Mind maps are always fascinating concepts. You begin with a single issue within your mind and watch it branch out into its natural connections so that you can reach a conclusion that makes sense to you on any number of issues. FreeMind is one of the world's most trusted and logical "mind map" programs that let you take any of the ideas in your mind and turn them into something more useful.

When you first start using FreeMind, you'll be placed in Child Node. Child nodes branch out into a number of other natural locations and add to the initial order. Tools are abundant, including the ability to take notes as you build your map into something that helps you improve your thought process and all that comes with it.

That's the good news. While everything about the concept is fascinating, it takes a great deal of order and simplicity to make a program like this work, and in this case FreeMind sometimes falls short. Sometimes the subjects and their branches become cluttered and it can be difficult to make sense of it all. There's a bit of a learning curve that will not appeal to some users that want something more simple, or at least more organized. Crowded toolbars have been a common complaint about this program.

The price is completely free, though, and that alone makes it worthwhile to look into for you or someone that might enjoy this sort of software. You'll be able to experiment with the many subjects and their nodes and naturally progressing folders as you work your problem through to a conclusion or yet another question that needs to be thought through. Not everyone will be bothered by the crowded toolbar, so don't be intimidated if you don't get it at first. The free price tag makes this software worth looking into for most people.