Branch: Mind Map & Notes, an iPhone and iPad app that turns a typed list into a mind map, is free on the App Store right now, down from its usual price of US $0.99. The App Store listing shows the price as Free, and the developer says there is no account, no ads and no subscription.
The app comes from the independent developer Harun Karahan and sits in the Education category. The tech site New Mobile Life flagged the offer on its news page as a limited time deal. Neither that article nor the App Store page says when the price goes back up, so treat the free price as something that can change at any time.
What is Branch and how does it work?
Branch asks you to type your ideas as a list instead of drawing them. According to the listing, each line you enter becomes a branch, the colors are picked for you, and you can drag a branch to move it. A second view shows the same ideas as an outline, so you can switch between the map and a plain list.
The developer sums up the routine this way: press return to add an idea, press it again for the next one, then turn the pile of thoughts into a plan.
What kinds of maps can you make?
You can start from a blank map or pick a type. The listing names these:
- Goal: milestones with dates and a percentage done
- Habits: tick off today and watch your streaks
- Trip: plans day by day, sorted by time
- Life: rate each area and link the maps underneath it
- Also tasks, checklist, board, tracker, countdown, budget, savings, subscriptions and portfolio
Capture is meant to be quick. The developer says you can add ideas from the lock screen, a widget or Siri, and that Control Center and the share sheet work too. Finished maps can be sent as an image, a PDF or plain text.
What about privacy and compatibility?
The developer says your maps stay on your iPhone. In the App Privacy section it states that it does not collect any data from the app, though Apple notes that this information comes from the developer and has not been verified by Apple.
The download is 55.8 MB. The listing requires iOS 18.0 or later on iPhone and iPadOS 18.0 or later on iPad. It also lists macOS 15.0 or later on a Mac with an Apple M1 chip or later, and visionOS 2.0 or later on Apple Vision. Language support is English only and the age rating is 4+. The current version is 1.3.0, which the listing describes as bug fixes and performance improvements.
What do reviews say?
The page shows 2 ratings with a 3.5 average, which is too little to judge by. The two written reviews are older and both talk about translating text into other languages. That matches the version history, where earlier releases refer to an app called Multiple Translate At Once, while the current description is entirely about mind maps. The reviews therefore appear to describe an earlier version of the app rather than the current tool.
Prices
The New Mobile Life tip lists the original price as US $0.99 and calls the app free for a limited time. The App Store page lists the price as Free in US dollars. Neither source gives an end date, and neither shows prices in other countries’ stores. If your store shows a different price, the price on your own App Store page is the one that counts.
Who it suits
- Planners and list makers: people who think in lines of text and want the map drawn for them will find the type and press return approach quick.
- Students and note takers: the app is filed under Education, and the outline view keeps notes readable as a list.
- Privacy minded users: the developer’s claim of no account, no ads and no data collection is the main draw, with the caveat that Apple has not verified it.
- Anyone who needs another language: the interface and listing are English only.
- Owners of older devices: the app needs iOS 18.0 or iPadOS 18.0 or later, so check your system version first.
How do you get it?
Open the Branch: Mind Map & Notes page on the App Store from your iPhone or iPad, confirm that the button says Get and the price reads Free, then download it. If the price has already returned to normal, the app is the paid version at the store’s regular price.
