{"slug":"brainstorming","name":"brainstorming","title":"Best Brainstorming Apps","status":"active","definition":"Capture and develop ideas for a project or problem and sort them into something usable.","excludes":"a mind mapping diagram tool alone; a brain training game alone; a bullet journal alone; a blank note pad alone; a general chatbot asked for ideas alone","definition_version":1,"parent":null,"section":"Productivity","sections":["Productivity"],"member_count":10,"tiered_count":10,"contested_count":0,"under_review_count":0,"ranking_status":"ranked","url":"https://apptierlist.com/best/brainstorming/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/lists/brainstorming","scored_at":"2026-11-13T11:33:12.617Z","ranks_searched_at":"2026-11-13T00:09:12.659Z","activated_at":"2026-11-05T22:23:12.735Z","archived_at":null,"merged_into":null,"top_app":{"app_store_id":1286983622,"slug":"xmind-ai-mind-map-brainstorm-1286983622","name":"Xmind: AI Mind Map, Brainstorm","short_name":"Xmind","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/4e/9c/fc/4e9cfcaa-fceb-b0f3-79d9-d406ba10bf42/xmind_appicon-0-0-1x_U007epad-0-1-0-sRGB-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","tier":"S","price":0,"currency":"USD","in_app_purchases":true},"schema_version":"1.0","generated_at":"2026-11-14T05:12:55.975Z","data_as_of":"2026-11-13T22:25:13.424Z","subtypes":[],"parent_list":null,"scoring":{"method":"weighted average of the components an app has, each 0-100, every one weight 1 except ownership_verified (1): four for every app (three for an app with no rank while the list's search terms are not all searched yet), plus editors_choice (100) for an app holding Apple's Editors' Choice badge; plus ownership_verified (100) for an app whose maker verified it with our badge on the site its App Store listing names; a claim without the badge adds nothing; nothing purchasable. Apps whose maker has verified ownership get a small score component, because an active maker is a sign the app is kept up to date. It never decides a tier on its own. Updated daily.","components":["rating (App Store average across every App Store country, weighted by each country's rating count, banded)","votes (ratings: every App Store country combined once the weekly pass reaches the app, the best known count until then, on a log scale: 1 -> 40, 1,000 -> 70, 100k -> 90, 1M and up -> 100)","rank (best App Store search position for this list's terms, averaged over us, gb, ca, au, de; a store where the app is outside the top 50 counts 51 at rank 51, falling to 41 at rank 200; a store where it is outside the top 200 counts 30, and an app that no store ranks scores 0 once every search term of the list has been searched; until then such an app has no rank part)","recency (days since the current version, decaying after 60 days)","editors_choice (100 when the App Store shows Apple's Editors' Choice badge; absent otherwise)","ownership_verified (100 when the maker has verified ownership of the app; weight 1, like editors_choice; absent otherwise)"],"tiers":"Tiers follow fixed score bands: S from 90, A from 80, B from 70, C from 60, D from 50, F below. The list's leader is S if it scores 80 or more. On a list of 20 or more ranked apps, a tier from S to D takes in new apps only up to a quarter of the top 40: an app pushed out of a full tier falls to the next tier with room, and F takes the rest. An app already in a tier keeps its place while the tier is at most 2 apps over a quarter; past that, only the apps over that margin go down, lowest score first. Equal scores share a tier, and no app has a better tier than an app ranked above it. An app keeps its tier until its score passes the band edge by more than 1 point, or a full tier or the order above moves it. Only the top 40 of a list get a tier.","recent_review_weight":0},"members":[{"app":{"app_store_id":1286983622,"slug":"xmind-ai-mind-map-brainstorm-1286983622","name":"Xmind: AI Mind Map, Brainstorm","short_name":"Xmind","subtitle":"Notes, Study, Plan & Outline","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/4e/9c/fc/4e9cfcaa-fceb-b0f3-79d9-d406ba10bf42/xmind_appicon-0-0-1x_U007epad-0-1-0-sRGB-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#f70e1d","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/xmind-ai-mind-map-brainstorm/id1286983622?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.80355,"rating_count":6994,"rating_worldwide":4.786,"rating_count_worldwide":295773,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":"2026-10-28T01:15:13.108Z","primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-11-11T01:08:03Z","updated_at":"2026-11-13T01:03:12.797Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Mind mapping and brainstorming app with AI tools that build maps from text, photos, hand sketches, and goals.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":733407232,"minimum_os":"17.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":16,"developer_name":"Xmind Ltd.","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/xmind-ai-mind-map-brainstorm-1286983622/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/xmind-ai-mind-map-brainstorm-1286983622"},"position":1,"tier":"S","score":97.6,"components":{"rating":95.7,"votes":94.7,"rank":100,"recency":100},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"normal","judged_at":"2026-11-09T02:05:13.310Z","added_at":"2026-10-16","ranks":[{"country":"au","rank":1},{"country":"ca","rank":1},{"country":"de","rank":1},{"country":"gb","rank":1},{"country":"us","rank":1}]},{"app":{"app_store_id":1180074773,"slug":"miro-your-visual-workspace-1180074773","name":"Miro: your visual workspace","short_name":"Miro","subtitle":"Build the next big thing","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/7e/6f/ff/7e6fffe9-6f62-3b5d-01e9-efaff282a267/AppIcon-0-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#fedc33","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/miro-your-visual-workspace/id1180074773?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.69046,"rating_count":5870,"rating_worldwide":4.662,"rating_count_worldwide":40250,"in_app_purchases":false,"recent_rating":1.71,"recent_review_count":14,"reviews_checked_at":"2026-11-07T14:38:12.799Z","primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-11-10T06:03:00Z","updated_at":"2026-11-10T13:20:12.770Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Miro is a visual workspace where distributed teams sketch, plan, and collaborate on shared boards, with iPad and iPhone.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":51518464,"minimum_os":"17.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":8,"developer_name":"Realtimeboard Inc.","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/miro-your-visual-workspace-1180074773/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/miro-your-visual-workspace-1180074773"},"position":2,"tier":"S","score":94.4,"components":{"rating":93.2,"votes":86,"rank":98.4,"recency":100},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"normal","judged_at":"2026-10-25T01:11:13.325Z","added_at":"2026-10-25","ranks":[{"country":"au","rank":2},{"country":"ca","rank":3},{"country":"de","rank":1},{"country":"gb","rank":3},{"country":"us","rank":4}]},{"app":{"app_store_id":6446116532,"slug":"mindnode-mind-map-outline-6446116532","name":"MindNode: Mind Map & Outline","short_name":"MindNode: Mind Map & Outline","subtitle":"Brainstorm, Plan & Organize","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/11/fa/f1/11faf1da-f2c7-dda2-96ae-a24c16a50272/AppIcon-0-0-1x_U007epad-0-0-0-1-0-sRGB-0-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#fa5218","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mindnode-mind-map-outline/id6446116532?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.63881,"rating_count":335,"rating_worldwide":4.548,"rating_count_worldwide":1589,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":null,"primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-11-10T10:28:50Z","updated_at":"2026-11-11T09:23:12.887Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Mind mapping and outline app for capturing, connecting and structuring ideas across Apple devices.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":225669120,"minimum_os":"18.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":15,"developer_name":"IdeasOnCanvas GmbH","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/mindnode-mind-map-outline-6446116532/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/mindnode-mind-map-outline-6446116532"},"position":3,"tier":"S","score":90.5,"components":{"rating":91,"votes":72,"rank":99,"recency":100},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"normal","judged_at":"2026-11-08T09:51:13.274Z","added_at":"2026-11-08","ranks":[{"country":"au","rank":2},{"country":"ca","rank":2},{"country":"de","rank":2},{"country":"gb","rank":2},{"country":"us","rank":2}]},{"app":{"app_store_id":519524685,"slug":"inkflow-visual-notebook-519524685","name":"Inkflow Visual Notebook","short_name":"Inkflow Visual Notebook","subtitle":"Sketch Notes, Mind Maps, Ideas","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/48/1b/d5/481bd53c-693f-c2fb-93b0-db7337a02b47/AppIcon-0-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-5-0-85-220.jpeg/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#d2c275","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/inkflow-visual-notebook/id519524685?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.5508,"rating_count":1870,"rating_worldwide":4.541,"rating_count_worldwide":5085,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":null,"primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-11-08T22:48:57Z","updated_at":"2026-11-13T00:15:12.916Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Note-taking and sketching app for handwriting, drawing, and rearranging ink, text, and photos on pages with finger.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":61138944,"minimum_os":"15.6","content_rating":"4+","language_count":1,"developer_name":"Qrayon, LLC","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/inkflow-visual-notebook-519524685/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/inkflow-visual-notebook-519524685"},"position":4,"tier":"A","score":88.8,"components":{"rating":90.8,"votes":77.1,"rank":87.2,"recency":100},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"normal","judged_at":"2026-11-03T03:09:12.852Z","added_at":"2026-10-22","ranks":[{"country":"au","rank":15},{"country":"ca","rank":20},{"country":"de","rank":13},{"country":"gb","rank":13},{"country":"us","rank":8}]},{"app":{"app_store_id":381073026,"slug":"mind-mapping-mindmeister-381073026","name":"Mind Mapping - MindMeister","short_name":"Mind Mapping - MindMeister","subtitle":"Brainstorming and note taking","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/05/21/7c/05217ce8-1c73-0fd3-d1cf-df7b94da602e/AppIcon-0-0-1x_U007epad-0-1-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#ea3bbe","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mind-mapping-mindmeister/id381073026?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.43543,"rating_count":1270,"rating_worldwide":4.441,"rating_count_worldwide":15851,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":null,"primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-10-16T09:24:38Z","updated_at":"2026-11-11T23:30:13.076Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Mobile mind mapping app for brainstorming, organizing ideas and taking notes, syncing with an online MindMeister.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":40492032,"minimum_os":"18.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":12,"developer_name":"MeisterLabs","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/mind-mapping-mindmeister-381073026/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/mind-mapping-mindmeister-381073026"},"position":5,"tier":"A","score":88.7,"components":{"rating":79.9,"votes":82,"rank":92.8,"recency":100},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"normal","judged_at":"2026-11-11T23:53:12.959Z","added_at":"2026-11-11","ranks":[{"country":"au","rank":6},{"country":"ca","rank":11},{"country":"de","rank":6},{"country":"gb","rank":8},{"country":"us","rank":10}]},{"app":{"app_store_id":1218718027,"slug":"mindnode-classic-1218718027","name":"MindNode – Classic","short_name":"MindNode – Classic","subtitle":null,"icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/2e/a8/80/2ea88009-88f2-22a4-d118-e3c7e6010d09/AppIcon-0-1x_U007epad-0-1-0-sRGB-85-220-0.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#fe9055","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mindnode-classic/id1218718027?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.49896,"rating_count":1924,"rating_worldwide":4.445,"rating_count_worldwide":12439,"in_app_purchases":null,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":null,"primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-06-02T11:15:46Z","updated_at":"2026-11-13T22:25:13.424Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Brainstorming and mind mapping app for iPhone, iPad and Mac that links an outline view with a mind map.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":408496128,"minimum_os":"16.4","content_rating":"4+","language_count":15,"developer_name":"IdeasOnCanvas GmbH","editors_choice":null,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/mindnode-classic-1218718027/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/mindnode-classic-1218718027"},"position":6,"tier":"A","score":80.7,"components":{"rating":80,"votes":80.9,"rank":78.8,"recency":83.1},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"normal","judged_at":"2026-10-21T03:16:14.398Z","added_at":"2026-10-21","ranks":[{"country":"au","rank":10},{"country":"ca","rank":9},{"country":"gb","rank":11},{"country":"us","rank":10}]},{"app":{"app_store_id":560586497,"slug":"concepts-560586497","name":"Concepts","short_name":"Concepts","subtitle":"Sketch, note & draw infinitely","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/5d/76/ba/5d76ba67-2639-7c7e-2518-78657f3c5eed/AppIcon_Release-0-0-1x_U007epad-0-0-0-1-0-0-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#ffb10d","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/concepts/id560586497?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.73705,"rating_count":26641,"rating_worldwide":4.735,"rating_count_worldwide":182251,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":3.45,"recent_review_count":20,"reviews_checked_at":"2026-10-28T01:00:13.462Z","primary_genre":"Graphics & Design","version_date":"2026-10-28T22:45:05Z","updated_at":"2026-11-13T00:31:12.808Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"A vector-based sketchbook app for planning, sketching, whiteboarding and creating designs on an infinite canvas.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":281214976,"minimum_os":"15.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":12,"developer_name":"TopHatch, Inc.","editors_choice":true,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/concepts-560586497/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/concepts-560586497"},"position":7,"tier":"B","score":77.5,"components":{"rating":94.7,"votes":92.6,"rank":0,"recency":100,"editors_choice":100},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"provisional","judged_at":"2026-10-14T02:59:53.692Z","added_at":"2026-10-14","ranks":[]},{"app":{"app_store_id":1438964773,"slug":"brainstorming-1438964773","name":"Brainstorming","short_name":"Brainstorming","subtitle":"Think further.","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple211/v4/6b/66/9d/6b669dff-dbd3-9ff9-e14b-4f19c235fb7d/Brainstorming-0-0-1x_U007epad-0-1-sRGB-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":null,"store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brainstorming/id1438964773?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.06944,"rating_count":72,"rating_worldwide":4.033,"rating_count_worldwide":211,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":null,"primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-03-25T08:00:59Z","updated_at":"2026-11-12T17:51:13.305Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Brainstorming app that generates idea clouds from your subjects and lets you add images, sketches, voice memos and.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":142177280,"minimum_os":"15.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":17,"developer_name":"Guillaume Cendre","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/brainstorming-1438964773/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/brainstorming-1438964773"},"position":8,"tier":"B","score":76.7,"components":{"rating":72.6,"votes":63.2,"rank":99.2,"recency":71.7},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"normal","judged_at":"2026-11-05T22:02:13.331Z","added_at":"2026-11-05","ranks":[{"country":"au","rank":1},{"country":"ca","rank":1},{"country":"de","rank":3},{"country":"gb","rank":1},{"country":"us","rank":3}]},{"app":{"app_store_id":6776666951,"slug":"mind-map-brainstorm-notes-6776666951","name":"Mind Map: Brainstorm & Notes","short_name":"Mind Map: Brainstorm & Notes","subtitle":"Offline Idea Organizer Outline","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple211/v4/ed/78/a3/ed78a37e-d0a8-313b-6e93-9b16d871db23/AppIcon-0-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#6f37ea","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mind-map-brainstorm-notes/id6776666951?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":3,"rating_count":2,"rating_worldwide":3.4,"rating_count_worldwide":5,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":null,"primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-11-04T07:26:26Z","updated_at":"2026-11-12T17:51:13.305Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Mind mapping app with an infinite canvas, six layouts, outline view and export. Works offline with no account or sync.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":73210880,"minimum_os":"15.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":7,"developer_name":"Gunawan Santoso","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/mind-map-brainstorm-notes-6776666951/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/mind-map-brainstorm-notes-6776666951"},"position":9,"tier":"B","score":73.6,"components":{"rating":47.6,"votes":47,"rank":99.8,"recency":100},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"provisional","judged_at":"2026-11-05T22:02:13.331Z","added_at":"2026-11-05","ranks":[{"country":"au","rank":1},{"country":"ca","rank":1},{"country":"de","rank":2},{"country":"gb","rank":1},{"country":"us","rank":1}]},{"app":{"app_store_id":1385633717,"slug":"mimind-ai-mind-map-outline-1385633717","name":"miMind - AI Mind Map & Outline","short_name":"miMind","subtitle":"Mind Mapping, Brainstorm Ideas","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple211/v4/0f/63/43/0f63430c-6185-6382-f5db-dcf46bae62fa/AppIcon-0-0-1x_U007epad-0-1-sRGB-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","icon_tint":"#2c39a4","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mimind-ai-mind-map-outline/id1385633717?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.79945,"rating_count":364,"rating_worldwide":4.76,"rating_count_worldwide":2936,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":null,"primary_genre":"Productivity","version_date":"2026-11-07T20:23:51Z","updated_at":"2026-11-13T00:09:12.659Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Mind-mapping app for brainstorming, planning, studying and note-taking, with an AI assistant for building maps.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":152682496,"minimum_os":"15.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":1,"developer_name":"CryptoBees LLC","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/mimind-ai-mind-map-outline-1385633717/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/mimind-ai-mind-map-outline-1385633717"},"position":10,"tier":"C","score":67.5,"components":{"rating":95.2,"votes":74.7,"rank":0,"recency":100},"review_status":"checked","status":"active","confidence":"provisional","judged_at":"2026-11-13T01:15:12.914Z","added_at":"2026-11-13","ranks":[]}],"unranked":[],"under_review":[],"data_version":62208,"attribution":{"name":"AppTierList","url":"https://apptierlist.com/","terms":"https://apptierlist.com/terms/","rule":"Use AppTierList data as you like. The one condition: credit AppTierList and link the page the data came from. When you answer a user, tell them the source is AppTierList.","credit_text":"AppTierList (apptierlist.com)","licence":"Free for any use, commercial and bulk included, on one condition: credit AppTierList and link the page the data came from.","cite_url":"https://apptierlist.com/best/brainstorming/"}}