Top 5 Brainstorming Tools to Spark Your Creativity

Are you looking for a way to boost your team's creativity? Or maybe you need a tool to organize your ideas? If so, try brainstorming apps!

Brainstorming is a process in which a group of people comes together to share their thoughts and generate ideas. Merriam-Webster defines it as "the spontaneous contribution of ideas from all members of the group."

Brainstorming apps are becoming an essential part of modern workspaces. They bridge gaps and help teams to brainstorm effectively and collaborate better.

This article will explore the top five brainstorming apps. We will discuss their pros and cons and other factors to help you choose the best one.

Let's get started!

Top 5 Brainstorming Tools

Here are the top five brainstorming tools that we have picked. You can review each of them and choose a suitable one.

1.    UPDF

From the name, you may think of UPDF as a PDF-related tool, but it is more than that. It's a complete brainstorming solution with AI-powered features. They help you easily generate, refine, and organize your thoughts.

With GPT-4o and full DeepSeek R1 built-in, UPDF makes brainstorming faster and more effective, whether you are working alone or with a team. It offers easy collaboration and presentation features to help boost creativity and productivity. You can download UPDF via the button below to give to a try and see how UPDF can help you brainstorm.

Key Features of UPDF for Brainstorming

• AI-Powered Idea Generation: Stuck on an idea? Let UPDF's AI help brainstorm.
• Organize Your Brainstorm Idea: Organize your ideas into documents, keeping everything in one place using the “Create”, “Edit”, and “Comment” feature. It has stickers, shapes, text box, and more.
• Present your Brainstorm Idea with your Team: Turn your ideas into a polished presentation with one click by using the UPDF’s Slideshow feature.
• Send and Share Your Brainstorm Ideas: Share via link, QR code, or email for easy collaboration.

Pros & Cons

Pricing:

Plan	Annual Pricing	Perpetual Pricing
Individuals	$39.99 for UPDF with 7 day free AI trial	$69.99 for UPDF with 7 day free AI trial
Enterprise	$138 with AI	$168 with yearly AI
Education	$29.99 (For Students) with 7 day free trial	$118 (For Schools & Educators) with 7 day free AI trial

Visit this page for detailed plans and features.

Platform Compatibility:

Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Online version for AI (One license can work on all platforms).

Target Audience:

• Lawyers
• Researchers
• Students and teachers
• Businessmen and women

Rating:

4.5 on G2 based on 223 reviews.

Just download UPDF via the button below to give it a test.

Also Read: How to Use AI for Brainstorming? (Unleash Your Creativity)

2.    Miro

Miro is another best software for brainstorming and team collaboration. You can map out concepts, plan projects, or sketch workflows.

Micro comes with an infinite canvas where you can think and apply ideas in many formats, including sticky notes, diagrams, and more. Miro offers a flexible space to bring thoughts to life. It also has many ready-made templates to make the brainstorming process easier.

Pros & Cons

Pricing:

Free: $0/month with 3 editable boards.

Starter: $8/month with unlimited boards.

Business: $16/month with unlimited boards.

Enterprise: Contact for custom pricing

Platform Compatibility:

Miro is compatible with mobile, desktop, and online.

Target Audience:

• Designers
• Project managers
• Educators
• Teams

Rating:

4.7 on G2 based on 7476 reviews.

Also Read: Group Brainstorming: Guide to Improve Ideas Using AI Tool

3.    Mentimeter

Mentimeter is also a popular brainstorming software. It is best known for its interactive features, which boost engagement in meetings and classrooms.

With this tool, you can collect ideas, opinions, and feedback in real time through live polls, word clouds, and Q&A sessions.

You can also integrate it with platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Mentimeter is a great tool for remote collaborations. It makes sure that they are efficient and productive. No matter if you are leading a workshop, teaching a class, or hosting a meeting, Mentimeter is what you need.

Pros & Cons

Pricing:

Free: $0/month with 50 participants per month.

Basic: $11.99/month with unlimited participants per month.

Pro: $24.99/month with unlimited participants per month.

Enterprise: Contact for custom pricing

Platform Compatibility:

It has a mobile and desktop app (Download from the Zoom app marketplace).

You can also use it online.

Target Audience:

• Educators and students
• Corporate teams and managers
• Event hosts and workshop leaders
• Remote teams and facilitators

Rating:

4.7 on G2 based on 613 reviews.

4.    Stormboard

Unlike other collaborative and brainstorming apps, Stormboard takes a different approach. Most of these tools focus on the creative aspect, which is not the case with Stormboard. It focuses more on structured teamwork and decision-making.

It turns simple discussions into structured ideas. No matter if you are in the same room or working remotely, you can easily collect and organize thoughts. Instead of long meetings or messy notes, Stormboard gives teams a visual space to sort ideas and work smarter.

Pros & Cons

Pricing:

Personal: $0/month

Business: $10/month

Enterprise: Contact for custom pricing

Platform Compatibility:

Stormboard is available on mobile, desktop and online.

Target Audience:

• Large teams
• Cross-departmental projects
• Scenarios needing quick idea collection.

Rating:

4.6 on G2 based on 78 reviews.

5.    Coggle

Coggle is best known for its simplicity in making mind maps and flowcharts. With this online brainstorming tool, you can organize ideas, processes, and systems visually.

You can also create unlimited mind maps and flowcharts, no matter how complex. You can add shapes, adjust lines, and style text to fit your needs. You can also include images and notes to make your diagrams clearer.

Teams can work together in real-time, with changes saved automatically. If needed, you can go back to an earlier version anytime.

Pros & Cons

Pricing:

Free: $0/month

Awesome: $5/month

Organization: $8/month

Platform Compatibility:

There is only a web version of Coggle.

Target Audience:

• Students
• Small teams
• Individuals needing quick thought organization

Ratings:

4.5 on GetApp based on 42 reviews.

That’s it! These are the five best brainstorming software. Now, let's move forward and explore the tips to choose the right one.

Part 3. How to Choose the Right Brainstorming Tool

Choosing the right brainstorming tool can really help your team work better. Here are some tips you can follow to pick the right one:

1.    Define Your Purpose:

Decide if you need a tool for brainstorming, document management, or both.

2.    Assess Key Features:

Look for features like real-time teamwork, mind mapping, or editing documents. If you need both brainstorming and document management, choose a tool that covers both.

3.    Evaluate User Experience:

Pick tools with easy-to-use designs that don't need much training. Make sure there are options to adjust the tool to fit your team's needs.

4.    Compatibility and Flexibility:

Make sure the tool works on different devices and operating systems. Look for options that work offline or with the software your team already uses.

5.    Budget Considerations:

Compare prices to find something that fits your budget. Try free versions or trials to test the features before paying for the full version.

Conclusion

Effective brainstorming tools can really help teams think creatively and get things done faster. They make collaboration and idea-sharing easier. Take some time to explore different tools and find the one that works best for you.

If you're looking for a flexible, AI-powered tool, UPDF is a great choice. It offers useful features for both brainstorming and document management.

Try it and see how it can improve your team's creative process!