A calmer canvas for mind maps, sketches, app mockups and floor plans.
Start with one thought, branch naturally, and shape a plan you can actually see. Canvasola is an offline-first mind map maker and infinite canvas — not another meeting room.
Three ways to get the idea out of your head.
Move between structure, sketch and screen without exporting into another tool.
Mind maps that stay editable
Start with a central thought. Add children with Tab, siblings with Shift+Enter, color and connect branches, then export an outline, Markdown or image when the structure is ready.
Learn mind mapping →A canvas for the messy middle
Draw a rough arrow, circle a risk or drop a line of text beside the map. Freehand and structured thinking can share the same infinite canvas.
Explore the canvas →App mockups without the app
Open App Builder, add mobile or web frames, choose components and connect screens with prototype links. More than 50 templates help you start before you have every detail.
Build a mockup →Capture first. Structure second. Save the source.
A workflow that survives a real project, not just a five-minute demo.
Put the raw material down
Open a canvas, create a central idea, and add branches before deciding what belongs where. Speed matters more than symmetry at this stage.
Make relationships visible
Group related ideas, connect the branches that affect each other, and mark the decisions, owners and gaps. Use the map to reveal what a list hides.
Save the source, then export
Save the editable .canv project first. Then export PNG, SVG, Markdown or mockup files for the people and tools that need a snapshot.
Useful guides, not feature lists.
Each tutorial is based on the current app and ends with something you can make.
How to use Canvasola
Canvas, mind maps, sketching, tabs, saving, backups and every export format in one walkthrough.
Read the guide → App Builder · 13 minDesign a testable app mockup
Build a three-screen flow with auto-layout, constraints, prototype links and a clean handoff.
Read the tutorial → Offline · 11 minWork offline without losing work
Install the app, test offline access, understand autosave and make a backup you can actually recover.
Read the offline guide →Find the guide for the job in front of you.
Every guide answers one question, ends with a checklist and is written against the current version of the app.
App Builder guides
Mockups, wireframes, layout concepts, user flows, dashboards, onboarding and forms.
Open the collection → 14 guidesMind mapping guides
Branching, color, notes, collapsing branches, tree versus radial, cross-links and layers.
Open the collection → 16 guidesMind map use cases
Job interviews, theses, books, business plans, budgets, travel and research topics.
Open the collection → 10 guidesTemplate guides
Project plans, study notes, SWOT, business models, meeting notes and more, ready to adapt.
Open the collection → 10 guidesCanvas and sketching
Brushes, shapes, layers and split view for the ideas that do not fit a tree.
Open the collection → 6 guides3D layer stack
Split a map into layers, move between planes and trace the links that cross them.
Open the collection → 10 guidesWorkflow and productivity
Command palette, keyboard-only mapping, tabs, split view, undo, zen mode and search.
Open the collection → 8 guidesExport and import
PNG, JPG, SVG, Markdown, OPML, JSON, HTML/CSS, backups and moving work between devices.
Open the collection → 6 guidesOffline and install
Install the app, check the service worker and keep your local work safe.
Open the collection → 10 guidesDesign foundations
Layout concepts, information hierarchy, spacing, typography, constraints and review.
Open the collection → 7 guidesComparisons
How Canvasola compares with other whiteboards, mind map tools and mockup software.
Open the collection → 10 guidesFloor plan guides
Plan a home, office or studio: rooms with real dimensions, doors, windows, 70 templates and a printable room schedule.
Open the collection → 9 guidesMind map fundamentals
What mind maps are for, how to start one and how to review the result.
Open the collection →A map is only useful if it changes what you do next.
Start with the shape of the work, not a blank page.
Map the plan before the plan gets heavy
Outcomes, workstreams, risks, owners and next actions in one view. Turn the agreed structure into a brief or checklist.
Study & researchMake revision expose the gaps
Organize a topic into themes, evidence, questions and examples. The empty branch tells you what to review next.
TemplatesStart from a structure that works
Project plan, SWOT, meeting notes, study notes, essay planning, brainstorming, goals and more — ready to adapt.
What Canvasola is — and what it is not.
Choosing the right tool is easier when the boundaries are honest.
Good fit
You want a fast, focused place to think visually and keep the source file.
- Mind maps, sketches and notes on one infinite canvas
- Mobile and web mockups with prototype links
- Offline work after the app has loaded once
- Local autosave plus portable .canv project files
- Exports for images, documents and design handoff
Not the right fit
You need a different product category. Better to know now.
- Real-time multiplayer whiteboarding
- An AI generator that creates a finished map or app
- Enterprise administration and procurement workflows
- A production application codebase
- Permanent cloud backup without saving a project file
A few honest answers before you start.
What is Canvasola?
Canvasola is a browser-based visual thinking app that combines mind mapping, a freeform drawing canvas and an app mockup builder in one offline-first workspace.
Is Canvasola free?
Canvasola can be opened and used in a browser at no cost. You can work on a local canvas, save a project file and export your work without an account.
Can I use Canvasola offline?
Yes. Canvasola is a progressive web app that can reopen offline after its first successful load. Local canvases, mind maps, app mockups and exports work without a connection; cloud projects need one. The offline guide explains installation and backups.
How do I save my work?
Canvasola autosaves the current canvas in your browser and shows a “Saved locally” status. For a portable backup, use File → Save Project to download a .canv file. Local autosave and project files serve different purposes.
What is App Builder?
App Builder is a mockup workspace for mobile and web screens. It provides frames, components, auto-layout, prototype links and exports. It is a wireframe tool, not a production app code generator. Read the full tutorial.
Who is Canvasola for?
It is for students, researchers, creators, product teams and anyone who needs to turn scattered thoughts into a visual structure before committing to a linear plan.
Start with the idea you already have.
Open Canvasola, add a central thought, and save the first version. The guide is there when you want the deeper workflow.