Cortalius is a keyboard-first mind-mapping app for building diagrams out of connected nodes — for brainstorming, planning, note-taking, or thinking through a problem visually instead of as a plain list.
What devices does Cortalius run on?
Mac, iPad, and iPhone. On iPhone, the app is built for quick viewing and light edits — opening a map, adding a node, fixing up text. The full toolset (connecting nodes, styling, rich notes, arranging branches) is available on Mac and iPad.
How do I create a child or sibling node?
Select a node, then press Tab for a new child or Enter for a new sibling. Press Space to drop a standalone node anywhere on the canvas. You can also click the small "+" handle that appears when you hover over or select a node.
I'm new to Cortalius — is there anything in the app to help me get started?
Yes. New accounts see a short, dismissible getting-started checklist that tracks a few first steps (creating a node, using Tab/Enter, connecting two nodes, and so on) as you naturally do them, plus an optional sample starter map you can explore, edit, or delete freely.
Plans & pricing
What's the difference between the Free and Pro plans?
Free gives you real mind-mapping with no time limit: unlimited nodes, node colors and transparency, basic notes formatting (bold, italic, links), autosave, undo/redo, History checkpoints, and folder/tag/favorite organization for your map library. Pro adds unlimited maps plus most of the app's advanced surface: icons and custom shapes, full connector and line-style control, chain auto-coloring, style presets, full rich-text notes, Auto-Arrange layouts, in-map search and find/replace, import, export, printing, Presentation Mode, Focus Mode, and Quick Capture.
How many maps can I have on the Free plan?
Up to 3 maps in your account at a time, with no limit on how large any one of those maps can grow. Pro removes the 3-map cap entirely.
How do I upgrade to Pro, and what are the payment options?
Open Settings → Account from within the app to see current pricing and start a purchase. Pro is available as a monthly subscription, an annual subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. All purchases are handled through your Apple ID — manage or cancel a subscription anytime in your device's Subscriptions settings.
What happens to a map that uses Pro features if my subscription lapses?
That specific map becomes read-only — you can still open and view it, but editing is paused — with a banner naming the plan needed to unlock it again. Nothing is deleted, and full editing comes back the moment Pro access is active again. A map that only uses Free-tier features is never affected, regardless of your plan.
What is "Supporter," and do I need it to use Cortalius?
Supporter is an entirely optional monthly, yearly, or one-time contribution toward the app's development, separate from the Free/Pro plan ladder — it doesn't unlock any app feature by itself. It's available from Settings → Account, and while it's active you get a small badge in Settings and extra weight for your votes on the public feedback board.
Is there a Premium plan?
Not yet. Cortalius currently offers two plans, Free and Pro. A third plan, Premium, is planned for later — built around bigger features like live collaboration, on-device AI assistance, and encrypted maps — but it isn't for sale yet and has no announced date.
How do I request a refund?
All purchases go through Apple's App Store, so refunds are handled by Apple, not by us — request one at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Privacy & your data
Is my map data private?
Yes. Every map is stored as a file on your own device, in a location you choose. Cortalius has no account system and no way to see your maps in the ordinary course of using the app — the only exception is if you explicitly opt in to include node/note text when submitting a bug report (see below). See our full Privacy Policy for details.
Does Cortalius collect analytics or show ads?
No. There are no third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking SDKs in the app, and nothing about your usage is shared with ad networks or data brokers.
What actually gets sent anywhere when I use "Give Feedback" or "Report a Bug"?
"Give Feedback" opens our public feedback board in your browser — nothing is sent until you tap it. "Report a Bug" shows you an itemized preview of exactly what will be submitted (your written description, platform/version, non-personal counts of nodes/connectors, and short generic action labels) before you can send it, and only includes the actual text inside your nodes and notes if you separately check a box to include it. Attachments (images/files) are never sent, under any circumstances. See the full Privacy Policy for the complete picture.
Organizing your maps
Can I organize my maps into folders, tags, or favorites?
Yes — an Organize menu above your map grid lets you sort maps, group them into nested folders, tag them, and mark favorites. This is available on every plan, including Free.
I deleted a map by accident — can I get it back?
Yes. Deleted maps go to Trash, where they stay recoverable for 30 days before being automatically and permanently removed. You can restore a map from Trash at any point during that window.
My map has grown huge — how do I keep it manageable?
Collapse any branch into a single bubble to hide its detail, then expand it again later — available on every plan. Selecting a single node also automatically highlights everything it connects to and dims the rest. Pro adds Focus Mode, which spotlights a node's whole branch and dims everything else on the canvas.
Importing & exporting
What file formats can I import into Cortalius?
OPML, FreeMind (.mm), Markdown outlines, indented plain text, CSV outlines, and Cortalius's own map package format (.cortaliusmap). Importing requires Pro.
What can I export a map to?
PDF, PNG, JPEG, plain text outline, Markdown outline, OPML, Word (.docx), and PowerPoint (.pptx — which also opens directly in Keynote). You can also export your whole map as a portable .cortaliusmap package to hand to someone else or import back in later, and print directly, including a tiled/poster option for maps too large for one page. Export and printing require Pro.
Can I export or print just one branch instead of the whole map?
Yes — select any node first, and both the Export and Print menus gain a branch-scoped option covering just that node and everything under it, in the same formats as a whole-map export. Requires Pro.
Building & styling maps
How do I connect two nodes that aren't directly related in the hierarchy?
Draw a free-form link between any two nodes to show a relationship outside the normal parent-child structure — useful for "this idea also relates to that one." Tapping a connector opens a small bubble menu with quick styling options.
Can I label a connector to show what a connection means?
Yes — add a short label to any connector (for example, "depends on" or "leads to"). This requires Pro.
What styling options does Cortalius offer, and which need Pro?
Every node on every plan can have its background color, transparency, and size adjusted, and notes support bold, italic, and links. Pro adds icons/stickers, custom shapes and images, a full connector line-style and color picker with draggable waypoints, per-connector overrides, branch (chain) auto-coloring, expanded color palettes, and full rich-text notes (colored text, highlighting, lists, fonts). Locked options are still visible on Free with a small lock icon, so you can see exactly what upgrading unlocks.
Can I reuse a map's look across other maps?
Yes, both with Pro. Copy Style / Paste Style copies one node's appearance onto another (or an entire multi-selection) in a single step. Named Style Presets let you save a map's whole look — node defaults, connector defaults, and chain coloring — as a reusable preset, and star one as the default starting look for every new map you create.
Productivity features
What is Quick Capture?
A fast way to jot an idea down without opening the main Cortalius window. On Mac, set a global keyboard shortcut in Settings that works from anywhere, even while another app is in front. On iPhone/iPad, trigger it through the Shortcuts app or Siri. Whatever you capture lands in your map to organize later. Requires Pro.
What is Presentation Mode?
It turns any map into a walk-through presentation, moving branch by branch through a series of framed "slides" with keyboard or clicker control, plus a guided auto-advance option. If Reduce Motion is turned on for your device, it automatically uses gentler, non-animated transitions. Requires Pro.
Does Cortalius have automatic layout tools?
Yes — Auto-Arrange instantly re-lays out a whole map in one of several styles (a radial "Tidy" arrangement, hub-and-spoke, org chart, timeline, fishbone, circular, grid, or a looser organic scatter). Requires Pro.
Can I search inside a map, or find and replace text?
Yes — Pro adds an in-map search bar that suggests matching nodes as you type, plus a Replace All option that rewrites every matching node's text and notes in one step.
Troubleshooting & support
I lost changes / the app crashed — can I recover my work?
Cortalius autosaves continuously and keeps a History of checkpoints you can jump back to from the History panel. If the app closed unexpectedly, it will offer to recover your last draft the next time you open the map.
How do I undo a mistake?
Standard Undo/Redo (Cmd+Z / Cmd+Shift+Z on Mac) covers every edit. For a longer view, the History panel keeps a running set of checkpoints and lets you create a manual save point to jump back to later — available on every plan.
How do I contact support or report a bug?
Use Settings → Give Feedback in the app, or email us directly at contact@cortalius.com. We read and respond to every message.
