Layouts

Notemap supports 4 different layout modes so you can arrange your mind map in the way that best fits your thinking style. Each layout changes how child nodes are positioned relative to the root, giving you distinct visual structures for different use cases.

Free vs. Pro Layouts

The free tier includes 1 layout mode (Right Layout). Upgrading to Pro unlocks all 4 layout modes, letting you choose the structure that works best for each map.

Layout Modes

Right Layout (Default)

All children extend to the right of the root node. Each level of depth moves further to the right, creating a clean, linear flow from left to right.

Best for:

• Note-taking and outlining
• Sequential or hierarchical content
• Documentation structure
• Reading-order content (left-to-right)

This is the default layout and the most familiar structure for anyone who has worked with outlines or bullet-point lists.

Mind Map Layout

Children are split evenly between the left and right sides of the root node. The first half of children go to the right, and the second half go to the left, creating a balanced, radial distribution.

Best for:

• Brainstorming and ideation
• Exploring a topic from multiple angles
• Visual thinkers who want a balanced canvas
• Classic mind mapping

This is the traditional mind map style. The balanced distribution gives your map a natural, organic feel and makes excellent use of horizontal canvas space.

Down Layout

Children extend downward from the root node. Each level of depth moves further down the canvas, creating a top-to-bottom hierarchy.

Best for:

• Organizational charts
• Decision trees
• Process flows and workflows
• Any top-down hierarchy

This layout is immediately familiar to anyone who has seen an org chart or flowchart. It clearly communicates reporting structures and hierarchical relationships.

Left Layout

The mirror of Right Layout — all children extend to the left of the root node. Useful for right-to-left reading flows or when you want the root on the right side of your canvas.

Best for:

• Right-to-left content
• Alternative visual perspective
• Complementing Right Layout maps placed side by side

Up Layout

Children extend upward from the root node. The inverse of Down Layout, creating a bottom-to-top hierarchy.

Best for:

• Bottom-up thinking and analysis
• Growth visualizations
• Timelines that progress upward

How to Switch Layouts

You can change the layout mode in two ways:

1. From the toolbar — use the layout selector to pick a mode from the dropdown.
2. From Settings — navigate to the layout section and choose your preferred mode.

When you switch layouts, all nodes reposition instantly. The tree structure and all your content remain unchanged — only the visual arrangement updates.

Layout Behavior

Each layout mode has its own:

• Node spacing — the horizontal and vertical gaps between parent and child nodes
• Connection line routing — how bezier curves are drawn between connected nodes
• Expansion direction — where new child nodes appear when you add them

These are all handled automatically. You do not need to manually adjust spacing or line paths when switching layouts.

Layout Is Saved Per Map

The layout mode is a per-map setting. Each mind map remembers which layout you chose for it, so you can have one map in Mind Map layout for brainstorming and another in Right layout for an outline — and each will open in its saved layout.

Choosing the Right Layout