Concept maps help you map the relationships between ideas. Use Lucidchart to create online concept maps from templates or from scratch—we have everything you need to get started.
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Get to work right away with Lucidchart’s intuitive concept map software.
With our drag-and-drop shapes, you can easily organize concepts and the relationships between them. Add your ideas to your concept map and share the map with anyone in real time.
Import existing concept maps or ideas from Visio, Gliffy, OmniGraffle, Draw.io, or simply from a TXT file to create a quick concept map. To export your concept map, download it as a PDF, JPEG, or PNG or export directly to Google Drive.
To share your concept map with your team members, classmates, or students, just give them the URL. You can also present it directly from our concept map creator with Presentation Mode or integrate your concept map with Google Slides or Slack.
Our concept map generator is cloud-based, so you can collaborate on your concept map with anyone—no matter where they are or what device, browser, or operating system they use.
Lucidchart has more than 1,000 custom-made diagramming templates available for you to use. While you can always start with a blank page, you can also draw inspiration from what others have done.
Lucidchart integrates with Google Workspace, so you can import your concept map to Google Docs or Slides as needed. You can also use Google Drive to store your Lucidchart files, and any changes you make in Lucidchart will automatically update in Google Drive.
Lucidchart has thousands of five-star reviews on TrustRadius, Capterra, and G2. Try our concept map software to see why.
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A concept map helps you visualize the relationship between concepts, ideas, events, or notes. These diagrams are commonly used to plan curriculum, create study guides, or outline writing projects. To use a concept map, put your ideas in circles (also called nodes). Unlike a mind map that starts in the center and works outwards, a concept map generally works top to bottom in a hierarchy. Connect your circles with lines or arrows (also called arcs) and label the lines to show how the ideas relate to each other.
Begin with the core topic you want to explore. Drag a shape onto the canvas to contain it. The hierarchy of your concept map will start from here.
Make a list of all the key ideas that relate to your core topic. This list is called the parking lot. Order them from most general first to most specific last.
Move your key concepts from the parking lot to the diagram, drawing connecting lines as you go. Label the lines with text to show how the ideas are related.
Personalize and organize your diagram by adding colors and images. As you learn more about your core topic, update your diagram.
Use Lucidchart’s easy sharing options to present your concept map. You can share the diagram directly within Lucidchart, print it, or download it as a PNG, JPEG, or PDF.
You can use standard flowchart shapes to build your concept map or repurpose our mind map shape library. Simply search for mind maps in the Shape Manager.
Can I get a free Lucidchart premium account if I'm a student or teacher?Yes. Lucid offers free educational upgrades to students and educators! The free upgrade gives you access to the features described here, including unlimited objects and three editable documents.
When should I use a concept map instead of a mind map?Mind maps are better for brainstorming ideas or information visually. Use a concept map when you're diagramming relationships between and among concepts. Concept maps make it faster to understand and recall those relationships. For students, concept maps can be an efficient way of note-taking as well, sometimes referred to as conceptual note-taking.
Do you have any examples of concept maps?Yes! Read through our post on Concept Map Examples and Templates.
