5 Best Empathy Map Makers: Build a Rapport in Creating Empathy Maps Efficiently!
An empathy map is an illustration of how a product team knows its users or customers. As it says on its name, it talks about the empathy the team needs or has already identified from its users’ feelings, thoughts, and actions toward the product. With this being said, the company understands the users’ needs and wants through an empathy map by creating an empathic design about them. However, as the team needs to gain a holistic view of its users’ comments, problems, and other concerns, it shows the importance of having an excellent empathy map maker.
Good thing that this article has gathered five of the best map-making tools that will help you on this task. So, without further adieu, let’s start meeting them individually and make comprehensible empathy maps later.
- Part 1. 2 Best Free Empathy Map Makers Online
- Part 2. 3 Remarkable Empathy Map Creators on Desktop
- Part 3. Comparison Table of Empathy Map Makers
- Part 4. FAQs on Empathy Map Makers
As one main writer of MindOnMap's editorial team, I always provide real and verified information in my posts. Here are what I usually do before writing:
- After selecting the topic of empathy map maker, I always do a lot of research on Google and in forums to list the software that users care about the most.
- Then I use all the empathy map creators mentioned in this post and spend hours or even days testing them one by one. Sometimes I need to pay for some of them.
- Considering the key features and limitations of these tools for drawing empathy maps, I conclude what use cases these tools are best for.
- Also, I look through users' comments on these empathy map makers to make my review more objective.
Part 1. 2 Best Free Empathy Map Makers Online
Creating thinking maps has never been accessible unless you use an online tool. Besides the accessibility, there are also many factors why you choose an online tool over downloadable software. One of the factors is the ability to keep your maps in cloud storage, which will lead you to access your folders anytime and anywhere. With this being said, we present the two best empathy map online tools you should not miss.
1. MindOnMap
MindOnMap is a maker of all kinds of illustrations, including an empathy map. It has extended its ultimacy in creating flow charts, timelines, diagrams, and more, by providing users with a simple yet intuitive canvas in its interface. With regards to empathy mapping, MindOnMap can be your confidant, for it gives everything you need on your plate to create a captivating and persuading one. And for its accessibility? It comes with cloud storage where you can safely keep your maps for quite some time. Not to mention, it won’t require you a penny just to savor its enticing features because you can use it for free without any limitations.
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PROS
- It is easy and free to use.
- No watermarks and ads to see.
- Tons of stencils and elements are available.
- Accessible to all browsers and on mobile devices.
- No need to download software.
- Keep the output in several ways.
CONS
- It cannot import ready-made templates.
To quench you more about this fantastic empathy map creator, here is a quick tour and steps on how to use it.
Launch any browser you use on your device and look for MindOnMap. Click the Login tab on its official website and sign in using your email to create an account.
Once logged in, you can now begin. Hit the Create Your Mind Map tab to do so. Then, go to the My Flow Chart option on the menu and click the New tab.
After that, you will reach the main canvas. Here, you can start working by choosing a Theme from the right part of the interface of this empathy map tool. Then, add elements of shapes, arrows, clipart, or anything you need showing from the left side by clicking them.
Then, once you’re done with the map, choose whether to Save, Share, or Export it by clicking the icons of the choices.
2. Creately
The Creately is another empathy map online tool you must watch out for. It is a fantastic program that provides you with ready-made templates that can minimize your workload. Moreover, it comes in two versions that you can both have: this online version and its downloadable version. In addition, it also enables you to share your empathy maps with your friends, just like in MindOnMap. However, it makes a difference in being generous since Creately has limitations with its free plan, where you can only work for three canvases in limited storage.
PROS
- It comes with free and read-made empathy map templates.
- With a collaboration feature.
- It allows you to use frames for your maps.
- Easy and straightforward to use.
CONS
- The online free version is very limited.
- It doesn’t allow users to export the map in Word and PDF.
Part 2. 3 Remarkable Empathy Map Creators on Desktop
1. Edraw Max
The Edraw Max is our top empathy map software on this list. It is one of the most popular mapping tools today due to its excellent features. Furthermore, it comes with extensive symbols and icons that help you turn your ideas to life. In addition, it provides you with different templates that will catch you from running out of ideas on how your empathy map will look like. On top of that, it allows you to share and export your diagrams to your favorite social media platform.
PROS
- It has a familiar interface like Microsoft Office.
- It allows 2D creation.
- It enables you to share your empathy maps easily.
CONS
- Its sharing feature won’t work offline.
- The free plan is limited.
2. Draw.io
Draw.io is an excellent empathy map creator for your needs. It is free software that provides you with endless options of shapes for your map, flowchart, diagram, timeline, etc. You will also love how freeware like this is able to publish and share your maps freely. On top of that, it allows you to import files from your local storage and put it on your project on its intuitive canvas.
PROS
- It is free to use.
- It comes with excellent features.
- Many elements are available.
- You can use it even without the internet.
CONS
- The interface is dull.
- It lacks advanced features.
3. FreeMind
The last on our list is this open-source empathy map tool for desktop, the FreeMind. FreeMind comes with many fantastic options that will excite you to use it. Like the others, it is infused with nice features like hotkeys, blinking nodes, and HTML exportation. However, your device will need Java for you to acquire it. Thus, it supports all the popular OS such as Linux, Windows, and Mac.
PROS
- A free and open-source software.
- Its interface is neat and intuitive.
- Featured-filled.
- It’s a multi-platform tool.
CONS
- It doesn't have templates.
- You must install Java first before installing it.
- It is outdated.
Part 3. Comparison Table of the Empathy Map Makers
To help you decide which one among the empathy map makers to choose, we have prepared a comparison table below.
| Tool’s Name | Price | Supported Platforms | Advanced Features | Output Format |
| MindOnMap | Totally Free. | Windows, Mac, Linux. | Collaboration; Stencils for MindMap and Flowcharts; Hotkeys; Cloud storage; History keeper; Smart shapes. | Word, PDF, PNG, SVG, JPG. |
| Creately | Not Totally Free. | Windows, Mac | Collaboration; Smart shapes; Integrations; Revision history; Offline synchronization. | JPEG, SVG, PNG, PDF, CSV. |
| Edraw Max | Not Totally Free. | Windows, Mac, Linux. | Collaboration tools; Network diagramming; file sharing; Data visualization. | PDF, Word, HTML, SVG, MindManager, Graphics. |
| Draw.io | Totally Free. | Windows, Mac, Linux. | Collaboration; Tooltips; Auto-layout; Mathematics type settings; HTML formatting. | JPG, SVG, PNG, PDF, HTML, XML, URL. |
| FreeMind | Totally Free. | Windows, Mac. | Folding branches; Hypertext exportation; Graphical links; HTML formatting. | Flash, PDF, JPG, PNG, SVG, HTML. |
Part 4. FAQs on Empathy Map Makers
Can I create an empathy map on Android?
Yes. You can easily create an empathy map using your Android using online tools like MindOnMap.
What is the persona in the empathy map?
A persona in an empathy map represents the current customer. We create personas by gathering the data of the customers for illustrations.
What are the four types of personas?
The four types of personas are spontaneous, methodical, competitive, and humanistic.
Conclusion
Knowing the five empathy map makers in this article, you can now face your customers boldly. Choosing the one among them depends on your device, which caught your interest more. Thus, all of them are competent enough to assist you. However, if you want the best, choose MindOnMap, for it will let you unleash your creativity in making empathy mind maps and creating any kind of charts.
