member on Starter | Credits: 50 on Free and Pro, 500 a month on Premium | AI import only: $1 trial credit, then prepaid packs or your own key (Pro) |
| ChatGPT / Claude access | Official MCP server on every plan, daily call limits (Free: 100) | Official MCP server and a ChatGPT app | Free, unmetered MCP server and a ChatGPT plugin |
Prices: the cheapest plan one person can buy, on annual billing where offered, with no price rises; euros at 1 EUR = 1.115 USD. Full price breakdown: Miro, XMind. Read 28 October 2026.
Which one fits you
Choose Miro if
- Your team works together on one board, live, every day.
- The mind map sits next to sticky notes, flows and diagrams.
- You want a large template and integration library in one tool.
- Everyone is online; offline work does not matter.
Choose XMind if
- The map is the work, and it gets big and deep.
- You work offline, or on Linux.
- You want real files out — Markdown, OPML, Word — not board images.
- You pay for yourself, not per member.
Moving maps between them
- Miro → XMind: there is no mind-map file to carry. Miro exports boards as images and PDF. Copying the map's text and rebuilding it is the practical route.
- XMind → Miro: Miro has no mind-map file import. Export an outline from XMind and paste the text into Miro AI to build the map again.
Before you commit to either, check the free plan's export. A map you cannot export stays tied to the subscription.
A third option: pay once
Atlas Red is ours. It is a dedicated mind mapper in the browser, sold for $99 once, with updates included and no renewal. The free edition keeps 10 maps for good and exports every format — PDF, PNG, Markdown, OPML, XMindMark and more. It opens .xmind and FreeMind files directly, and ChatGPT or Claude can build maps in it through a free MCP server and ChatGPT plugin.
Where it loses: no live co-editing (maps are shared read-only), no native desktop or mobile apps, and AI import of photos and PDFs costs credits. If those matter, pick from the two above.
Questions people ask
Is Miro good for mind mapping?
For quick maps inside a team workshop, yes: the mind map is one object on a shared board, edited live. For large structured maps that you keep, export as files or use offline, a dedicated tool like XMind fits better. Miro has no offline mode and no mind-map file export.
Which is cheaper, Miro or XMind?
For one person, XMind: Pro is $59 a year, Miro Starter $96. For a team the gap grows, because Miro charges per member. Over five years, one seat costs $295 in XMind and $480 in Miro. Prices read 28 October 2026.
Does Miro work offline?
No. Miro needs a connection. XMind's native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android work offline.
Can I import XMind files into Miro?
Not as files. Miro does not import mind-map formats. The workable route is to export an outline from XMind and paste the text into Miro AI, which builds a map from it.
Do Miro and XMind work with ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes, both have official MCP servers. Miro's is open on every plan with daily call limits (100 a day on Free); XMind also has a ChatGPT app.
More comparisons: XMind vs MindMeister · Miro vs MindMeister · Coggle vs Miro · what 15 tools cost over 5 years · the best mind mapping software of 2026.