Explore your thoughts.
Infinite perspectives.
Turn your notes, images, and PDFs into an interconnected map of ideas. Explore your thoughts through spatial webs, timelines, or geographic pins—then ask AI to connect the dots for you.
No account needed. Your maps stay on your device.One web of ideas. Three lenses.
Switch views with one click. Nothing is copied or re-entered, so a date or a place you add once shows up everywhere it fits.
Canvas
Drop in text, images and PDFs, then draw labelled links like “parent of” or “cheaper than” to build a real relationship graph.
Timeline
Give any note a date and see your ideas in order: case timelines, family history, day-by-day trip plans.
Map
Pin notes that have a place on a world map that works offline. Overlapping pins fan out so every one stays readable.
AI that reads the whole neighbourhood
Ask a question about a note and the AI reads that note and everything linked to it, including images and PDFs. It then shows which notes it used.
AI is optional and uses your own free Gemini key or your own Claude key. The app works fully without it.
Built for how people actually think
Note types
Person, Place, Event, Source and Question templates add the right fields, with a plain note whenever you want one.
Place search and Open in Maps
Pick a place from suggestions, then open it in your device’s maps app.
Labelled links
Name each connection yourself, or let AI suggest a label from the two notes.
Verified or disputed
Mark a source as verified, unverified or disputed to keep facts apart from rumour.
Yours to keep
Maps live on your device. Back up with Export, or Save to folder in Chrome or Edge.
Share the picture
Export the Canvas or Map view as a PNG or PDF to hand to someone else.
Free to use. Pay only if you want to.
No subscription. No trial. No locked features. No account to create.
Free
- Unlimited maps
- Canvas, Timeline and Map views
- All note types and AI with your own key
- Clean PNG and PDF export, no watermark
- Spreadsheet import with charts (.xlsx and .csv)
Buy me a coffee
- Unlocks nothing: everything above is already free
- Helps cover my time and the costs of keeping this going
- Entirely up to you, and fine to skip
Why it works this way: I'm tired of software that uses trials, subscriptions and "pro" tiers to lock people in. Charging for real ongoing costs is fair, and so is a one-time thank-you for a developer's time. Renkei has no servers to pay for (maps stay on your device, and AI uses your own key), so I'd rather let you use it freely and let you decide if it was worth a coffee. Your maps are always yours.
FAQ
Where is my data stored?
On your device, in your browser. There are no accounts and no cloud sync yet. Use Export, or Save to folder in Chrome or Edge, for backups. Putting that folder inside OneDrive or Dropbox gives you sync across devices.
Do I need AI to use it?
No. AI is optional. To use it you add your own Gemini or Claude key. Requests go from your device straight to Google or Anthropic under your own account.
What leaves my device?
AI questions go to the provider you chose. Place names you type into place search go to the Photon geocoder, which uses OpenStreetMap data. If you choose to buy me a coffee, your payment details and email are handled by Polar, our payment provider, at checkout.
Why is it free?
Because I believe useful software shouldn't lock people in with subscriptions, trial periods or "pro" features that add little. Renkei has no servers to pay for, so everything is free. If it helps you, you can buy me a coffee. That is optional and unlocks nothing.
Why no sign-up?
There is nothing to sign in to. Everything is free and your maps live on your device.
Can I get a coffee contribution refunded?
Yes. If you change your mind, you can ask for a refund within 30 days of contributing, with no reasons needed. You request it through Polar, our payment provider. See the refund policy below for the steps.
Policies
Privacy policy
Last updated 22 October 2026. Renkei is operated by Renkei in Malaysia. This policy explains what happens to your information when you use this website and the app. Questions: hello@example.com.
Your maps stay on your device
Your maps, notes, images, PDFs and spreadsheets are stored in your own browser or device. We have no accounts and no servers that hold your content, so we cannot see or recover it. If you clear your browser data, local maps can be erased, so use Export or Save to folder to keep backups.
AI features (optional, your own key)
The app works fully without AI. If you add your own Gemini or Claude key, the key is stored on your device. When you use an AI feature (asking a question, comparing nodes, building a map from pasted text, PDFs or images, or suggesting charts from a spreadsheet), the content needed for that request is sent from your device directly to Google or Anthropic under your own account. We do not receive it. How they handle it is governed by their own terms and privacy policies, so think before sending sensitive material.
Place search
When you type in a place field, or tap Pin places after the AI builder runs, the place names are sent to the Photon geocoder (which uses OpenStreetMap data). Like any web service, Photon can see your IP address. Nothing is sent unless you type a place or choose Pin places.
Buying me a coffee (optional)
Contributions are handled by Polar, who act as merchant of record. Polar collects your payment details and your email at checkout, and we can see your email and contribution details in our Polar account so we can support you and process refunds. We never see your card number. The app does not check whether you have contributed, and nothing in it depends on it. See Polar's privacy policy for how they handle your data.
This website
The site is hosted on Vercel, which provides basic traffic statistics such as pages viewed, referring site, country and device or browser type. We use them only to understand how many people visit and which pages are useful. We do not use cookies, and we do not use advertising or tracking tools. The site and the app keep small items in your browser storage (for example your maps, settings, and a note of whether you have used the app so the menu can say "Open app"); these are not used to identify or track you.
Voting on ideas
On the What's Next page, a vote is stored as a count against the idea. To stop repeated votes we keep a one-way scrambled version of your network address (it cannot be turned back into the address) for up to 180 days, and a note in your browser storage that you have voted. No name or email is collected.
What we do not do
We do not sell your data, show ads, or build profiles of you.
Age
Renkei is for people aged 13 and over. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.
Your rights
We handle personal data in line with Malaysia's Personal Data Protection Act 2010 where it applies. Because we hold very little about you (essentially the email of anyone who chose to contribute, via Polar), you can ask us at the address above to see, correct or delete it.
Changes
If this policy changes, we will update the date above.
Terms of use
Last updated 22 October 2026. By using the Renkei website or app you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use it.
Who can use it
You must be at least 13 years old. If you are under the age of adulthood where you live, please use it with a parent or guardian's agreement.
Free to use, optional support
Renkei is free to use, with no limit on the number of maps, no watermark on exports, and no subscription. You can choose to buy me a coffee. A contribution is voluntary, is not a purchase of any feature or service, and does not entitle you to support, particular features or any service level. We make no promise about future features. Existing maps can always be opened, edited and exported.
Contributions
Contributions are handled by Polar and can be refunded within 30 days as described in the refund policy. Please do not use stolen or unauthorised payment methods.
Your content and backups
Your content is yours. It is stored on your device, not with us, so you are responsible for keeping backups with Export or Save to folder. We cannot recover maps that are lost or erased from your device.
AI and third-party services
AI features use your own provider account and key. You are responsible for the provider's charges and terms. AI output can be wrong or incomplete, so check anything important before relying on it. The app also relies on services we do not control, including Polar (optional contributions), Google and Anthropic (AI), Photon and OpenStreetMap (place search) and Vercel (hosting). They may change or be unavailable, and we are not responsible for them.
Acceptable use
Use Renkei lawfully. Do not attempt to damage the service, interfere with other people's use of it, or copy it to offer a competing product.
No warranty and limit of liability
Renkei is provided "as is" and "as available". We try to keep it working, but we do not promise that it will be uninterrupted or error-free. To the extent the law allows, we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for lost data, and our total liability to you is limited to the amount you paid us (if anything) in the 12 months before the claim. Nothing in these terms removes rights you have under law that cannot be excluded.
Changes and ending use
We may update the app, the website or these terms. If terms change materially, we will update the date above, and continuing to use Renkei means you accept them. You can stop using it at any time. We may end access to anyone who seriously breaks these terms.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of Malaysia, and the courts of Malaysia have jurisdiction over any dispute, unless the law where you live gives you the right to bring a claim elsewhere.
Contact
Refund policy
Last updated 22 October 2026.
30-day refund
If you contribute and change your mind, you can ask for a full refund within 30 days, for any reason and without needing to explain.
How to request it
Refunds are handled through Polar, our payment provider. Use the link in your Polar receipt email, or Polar's customer portal, to request one. If you cannot reach Polar for any reason, email us at hello@example.com with the email you used and we will help.
What happens next
Your refund goes back to the original payment method. How long it takes to appear depends on your bank or card provider and can be several business days. Nothing in the app changes, because it is free either way.
After 30 days
Contributions are not refundable after 30 days, except where the law where you live requires otherwise.