Concept Map Maker
Visualize Concepts and Their Relationships with a Powerful Concept Map Maker
Organize ideas visually and map out relationships between concepts with an intuitive concept map maker. Simplify complex information and enhance learning with customizable concept map designs.
Professionally designed concept map templates for quick customization
An AI-powered concept map maker for effortless structuring
Attach notes, data, and comments to visual concept map designs
Diagramming Visual Collaboration Org Chart
How to Create a Concept Map Online?
Brainstorm and Create Complex Concept Maps in Minutes
Visualize and connect ideas in real time with an infinite canvas and interactive whiteboarding tools.
Drag and drop concepts, link them instantly, and use smart formatting to keep your map organized.
Access ready-made concept map templates and customizable shapes to speed up your workflow.
Ideal for students, educators, and teams looking for a free concept map maker that supports brainstorming, planning, and knowledge mapping.
Develop a Shared Understanding with a Customizable Concept Map
Customize every element with color themes, icons, shapes, and smart formatting to clarify relationships and highlight key ideas.
Create a concept map online for free by embedding rich content like images, PDFs, links, and videos directly for added context.
Connect to external data sources, documents, or knowledge bases to create dynamic, up-to-date concept maps.
Add notes, comments, and data fields to each concept to provide deeper context and keep supporting information in one place.
Gain Deeper Insights and Optimize Your Concept Map with AI
Automatically expand concept maps with AI-powered suggestions for related ideas and missing links.
Uncover hidden patterns and connections using our AI-powered concept map generator that suggests relationships and helps expand your ideas.
Find exactly what you need instantly with powerful full-text search across all your concept maps, notes, and attachments.
Visualize complex data with automatic grouping and clustering to highlight key themes and relationships.
Seamlessly Collaborate with Your Team on a Visual Concept Map
Work together in real time on a shared canvas — co-create, organize, and connect ideas simultaneously with your team or class.
Control access and editing rights with advanced sharing settings, perfect for managing feedback and contributions.
Communicate directly on the canvas using comments, mentions, and threads to keep discussions focused and actionable.
Track updates as they happen with live cursors, synced changes, and version control for a transparent collaboration experience
Empower Your Workflow with a Free Online Concept Map Maker
Organize multiple concept maps efficiently by building a centralized knowledge base or wiki using folders, databases, and labels.
Use presentation mode to turn your concept map into a guided, slide-based walkthrough for clearer communication.
Export your concept maps in SVG, PDF, PNG, or JPEG formats for presentations, documentation, or offline use.
Integrate with tools like Google Drive, Confluence, and Slack to embed, sync, and extend your workflow seamlessly.
What is a Concept Map Maker?
A concept map maker is an online or digital tool designed to help users visually organize ideas, concepts, and their relationships. It allows you to create structured diagrams where concepts are represented as nodes and connected by linking phrases to illustrate their relationships.
With a concept map software, you can easily design and customize concept map designs to break down complex topics, brainstorm new ideas, and enhance learning or strategic planning. Advanced features like drag-and-drop editing, collaboration tools, and AI-powered suggestions make it easier to build clear, informative concept maps.
How to Create a Concept Map Online with Creately’s Concept Map Maker?
Choose the right concept mapping tool to get started
To create an effective concept map, you need a flexible and collaborative platform where ideas can be easily moved and reorganized. Creately’s concept map maker provides an infinite canvas, drag-and-drop capabilities, and real-time collaboration tools that allow your team to brainstorm, connect ideas, and visualize relationships seamlessly. If you are new, sign up to get started, or log in if you already have an account to get started.
Choose the right approach for your project
Decide whether you want to use a ready-made concept map design or build one from scratch. If you’re looking for a quick start, browse through our concept map templates and select one that suits your needs. If you prefer to build from scratch, start with a blank workspace where you can manually add notes and structure your map based on your discussion.
Define your central question or idea
Gather your team and identify the main question or problem your concept map will address. This focus question serves as the foundation for your map, helping to ensure that all concepts and ideas stay aligned with a clear purpose. Take the time to discuss and define the map’s goals, objectives, and target audience before moving forward.
Brainstorm and organize key ideas
Work together to gather all relevant information and key concepts related to the focus question. One effective method is to create a “parking lot” of ideas, where concepts are listed and ranked from the most general to the most specific.
Build your concept map from scratch or with templates
If you are using a template, simply customize it by adding, removing, or reorganizing elements. If starting from scratch, place the focus question/idea at the center and begin branching out related concepts.
Link the concepts together with arrows - make sure to add linking words or phrases to explain how concepts are related. For better clarity, apply color coding to different nodes so the connections are visually distinct and easy to follow.
Collaborate with your team and organize information
Use the concept map maker to add sticky notes, attach reference documents, and include detailed notes within the canvas. This collaborative approach ensures that every idea is captured, creating a comprehensive concept map design that reflects the collective knowledge of the team.
Review, refine, and finalize the concept map
Review the concept map and make any necessary revisions or additions. Use the in-line commenting and @ mentions features in Creately’s concept map builder to provide feedback. Ensure that all concepts are clearly connected and that the map effectively represents the relationships between ideas.
Share and present your concept map with stakeholders
Once finalized, you can easily share the map via a link, invite collaborators with different access permissions, or embed it in documents and presentations. If you need a static version, export the concept map in multiple formats, including SVG, PDF, JPEG, or PNG for printing or offline use. Additionally, use the built-in presentation mode in Creately’s concept map creator to showcase your concept map interactively, walking your audience through the ideas and connections seamlessly.
Update and maintain your concept map
A concept map is not a one-time document—it should evolve over time. As new information becomes available or insights change, update your concept map design to reflect these developments. Creately’s version history and collaboration features allow your team to continuously refine and improve the concept map, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for learning, brainstorming, or strategic planning.
Create a Concept MapCreate Your Concept Map with Editable Templates
FAQs About the Concept Map Maker in Creately
What are the different types of concept maps?
There are many types of visual concept maps. The most popular are:
- Spider maps: used to branch out and build upon a single idea.
- Flowcharts: used to visualize processes easily.
- Hierarchy maps: used to provide a picture from the highest to the lowest point of an organization or concept.
- System maps: used to visualize a system, especially to understand how a team is functioning or a system is working.
What is the use of concept maps?
Concept map maker vs. concept map creator–is there a difference?
Can I use Creately as a free concept map maker?
What are the advantages of using a concept map creator?
Concept maps are a great way to lay out your information in detail to understand the bigger picture. You can branch out and include every minor detail to avoid missing vital information.
Using a concept map creator like Creately, you can get a quick start with the readily available templates or use the extensive shape library to create your own. Many styles, preset colors, and precise formatting options are available to customize your concept map better. If you want to take a print, simply save it as a PDF and take a printout. You can easily share the space with your colleagues to collaborate via an email or a link.
Where can I create a concept map for free?
Does Google have a concept map maker?
How do students create a concept map?
Students can create a concept map by following these steps:
- Choose a Topic – Start by identifying the main idea or focus of the concept map. This could be a subject from a lesson, a research topic, or a problem to explore.
- Gather Key Concepts – Brainstorm and list all related ideas and concepts. Organize them from general to specific for a logical structure.
- Use a Concept Map Maker – A free concept map maker for students, like Creately, helps visualize ideas effortlessly. Use templates or start from scratch with drag-and-drop tools.
- Connect the Concepts – Draw lines or arrows between related ideas and add linking words to explain the relationships. Use color coding to improve clarity.
- Review and Refine – Check for missing links, rearrange concepts for better understanding, and finalize the layout for presentation or study purposes.
With tools like Creately’s concept map maker, students can collaborate in real time, add notes, and customize their maps for a more interactive learning experience.
How can educators, healthcare professionals, and business teams use concept maps?
What is a concept map?
