Virtual brainstorming has become an essential part of remote teamwork, enabling teams to collaborate and generate winning ideas regardless of their physical location. In this article, we will explore the top 20 virtual brainstorming tools that can help your team unleash their creativity and boost productivity.
1 How to Choose the Best Virtual Brainstorming App?
1.1 Team Size and Pricing Plan
Consider your team size and look for online brainstorming tools that offer pricing plans suitable for your needs. Some platforms, such as Stormboard, have a free plan for teams of five members or less. We recommend taking advantage of free trials to test the tool before committing to a paid subscription. Always try before you buy!
1.2 Ease of Use and Interface
Ensure that the features of the virtual brainstorming tool are user-friendly and intuitive. Complex interfaces can disrupt the flow and reduce productivity and creativity. Look for tools with custom toolbars to enhance the brainstorming process. Additionally, check if the tool automatically saves your progress on the cloud, saving you time and worry.
1.3 Features
Check for features that are essential for your virtual brainstorming sessions. Look for task assignment, document management, project planning, sticky notes, infinite whiteboard, drawing tools, and more. These features can significantly enhance the productivity and effectiveness of your sessions.
1.4 Accessibility and Mobile-Friendly Options
Virtual brainstorming tools with accessibility assistance, such as keyboard shortcuts and easy navigation, are invaluable in saving time and ensuring a smooth flow during sessions. Additionally, check if the tool is accessible on smartphones (iOS and Android) for those moments when the best ideas strike away from your desk.
2. 20 Best Virtual Brainstorming Tools for Teams
2.1 Scapple
Scapple is a flexible note-taking software application for Windows and Mac that simplifies mind mapping. Its sleek interface and intuitive features provide a visual context for expressing and sharing ideas effectively.
Main features:
- Works with various types of content, including text, PDF docs, and images.
- Simple interface with easy note creation, movement, and arrangement.
- Intuitive connections between notes and customizable note styles.
What we like about it:
Scapple’s visual clarity and easy integration of different content make it one of the best virtual brainstorming tools. It helps organize ideas in a visually appealing way, enhancing creativity and productivity.
Pricing:
- 30-day free trial with only the days you use the tool counted.
- Single license: $18.45 ($15 for academic or student licenses).
2.2 Stormboard
Stormboard is an online whiteboard and collaboration tool that facilitates real-time idea generation, organization, and discussion among remote teams. Its range of features, including sticky notes and project planning, make it one of the best online brainstorming tools.
Main features:
- Ready-made templates for quick brainstorming sessions.
- Project management tools for task assignment, goal-setting, and deadline tracking.
- Seamless collaboration through sticky notes and online whiteboard sharing.
What we like about it:
Stormboard’s ability to assign tasks during meetings and track them afterward significantly improves team organization and task management. The use of sticky notes streamlines idea sharing and facilitates quick suggestions.
Pricing:
- Free trial available, with a free plan for teams of five or less.
- Four paid plans ranging from free to custom pricing for larger organizations.
2.3 ProofHub
ProofHub is an all-in-one collaboration and project management tool that helps teams plan, collaborate, organize, and deliver projects seamlessly. It offers comprehensive features to turn your winning ideas into actionable plans and execute them effectively.
Main features:
- Workflow management, task assignment, and project planning.
- Collaboration tools, including feedback markups, one-on-one and group communication, and document management.
- Integration with popular apps like Google Calendar, QuickBooks, and OneDrive.
What we like about it:
ProofHub’s ability to bring all our ideas into one place and manage task assignments has significantly improved our project completion timeline. Assigning multiple tasks and delivering reports is now easier than ever.
Pricing:
- 14-day free trial available.
- Two paid plans, starting from $89 per year.
2.4 Miro
Miro is a cloud-based virtual brainstorming tool used for visual collaboration among remote teams. With its diverse features, including an infinite whiteboard, integration with popular apps, and seamless collaboration, Miro is one of the best online brainstorming collaboration tools available.
Main features:
- Whiteboard with various options for storing ideas, creating mockups, and leaving feedback.
- Integration with Slack, Jira, Google Drive, and more for seamless workflow management.
- Collaboration tools, including team meetings, mouseover collaboration, screen sharing, and document management.
What we like about it:
Miro has been instrumental in our virtual project discussions. The ability to share presentations, boards, and tasks, along with mouse track analysis and asynchronous collaboration, has significantly improved our productivity.
Pricing:
- Free trial available, with free and paid plans.
- Three paid plans, starting from $8 per member per month.
2.5 Mural
Mural is an online visual collaboration tool designed for virtual brainstorming. With its range of flexible features, including sticky notes, frameworks, and built-in templates, Mural makes it easy to generate, collaborate, and visualize new ideas in various formats.
Main features:
- Collaboration tools, including sticky notes, frameworks, icons, and communication features.
- Integration with Google Drive, Slack, Dropbox, and more.
- Project planning tools, including task assignment, scheduling, and reporting.
What we like about it:
Mural’s facilitator tools have made our training sessions run smoothly. Features like the timer and summon tool have kept our team focused, while the outline tool has guided us through our discussions.
Pricing:
- Free trial available, with a free plan for exploring the platform.
- Three paid plans, starting from $9.99 per team member per month.
2.6 Slack
Slack is a popular online communications tool that brings all your team’s channels, files, and tools into one place, making collaboration seamless and efficient. With features like real-time communication and workflow automation, Slack is a reliable virtual brainstorming tool.
Main features:
- Organized workspace with channels for efficient communication, file sharing, and audio/video calls.
- Slack Connect for collaboration with partners outside the organization.
- Workflow automation with the Workflow Builder.
What we like about it:
Slack’s well-organized and easily accessible team communications have significantly boosted our productivity. Its searchability and instant accessibility allow us to stay updated and on the go after our brainstorming sessions.
Pricing:
- Free trial available, with a free plan.
- Three paid plans, starting from $7.25 per member per month.
2.7 MindMeister
MindMeister is a cloud-based mind mapping tool that takes virtual brainstorming to the next level. It helps users organize workflows, manage projects, and collaborate effectively. With unlimited maps and a range of features, MindMeister is a powerful tool for generating and developing winning ideas.
Main features:
- Mindmap editor with customizable templates and themes.
- Collaboration tools for problem-solving, researching, and mind map assignments.
- Integration with G-Suite, Google Drive, and other platforms.
What we like about it:
MindMeister’s integration with MeisterTask allows us to synchronize our mind maps and project boards, streamlining our project management process. Its accessibility through web browsers makes it easy for us to edit our maps in real-time.
Pricing:
- Free trial available, with a free plan for exploring the platform.
- Three paid plans, starting from $3.50 per user per month.
2.8 FreeMind
FreeMind is an open-source, high productivity, visual mind mapping application that allows users to create structured diagrams and visualizations of concepts and ideas. As one of the best free online brainstorming tools, FreeMind offers a range of features for seamless brainstorming sessions.
Main features:
- Support for hyperlinks to link documents and websites to your mind maps.
- Smart drop-and-drag feature for easy information organization.
- Brainstorming tools such as project planning, built-in icons, and fast navigation.
What we like about it:
With FreeMind, we were able to brainstorm and document our activities and processes systematically. The ability to link documents, import/export them, and collaborate on them added to the convenience of our brainstorming sessions.
Pricing:
- Free to download and use.
2.9 IdeaBoardz
IdeaBoardz is an online retrospective team collaboration tool used to brainstorm, gather inputs, reflect, and retrospect upon processes and tasks. This virtual brainstorming tool allows teams to collectively brainstorm and organize their ideas effectively.
Main features:
- Retrospective feature for comparing goals and processes throughout the journey.
- Create an unlimited number of IdeaBoards for different topics and sub-topics.
What we like about it:
IdeaBoardz helped our team brainstorm and organize ideas effectively. We found the retrospective feature especially helpful for comparing our progress and identifying areas for improvement. The use of sticky notes on the board streamlined idea sharing.
Pricing:
- Free to download and use.
2.10 Popplet
Popplet is a mind mapping tool designed for students, educators, and professionals. Its intuitive interface allows users to capture and organize ideas into information squares called popples. With customizable colors and various features, Popplet is ideal for visualizing and planning ideas.
Main features:
- Collaboration tools for editing, organizing, and customizing content.
- Popple management for easy movement, text addition, drawing, and more.
What we like about it:
Popplet helped our team plan our ideas in a clean and organized manner. The ability to use popples of different colors allowed us to create a visually appealing and well-structured mind map.
Pricing:
- Free trial available, with two paid plans starting from $3 per month.
2.11 WiseMapping
WiseMapping is a free and open-source mind mapping software that allows users to create mind maps without any hassle. Its simplicity and ease of use make it a great tool for individual note-taking and collaborative planning sessions.
Main features:
- Create, collaborate, share, and publish mind maps.
- Embed maps into web pages and blogs.
- Link maps with documents.
What we like about it:
WiseMapping allowed us to plan our ideas effectively and link tasks around a central idea. The intuitive interface and easy navigation improved our problem-solving and decision-making processes.
Pricing:
- Free to use.
2.12 Coggle
Coggle is a web-based brainstorming tool that helps create flowcharts, mind maps, and notes. Its mind mapping process allows users to add images, draw links between branches, and more. With a gallery of public diagrams, Coggle offers inspiration for creative idea generation.
Main features:
- Real-time collaboration with distributed teams.
- Multiple starting points and loops for flexibility in diagram creation.
- Powerful flowcharting and unlimited private diagrams.
What we like about it:
Coggle’s flowcharting tool helped us visualize our mind mapping process during presentations and webinars. The ability to create loops and join branches made our brainstorming sessions more flexible and visually organized.
Pricing:
- Free basic plan available, with two paid plans starting from $5 per month.
2.13 Mindomo
Mindomo is an all-in-one visual mind mapping tool that allows users to create mind maps, concept maps, outlines, and more. With features for efficient learning and brainstorming, Mindomo is ideal for students, academics, and businesses.
Main features:
- Mind mapping and concept mapping with customizable templates.
- Project management tools for Gantt charts, outlines, and strategic documents.
- Collaboration tools for problem-solving, research, and mind map presentations.
What we like about it:
Mindomo’s concept mapping feature helped us gain a clear vision of our ideas and approach. The ease of use and accessibility from a web browser allowed us to edit our mind maps in real-time.
Pricing:
- Free plan available, with three paid plans starting from €5.5 per month.
2.14 Bubbl.us
Bubbl.us is an online virtual brainstorming tool that simplifies mind mapping. It allows users to create a visual tree structure for their ideas, making it easy to explore connected learning. Bubbl.us is ideal for students, teachers, creatives, and business owners.
Main features:
- One-click presentation mode for seamless presentations.
- Collaboration features for sharing and working in real-time.
- Distraction-free editing interface for focused mind mapping.
What we like about it:
We appreciate Bubbl.us for its intuitive capabilities, allowing easy customization and visualization of connected learning. The platform’s one-click presentation mode, collaborative features, and distraction-free editing enhance its utility for various users.
Pricing:
- Free basic plan available, with four paid plans starting from $4.91 per month.
2.15 Mapul
Mapul is a web-based organic handwritten mind mapping application. Users can visualize and create organic-style mind maps for studying, collaboration sessions, or presentations. With its unique handwritten style, Mapul adds a personal touch to your brainstorming sessions.
Main features:
- Organic mind mapping and drawing for note-making and ideation.
- Easy export to PowerPoint, PNG, and SVG.
- Collaboration features for creating, editing, sharing, and presenting.
What we like about it:
The handwritten mind mapping feature gave us creative freedom to design mind maps according to our concepts and ideas. We were able to conceptualize and plan our structure easily, boosting our brainstorming sessions!
Pricing:
- Free plan available, with three paid plans starting from $25 for three months.
2.16 SimpleMind
SimpleMind is a virtual brainstorming tool with an intuitive mind mapping feature. It allows users to create multiple mind maps on a single page, adding photos, voice memos, videos, and documents. SimpleMind has no monthly or annual fees, making it a practical option for teams.
Main features:
- Multiple mind maps on a single page for better organization.
- Layout options for horizontal, vertical, top-down, and list-auto mind maps.
- Media addition for enhanced visual representation.
What we like about it:
SimpleMind allowed us to generate multiple mind maps on the same page during our brainstorming sessions. This helped us keep track of our ideas and organize our plans more effectively. Plus, there are no monthly or annual fees, which suited our needs perfectly.
Pricing:
- Free trial available, with one-time purchase license plans for different platforms.
2.17 Infinity
Infinity is a knowledge management and brainstorming software that provides users with complete freedom to create and organize their own structures. With customizable attributes and versatile views, Infinity allows teams to collaborate effectively and turn their winning ideas into actionable plans.
Main features:
- Infinite structure with customizable boards, folders, and items.
- Over 50 templates for brainstorming and meetings.
- Custom attributes for effective brainstorming sessions.
- Six different views for data analysis and organization.
- Collaboration features, task management, and project planning.
What we like about it:
Infinity’s large, zoomable maps provide clarity and overview at all times. The customizable attributes made our projects simpler and easier to track, while the various views allowed us to analyze and organize data efficiently.
Pricing:
- Multiple plans available, starting from $3.75 per user per month.
2.18 MindMup
MindMup is a web-based brainstorming tool that allows users to create unlimited mind maps for free. With its frictionless interface and seamless integration with Google Drive, MindMup enables users to organize their thoughts and ideas easily.
Main features:
- Create and store unlimited maps and storyboards.
- Collaborate, brainstorm, and publish ideas online.
- Export maps to PDF, PowerPoint, and outlines.
- Save to Google Drive effortlessly.
What we like about it:
MindMup helped us organize our thoughts efficiently, thanks to its frictionless planning canvas and storyboard creation. We were able to create a hierarchy map and slide sequence for our brainstorming sessions, with the progress constantly saved on Google Drive.
Pricing:
- Forever free plan available, with two paid plans starting from $2.99 per month.
2.19 Mindly
Mindly is a visual brainstorming tool that helps capture, organize, and develop ideas, projects, and plans into mind maps. With downloadable apps for various devices, Mindly allows users to be creative even without an internet connection.
Main features:
- Visual clipboard with a smooth interface for focused mind mapping.
- Integration with Dropbox for saving mind maps on-the-go.
- Mind Map Export and customizable color schemes and icons.
What we like about it:
Mindly’s intuitive interface allowed us to create mind maps of our blog ideas in a clean and organized manner. The easy-to-use features made it effortless to create associations and hierarchies of ideas.
Pricing:
- Free plan available, with pricing starting from $6.99.
2.20 XMind
XMind is a versatile brainstorming and mind mapping tool that helps users capture ideas and manage complex information. With its range of features and compatibility with various platforms, XMind is a popular choice for teams looking to generate and develop winning ideas.
Main features:
- Support for mind maps, fishbone diagrams, tree diagrams, and more.
- Pitch Mode for easy brainstorming, outlining, rehearsing, and presenting.
- Tree tables and Skeleton templates for efficient project planning.
- Collaboration features, integration with popular apps, and task and project management tools.
What we like about it:
XMind’s Skeleton feature and tree table option streamlined our brainstorming sessions by providing structure to our thoughts. The ability to customize attributes made our projects simpler and easier to track and follow through.
Pricing:
- Free trial available, with various plans starting from free.
3. Virtual Brainstorming Platform Features to Consider
3.1 Pre-made Design Templates and Whiteboards
Virtual brainstorming tools with pre-made design templates and online whiteboards provide teams with a creative canvas to collaborate and share ideas effectively. Look for tools that offer customizable templates and an intuitive interface to enhance the planning and execution process.
3.2 HD Video Conferencing Solutions
Virtual brainstorming becomes more engaging and productive when integrated with HD video conferencing solutions. Look for platforms with built-in video conferencing tools to facilitate real-time communication and foster team engagement during brainstorming sessions.
3.3 Time-Tracking Features (Built-in Timer)
Virtual brainstorming platforms with built-in timers help teams organize meetings and workshops efficiently. Timers eliminate scheduling overlaps and keep everyone focused during sessions, improving overall efficiency and productivity.
3.4 Intuitive Custom Toolbar
An intuitive custom toolbar is essential for creating a seamless brainstorming experience. Look for tools that offer features like sticky notes, pens, drawing tools, shape selection, and easy navigation. These features encourage creative thinking and a smooth flow of ideas.
3.5 Collaboration Support
Virtual brainstorming tools should facilitate collaboration with features like screen sharing, mouseover collaboration, centralized communication, and organized document management. Consider platforms that integrate with popular apps and provide a smooth collaborative experience for your team.
4. FAQs
4.1 Does virtual brainstorming work?
Yes, virtual brainstorming can be highly effective when synchronized collaboration is implemented using suitable virtual brainstorming tools. Many tools offer free plans or trials, making virtual brainstorming accessible and productive for remote teams.
4.2 What are the benefits of using virtual brainstorming tools?
Virtual brainstorming tools offer a range of benefits, including real-time collaboration, organized idea management, effective planning and execution, customizable interfaces, and secure cloud storage. These tools enhance team communication, productivity, and creativity.
4.3 Which is the best virtual brainstorming tool?
Although many virtual brainstorming tools offer unique features, Miro stands out as a top choice. It provides a comprehensive range of resources, including wireframing, mockup creation, strategic planning, and team collaboration. Miro’s free plan allows users to explore the platform and its features.
4.4 How do you conduct virtual brainstorming for remote teams?
To conduct virtual brainstorming for remote teams, choose a suitable tool, ensure everyone has access, provide context, and organize ideas on a whiteboard or mind map. Promote real-time collaboration, use screen-sharing for presentations, and save progress consistently. Invite team members to provide feedback and suggestions.
4.5 What are some virtual brainstorming tools that are free?
There are several free virtual brainstorming tools available, including FreeMind, IdeaBoardz, WiseMapping, Mindmeister (free plan), Mural (free plan), Miro (free plan), StormBoard (free plan), Slack (free plan), Mindly (free plan), MindMup (free plan), SimpleMind (free plan), Mindomo (free plan), Mapul (free plan), Bubbl.us (free plan), Popplet (free plan), Coggle (free plan), and more.
4.6 What are the various types of brainstorming?
The two main types of brainstorming are individual and group brainstorming. In individual brainstorming, participants generate ideas on their own, allowing for maximum freedom and unconventional thinking. In group brainstorming, participants collaborate to develop ideas collectively, benefiting from knowledge sharing and unique perspectives. Both types are valuable and offer different advantages.
