Chuck Frey has done some survey research on how 149 people use online mind mapping tools.

In particular people think:

• Collaboration is cool
• Some online tools don’t offer the functionality of the offline ones
• Security is a concern

When I got an email from Chuck about this I actually thought I would see a comparison of the tools.  So…

Here’s my initial comparison of Comapping and MindMeister, the ones I use.

I am actually using them a lot at the moment because I can’t get Parallels working on my Mac (my preferred Mind Map tool is PC based) It is actually very useful.  All my maps are always there and I can share them instantly with others. 

Comapping

MindMeister

Feature	Comapping	MindMeister
Look and feel	Comapping has a very funky look and feel, Has an Office 2007 style. Nice to use.	Mindmeister is throwback from a few years back. A bit primary in it’s colours.
Notes	Easy note insertion. Notes are visible directly below an arm on the map - Good for association	Easy note insertion. Notes pop up on screen and are listed on right hand panel
Login	Easy	I always seem to have trouble?
Printing	Intelligent printing option	I had a whole lot of trouble getting the map to print in the centre of the page
Help	Contexual help pop up on lower left hand side	Help pages
Emphasis tools	Text formatting, some icons	Text formatting, lots of icons
Keyboard shortcuts	In contextual help tips at bottom of screen. Takes a while to load though.	Only on help pages
Encouraging brainstorming	A little too organised (created by a left brainer?) and right expanding only. Hard to make clear visual groupings of content and can not change format of arms	Radially formatted great for association and separation of topics. Can move arms of map anywhere on screen
Social networking	Apparently not! Some template maps	Fantastic, large and obvious public sharing. Maps are tagged and search friendly
Export	Free for all Also has presentation functionality	Not free for some
Offline usage	Supported	Requires Google gears

So there’s pluses and minus to both of them.  Comapping has a more similar smooth execution to a desktop app (easier for quick writing) with great printing and use of notes. MindMeister is better for creative work and certainly for leveraging other people’s maps!
So, MindMeister gets my nod, not as nice to use but, if the primary job of mapping is creativity, it wins hands down.

Thanks to Diane Sieger for sending me this list of other online mindmap tools by mindmapsearch!

• bubbl.us Collaborative mind mapping (radiant format not enforced)
• glinkr.net :- Concept mapping and mind mapping (shared but not collaborative)
• mindmaps.kayuda.com :- Collaborative mind mapping and concept mapping
• mappio.com :- Unusual mind mapper where the user edits indented text to change the mind map
• mapul.com :- Collaborative mind mapping with an organic flavour
• mind42.com :- Collaborative mind mapping
• mindomo.com :- Collaborative mind mapping
• wikimindmap.org :- Make mind maps from WikiMedia articles
• wisemapping.com :- Collaborative mind mapping
• webofweb.net :- Collaborative mind mapping

And latest to Vic at Mindmapping.org for this summary diagram of where they all fit!