Docear icon

Docear

Docear is a mind mapping and reference management software based on the open source Freeplane mind mapper. It helps users to collect, organize, and analyze research articles. Its key features include mind maps, reference management, annotations, and more.

What is Docear?

Docear is a free, open source software designed for academic literature management and mind mapping. It combines the functions of reference managers like Mendeley or Zotero with those of mind mappers like Freeplane or XMind.

Some of the key features of Docear include:

  • Creating mind maps to organize ideas and literature
  • Managing references with metadata and annotations
  • Brainstorming concepts and extracting annotations
  • Finding academic literature recommendations
  • Automatic backups and BibTeX interoperability
  • Available as a desktop app for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X

Docear uses mind maps to help organize academic literature and PDF documents. The mind maps make it easy to brainstorm ideas, structure concepts, and see connections between various articles/papers. References can be dragged from the file explorer directly onto the mind map nodes.

The reference management functions allow you to organize your collection of research articles in a hierarchical category system. Metadata like authors, journals, tags, annotations etc. are automatically extracted from PDF papers. References and annotations from PDFs can also be directly included into LaTeX documents for citations.

Overall, Docear is an academic workflow system to search, analyze, organize, and understand research literature. The combination of mind mapping and reference management makes it unique among its competitors like Mendeley, EndNote or Zotero.

The Best Docear Alternatives

Top Apps like Docear

Xmind, FreeMind, MindManager , Miro, Zotero, Mendeley, TheBrain, MindMeister, Freeplane, Qiqqa, JabRef, BibSonomy are some alternatives to Docear.

Xmind

Xmind is a popular and full-featured mind mapping and brainstorming software. It enables users to visually organize ideas, concepts, notes, and information into free-flowing maps. The flexible tree and org chart views along with fishbone diagrams help structure thoughts and connect information.Key features of Xmind include:Intuitive drag-and-drop interface...

FreeMind

FreeMind is a free, open source mind mapping and knowledge management software. It allows users to visually organize ideas, tasks, concepts, notes, and other pieces of information in a node-based map.Some key features of FreeMind include:Flexible node-based map interface to structure thoughts visuallySupport for links between nodes, attachments...

MindManager

MindManager is a popular mind mapping and brainstorming software application developed by Corel. It allows users to visually organize ideas, concepts, notes, files, and information onto a digital canvas using intuitive maps and diagrams.Key features of MindManager include:Brainstorming tools to generate and organize ideasMind maps with branches, connections...

Miro

Miro is an innovative online collaborative whiteboard platform designed to facilitate creativity, collaboration and visualization for teams. With infinite canvases, teams can brainstorm ideas, map user stories, plan sprints, run design thinking sessions and workshops, sketch ideas and diagrams, and more.Some of Miro's key features include:Infinite canvases for...

Zotero

Zotero is a free, open-source reference management software that helps you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. It was created by the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University.Some of the key features of Zotero include:Capturing references from web pages with one clickOrganizing...

Mendeley

Mendeley is a popular free reference management software used by millions of researchers worldwide. It helps you build your own searchable library, organize and annotate your PDFs, generate citations and bibliographies, collaborate and network with other researchers online, and discover the latest research.Some key features of Mendeley:Cloud sync...

TheBrain

TheBrain is a mind mapping and information organization software developed by TheBrain Technologies. It provides a graphical, brain-like interface that allows users to organize information in a connected, web-like manner.Some key features of TheBrain include:Mind mapping interface to visualize connections between ideas, documents, contacts and other informationThe ability...

MindMeister

MindMeister is a cloud-based mind mapping and brainstorming software. It enables individuals and teams to visually organize ideas, tasks, projects, and information into intuitive mind maps. Key features include:Online access - Log in to MindMeister from any device via a web browserReal-time collaboration - Multiple people can work on...

Freeplane

Freeplane is an open source and free mind mapping and knowledge management software. It allows users to visually organize ideas, tasks, projects, and concepts in a node-based map interface. The software aims to help users brainstorm ideas, structure thoughts, and manage information visually.Some key features of Freeplane include:Intuitive...

Qiqqa

Qiqqa is a free, cross-platform reference management software designed to help researchers and academics organize, manage, and cite their references. Developed by Cambridge-based company Digital Science, Qiqqa aims to provide an alternative to paid reference managers like EndNote or Mendeley.Some key features of Qiqqa include:Web browser integration to...

JabRef

JabRef is a free, open-source reference management software that helps researchers organize, manage, and cite bibliographic references like research papers, articles, books, etc. Developed in Java, it works on all major operating systems like Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.Key features of JabRef include:Intuitive graphical user interface for...

BibSonomy

BibSonomy is a free social bookmarking and publication management system designed for academics and researchers. It allows users to store, organize, tag, and share bookmarks and publication references.Some key features of BibSonomy include:Storing bookmarks of web pages and managing publication referencesOrganizing content with tags and hierarchical foldersSharing bookmarks...