outl vs Zavala

outl7.2Visit Zavala6.8Visit

Higher score outl #5 in Outliner Software 7.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit outl

vs

Zavala #8 in Outliner Software 6.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Zavala

• outl fits best

  Free private Markdown outliners

• Zavala fits best

  Apple users wanting a free outliner

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Side by side

Feature	outl 7.2/10 Visit ↗	Zavala 6.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.2	6.8
Ranking	#5 in Outliner Software	#8 in Outliner Software
Best for	Free private Markdown outliners	Apple users wanting a free outliner
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	macOS, iOS
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Integrations	3 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features outl 3/4 · Zavala 4/4
Offline access	✓	✓
Markdown support	✓	✓
Real-time collaboration	—	✓ (best)
Backlinks	✓	✓
Specs
App platforms	macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android	macOS, iOS, iPadOS
Export formats	Markdown, JSON, Hugo	PDF, HTML, Markdown, OPML
Navigation modes	Normal, Insert, Visual, collapse/fold, workspace search, fuzzy switcher, command palette	focus, expand/collapse, search, filtering
Our review
Pros	Free, MIT-licensed, and requires no account Encrypted peer-to-peer sync across desktop and mobile platforms Imports, exports, backlinks, and MCP connections for AI tools	Offline editing with iCloud sync across Apple devices Real-time collaboration through shared iCloud outlines Exports to PDF, HTML, Markdown, and OPML
Cons	Pre-1.0 software with several beta clients Windows desktop app is still in progress No collaboration features	Limited to macOS, iOS, and iPadOS iCloud features require iCloud Drive Apple Shortcuts and iCloud shape its ecosystem fit
Our verdict	outl is a local-first outliner for people who organize notes as nested, movable blocks and want Markdown files stored on their own devices. It supports offline editing across macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android, with a terminal… Read the review →	Zavala is an open-source outliner for macOS, iPhone, and iPad, built around hierarchical rows with nested structure. It suits people who want to organize notes, tasks, brainstorming, project plans, documentation, or structured writing in… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• outl — where it wins

  • Free, MIT-licensed, and requires no account
  • Encrypted peer-to-peer sync across desktop and mobile platforms
  • Imports, exports, backlinks, and MCP connections for AI tools

  Where it doesn't

  • Pre-1.0 software with several beta clients
  • Windows desktop app is still in progress
  • No collaboration features

• Zavala — where it wins

  • Offline editing with iCloud sync across Apple devices
  • Real-time collaboration through shared iCloud outlines
  • Exports to PDF, HTML, Markdown, and OPML

  Where it doesn't

  • Limited to macOS, iOS, and iPadOS
  • iCloud features require iCloud Drive
  • Apple Shortcuts and iCloud shape its ecosystem fit

• outl7.2/10 · Free plan

  A free, private Markdown outliner with encrypted sync, backlinks, and AI-tool connections.

  Visit outlFull verdict →
• Zavala6.8/10 · Free plan

  A capable offline outliner for Apple users who want syncing, collaboration, and rich exports.

  Visit ZavalaFull verdict →