TheBrain Reviews

Information goes in, but good luck getting it back out to use else where or to share.

There is no copy or share option on ios that I can find. On the desktop version there is a very crude “copy as text outline” feature. Other option, they tell you can make a backup of your brain and dig through the backup json files. If your not a programmer, digging through json files would be like digging through the remains of your home after it was destroyed by a tornado. A desperate rescue for the average person.

Strikes me that the company’s philosophy is to get you so invested in putting information into the system that you will have little choice but to stay user, if you want to keep your information - hence the very long and generous trial period to practically locked you in to buy, otherwise 27 days of input lost.

We need another mind mapping developer to create an alternate choice.

I'll start by saying I love The Brain. But TheBrain is a butchered version that realizes little of The Brain's promise or potential. I understand the imperative to drive people to their paid offerings, but I don't get a better version of TheBrain if I sign up, so what's the point? I want to use my iPad as my primary device for managing my Brains, and I want it to have what the desktop version has -- namely, second-level visualization, types, and themes.

I'd gladly pay for the service (or TheBrain itself) if TheBrain was a more thought-out and feature complete. At the moment, however, it's neither.

I have been a loyal user of this app since its initial release. Transitioning from the desktop to my iPad Pro has been a significant part of my workflow. However, the absence of AI features in the mobile versions, especially when other mind mapping apps have integrated such functionality, has been disappointing. This gap has seriously impacted my expectations and usability.

For the first time, I am considering switching to a different app that better meets my needs. Despite this, I will continue to monitor your progress, hoping that this app will once again lead the market with the best features available.

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Thank you for considering my feedback.

The Brain on the Mac is truly an amazing application. If I could have that functionality on my iPad I would get rid of almost all of my other productivity and notes apps. But, alas it won’t be so. The iOS app is so kluge and so basic that it is rendered almost useless in its present form. There have been no added features in months. It’s as if the programming team has ignored the mobile scene entirely. They do so at there peril.

To wit, the prince of serendip

Still a long way to go but with recent updates, TheBrain is significantly more usable. Below is my old review.
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I wish more love were given to TheBrain. It could be an amazing companion to the desktop app. Sadly though it hasn't changed since its initial minimal feature set release. It still doesn't have native resolution on iPhone 6 and it is completely broken on iOS 9 (though I imagine this will be fixed fairly quickly) and some features (the inbox) don't even work on iOS 8.

At least update it to make it remember the last thought you were looking at when you re-open TheBrain . The Brain is by far the most expensive software I use and it seems to be languishing big time.

24 Feb 2019

I have been a long time user if this app since its inception back in the late 90s. When this app came as a Pr subscription, I leaped at it. When it came to iPad, I also jumped to it. I miss some of the functionality of the original The Brain v1 through v3. I was hoping for an improvement; but, the current release is very disappointing.

1. While working with the iPad version, I have noticed many times when TheBrain just freezes up.

2. Trying to interconnect thoughts does not always work and you wing up shutting down TheBrain and restarting it.

3. The new version lacks a background, presumably to make it work better.

4. Help just brings up a blank page with nothing there.

5. There does not seem to be a way to cut & paste into the notes of any given thought.

6. No attachments other than pictures.

7. No URL or document attachments.

In its present state, it does not seem to be any better than your generic mind mapper so it is disappointing. So crippled compared to what this app once was even when forgiving the device it is on.

If you are an avid user of this app 9 desktop application you will find yourself with the desire to access and manipulate the information in your brain(s). The iPad and iPhone apps allow just that. Though they do not allow all of the manipulation you can do in the desktop app, it feels like every few months an improvement comes out that allows more desktop features in the mobile apps.

I look forward to seeing how this app Tech brings more access and functionality going forward.

I love the way TheBrain works and the features it has. I wanted to mention there's a bug where the edit button doesn't do anything but I noticed when I press it and go to notes, you can see that menu behind the screen as it transitions by flipping to notes. I also wish it were a little less sluggish but that just comes with fixing up the software. I really like the fluidity of it once you learn how to use it and I plan to use it more. Great app.

The Brain is the best informational tool that I’ve used, and I’ve used many of them (Microsoft Notes, EndNote, Mind Maps, etc).

What would make The Brain even better on iPad is for TheBrain to implement multitasking. Many people work from home and spend a good amount of time on Web conferences. I would like to have the ability to use iPad multitasking so that I could have my notes via The Brain on open side of the screen and the web conference on the other, allowing me to see both my notes and the web conference and to easily take screen shots of content and drop them in my notes. Please consider enabling this feature!

I used to use this software a lot on Windows and extremely happy it is available now on iPad as well. I tried many mindmapping apps, but this one is the only one you can see as effective tool for ideas mapping, content planning and brainstorming in general.

I love the Brain - been a user since early days ~20 years ago. Glad to see TheBrain done right - previous versions lacked.

Split screen and even slide over would be incredibly useful for a supporting app like this - especially now that the ipad has ability to work with monitors.

Keep the updates coming!

I use this app app on a daily basis. In fact, it’s the only app on my iPhone that stands alone - not grouped in a folder. Quick notes on any topic. Sending web pages and images through BrainBox. Staying in sync with my laptop. Amazing! I couldn’t function without it!!

I love the brain on Windows and on the Mac, and love that I can access all my information from TheBrain . TheBrain as of now is just access to your information and a some limited feature. You can create thought and attach things to them, access your though and email attachments which is why I need TheBrain on the go. The real work still has to be done through the software on a computer.

Great job Harlan and Brain Team. Started using the Brain to replace Goldmine, Ecco Pro personal information managers about 20 years ago. Used the Brain at Verizon/GTE and during my call up to active US Army for 8 years. Now retired I use The Brain to hold information for building hot rods, family, pets, and Jesus Christ my Savior.

This is the best it gets in its category. I gave the software a second try after a few years when it was version 9. I came back again because I recognized I needed a software for personal knowledge management after getting tired being bombarded with information from work, school, and business. It’s a relief they continue to invest in improving the software and providing versatility with providing an app and compatibility with both windows and Mac.

This is a wonderful app. It helps you organize thoughts like no other app and harnesses the natural way your brain makes associations. Example: What was the name of my son’s friends mom who I met at basketball practice? If you spend a couple seconds capturing information, you can recall information like this at a personal and professional level. You might find it through the friends name, or the link to basketball, or the link to school, or the fact that she works for GE or anything else like that that may help you find your way back to her name. I spend a couple moments each day over coffee adding information to my Brain. Each time I do it become more valuable to me.

The Brain is simply the best program/app I have ever found for organizing and connecting complex data. Allows you to make matrixed links across any topic or topics. Works like the old pin and thread bulletin boards detectives use in the movies to find connections between suspects. I have used it for years and am very thankful someone created this program. They keep updating it and improving it. I probably use 20% of the functionality available to me. Also terrific for linking to websites and keeping large amounts of information handy. I would image this would be perfect for someone writing a thesis or organizing a novel. A big Thank you to the team who created it!

this app developer did great job of updating the IOS version! Nice work! Lots of new features.

I've used this app on my PC for 25 years, and the mobile app many years too. It's my main web clipper and PKM; there's nothing better!

I had dabbled with this app over a year ago and saw its potential but could not get it integrated in my everyday mobile lifestyle. To say I was anxiously waiting for an iOS version would be an understatement! I downloaded it the first day it was out and have been playing around with it for the last couple of weeks. It is amazing! I love it! It is fast, responsive, and integrated across my iOS world. Thank you so much for finally coming out with an iOS version! I can't stop using it consistently and constantly!