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Scapple for Mac

Free-form mind-mapping tool.

$18.00
In English
Version 1.4
4.3
Based on 30 user rates

Scapple overview

Scapple is the software equivalent of how I work out my rough ideas on paper. (If I didn't hate the word "brainstorming" so much, I'd probably call it brainstorming software.) When I'm in the early stages of any project, whether that's a writing project or a software project, I tend to throw a bunch of ideas down on a big piece of paper, spacing out as-yet unrelated ideas, clustering related notes, and drawing connections between them, trying to work out how everything fits together.

In short, then, Scapple is a tool for getting early ideas down as quickly as possible and making connections between them. The main advantage of doing this in Scapple instead of on paper is that you don't run out of paper (the Scapple canvas expands to fit as many notes as you want to create), you can move notes around to make room for new ideas and connections, it's easy to delete and edit notes, and it's easy to export your notes into other applications when you know what you want to do with them.

I'm well aware that there's already a plethora of mind-mapping software out there. Where Scapple is slightly different from most is that it doesn't force you to make any connections, and it doesn't expect you to start out with one central idea and branch everything else off that. Instead, you are free to write anywhere on the virtual paper and individual notes can be a short or as long as you like. Creating and removing connections is as easy as dragging one note onto another. Most importantly, because its purpose is to allow you to get ideas down and make connections between them quickly, Scapple is dead simple to use. Although I'm currently writing a full manual for it, the QuickStart Guide a little further down should contain everything you need to dig in and get using Scapple.

What’s new in version 1.4

Version 1.4:

Scapple 1.4 provides compatibility for both macOS 11 Big Sur and Apple Silicon.

Big sur
  • UI and icons updated to match the new look of macOS 11 Big Sur.
Apple silicon
  • Scapple is now a Universal app, running natively on both Silicon and Intel machines.
Changes
  • Drawing and zooming optimised - Scapple should now be much faster with large boards.
  • Added a preference that allows you to use solid lines instead of dashes for connections without arrows.
  • Numerous refinements and bug fixes.

Scapple for Mac

$18.00
In English
Version 1.4

What users say about Scapple

Tulipa Armena
By Tulipa Armena on Feb 1 2024 for v.1.4

Ease of use: 5.0

Quick and snappy, there's no need to watch a video of any sorts or go through a heavy tutorial. It's extremely straightforward and does what it says it will do: help you get your ideas out at lightning speed.

Features: 4.0

The features are a bit sparse when it comes to organization but I don't hold this against Scapple since Scapple makes it clear it's a minimal mind-mapping tool. It's not the be-all-end-all-tools. It replicates extremely simple ways of brainstorming on paper and that's it. What features it does care to have, it does extremely well.

Customer support: 4.0

I've only needed to contact L&L a few times, mostly because I'll forget my keys. They take 2-5 days to get back to you but they have busy periods and they're a small team. They're always helpful!

Other user ratings:

Value | 5.0
Reliability | 5.0
Write a detailed review about Scapple

What customer like

Performance
Stability
Price

What needs improvements

Customization

Scapple qualities

Value
5.0
Ease of use
5.0
Features
4.0
Reliability
5.0
Customer support
4.0

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

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4.3

(22 Reviews of Scapple)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Macbookpro
Macbookpro
Nov 17 2020
1.3.4
5.0
Nov 17 2020
5.0
Version: 1.3.4
It's been updated to 1.4 to be Big Sur and Apple Silicon compatible. Plus, there are other improvements, refinements, etc. Great app to get ideas down
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Jul 4 2019
1.3.3
0.0
Jul 4 2019
0.0
Version: 1.3.3
Oh good. Now it can check for updates. I was back on v1.3.02 and hadn't manually checked to see it had been updated, until now.
Dr-Sparks
Dr-Sparks
Mar 17 2019
1.3.2
0.0
Mar 17 2019
0.0
Version: 1.3.2
"Scapple 1.3.2 30 Nov 2017". MacUpdate's date at the top is not correct. That date was about Scapple 1.3.1. The 1.3.2 version that downloads was launched in January, 2019: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scapple/release-notes?os=macOS
DrPfaff
DrPfaff
Jul 20 2018
1.3.1
5.0
Jul 20 2018
5.0
Version: 1.3.1
An unbelievably simple app that does one thing exceptionally well. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of other mind mappers, but it really helps you focus on what you need to do. It takes about one minute to learn the program, and then you never have to think about it again. I use it for planning events and software development projects. I started using the 30 day free trial, and bought it after just 4 days. Well worth it.
Teksestro
Teksestro
Nov 30 2017
1.3
5.0
Nov 30 2017
5.0
Version: 1.3
Easy to use, intuitive interface, does its with just enough features to make it incredibly attractive, without becoming complicated. To top it off, it's cheap!
Tulipa Armena
Tulipa Armena
Feb 1 2024
1.4
5.0
Feb 1 2024
5.0
Version: 1.4
Macbookpro
Macbookpro
Nov 17 2020
5.0
Nov 17 2020
5.0
Version: null
PJPalmer39@gmail.com
PJPalmer39@gmail.com
Jan 13 2019
3.5
Jan 13 2019
3.5
Version: null
DrPfaff
DrPfaff
Jul 20 2018
5.0
Jul 20 2018
5.0
Version: null
JohnnyFave
JohnnyFave
Apr 12 2018
5.0
Apr 12 2018
5.0
Version: null
Teksestro
Teksestro
Nov 30 2017
5.0
Nov 30 2017
5.0
Version: null
Haevuus
Haevuus
Nov 21 2017
5.0
Nov 21 2017
5.0
Version: null
ivanm
ivanm
Jun 25 2017
5.0
Jun 25 2017
5.0
Version: null
le-petit-compositeur
le-petit-compositeur
May 28 2017
4.5
May 28 2017
4.5
Version: null
Funjoy
Funjoy
Dec 29 2016
4.0
Dec 29 2016
4.0
Version: null
PeterC3149
PeterC3149
Apr 20 2016
3.5
Apr 20 2016
3.5
Version: null
licenza
licenza
Apr 13 2016
2.0
Apr 13 2016
2.0
Version: null
Max-G
Max-G
Feb 3 2016
3.5
Feb 3 2016
3.5
Version: null
hced
hced
Apr 25 2014
5.0
Apr 25 2014
5.0
Version: null
JohnV2458
JohnV2458
Apr 23 2014
4.0
Apr 23 2014
4.0
Version: null
Hkim
Hkim
Feb 27 2014
5.0
Feb 27 2014
5.0
Version: null
Ronnb
Ronnb
Feb 21 2014
5.0
Feb 21 2014
5.0
Version: null
anonymous-rabbit-5199
Feb 8 2014
5.0
Version: null
Philosopherdog
Philosopherdog
Jan 20 2014
5.0
Jan 20 2014
5.0
Version: null
Ckueny
Ckueny
Nov 7 2013
2.5
Nov 7 2013
2.5
Version: null
suzaiinwatsongmailcom3940
Jul 27 2013
3.0
Version: null
Creanima78
Creanima78
Jun 11 2013
2.0
Jun 11 2013
2.0
Version: null
EIIR
EIIR
May 13 2013
4.5
May 13 2013
4.5
Version: null
Radus
Radus
Apr 28 2013
5.0
Apr 28 2013
5.0
Version: null
Dogclaws
Dogclaws
Apr 25 2013
5.0
Apr 25 2013
5.0
Version: null
darrel-2
darrel-2
Mar 20 2013
5.0
Mar 20 2013
5.0
Version: null
Myka
Myka
Feb 16 2013
4.5
Feb 16 2013
4.5
Version: null
Jazzyguy
Jazzyguy
Oct 17 2012
5.0
Oct 17 2012
5.0
Version: null
Lord-Lightning
Lord-Lightning
Oct 17 2012
4.5
Oct 17 2012
4.5
Version: null
S/ash
S/ash
Oct 16 2012
4.5
Oct 16 2012
4.5
Version: null