Alternatives · Note-Taking
OmniOutliner alternatives
OmniOutliner compared with 8 alternatives: Bike Outliner, Workflowy, Dynalist, Zavala, Cloud Outliner and 3 more.
OmniOutliner is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials). All 8 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
8 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| OmniOutlinerThis tool | Free trial · from $24.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Bike Outliner | Free plan · from $29.99 one-time | Yes | macOS |
| Workflowy | Free plan · from $6.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Dynalist | Free plan · from $7.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Zavala | Free | Free | macOS, iOS |
| Cloud Outliner | Free plan · from $4.99 | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| NoteCase Pro | Free plan · from $5 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, Android |
| TreeSheets | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Understory | Free plan · from $24.99 one-time | Yes | macOS |
How each one differs from OmniOutliner
- Free plan · from $29.99 one-time
Bike Outliner
Fast outliner and structured writing app for Mac
- Bike Outliner starts at $29.99 one-time license, or $19.99 per year on the Mac App Store. OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials).
- Bike Outliner has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only OmniOutliner lists an iOS app.
- OmniOutliner also covers templates.
Suits: Mac users who want a fast, minimal outliner
- Free plan · from $6.99/mo
Workflowy
Outliner that keeps notes, to-dos and plans in one nested list
- Workflowy starts at $6.99 per month, billed annually (Pro). OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials).
- Workflowy has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Workflowy lists a web app.
- Only Workflowy lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Workflowy lists a browser extension.
Suits: People who think in outlines and nested lists
- Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Dynalist
Outlining app for nested lists, notes and tasks
- Dynalist starts at $7.99 per month, billed annually ($95.88 per year). OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials).
- Dynalist has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dynalist lists a web app.
- Only Dynalist lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Dynalist lists a browser extension.
Suits: People who think in outlines and nested bullet lists
- Free
Zavala
Free open-source outliner for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Zavala is free. OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials).
- Zavala has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Zavala is open source, according to its own site.
- OmniOutliner can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Zavala also covers linked notes and web clipper.
Suits: Apple users who want a plain outliner on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free plan · from $4.99
Cloud Outliner
Outliner for iPhone, iPad and Mac with iCloud sync
- Cloud Outliner starts at $4.99 in-app purchase on iPhone and iPad; $9.99 on Mac. OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials).
- Cloud Outliner has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- OmniOutliner can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Cloud Outliner also covers tasks.
Suits: Planning projects and lists as nested outlines on Apple devices
- Free plan · from $5 one-time
NoteCase Pro
Cross-platform outliner and note manager with Lua scripting
- NoteCase Pro starts at $5 one-time for Android; desktop licenses start at €7 one-time. OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials).
- NoteCase Pro has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NoteCase Pro lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only OmniOutliner lists an iOS app.
- NoteCase Pro also covers tasks.
Suits: People who want one outliner on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Free
TreeSheets
Open-source hierarchical spreadsheet for free-form notes and data
- TreeSheets is free. OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials).
- TreeSheets has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only TreeSheets lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only OmniOutliner lists an iOS app.
- TreeSheets is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Brainstorming and planning that outgrows a flat outline
- Free plan · from $24.99 one-time
Understory
Mac notes app for outlining and drafting essays, papers and books
- Understory starts at $24.99 one-time purchase. OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials).
- Understory has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only OmniOutliner lists an iOS app.
- Understory also covers Markdown, linked notes and long-form writing.
- OmniOutliner also covers templates.
Suits: Students and researchers turning reading notes into a paper
Limits worth knowing in OmniOutliner
- It runs on Apple platforms only: the site lists Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro, with no Windows, Android or web version.
- Version 6 requires macOS 15, iOS or iPadOS 26, or visionOS 26; older systems need a previous version from the downloads archive.
- Columns, saved filters, style customization, audio recording and automation need Pro, at $99.99 once or $49.99 a year.
- A perpetual license covers 6.x updates only; later major versions are a paid upgrade, offered at a discount.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to OmniOutliner?
The alternatives to OmniOutliner in this directory are Bike Outliner, Workflowy, Dynalist, Zavala, Cloud Outliner, NoteCase Pro, TreeSheets and Understory. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with OmniOutliner.
Is there a free alternative to OmniOutliner?
Yes. Zavala and TreeSheets are free to use. Bike Outliner, Workflowy, Dynalist, Cloud Outliner, NoteCase Pro and Understory have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which OmniOutliner alternatives work on Windows?
The OmniOutliner listing does not include a Windows app. Workflowy, Dynalist, NoteCase Pro and TreeSheets list one.
Which OmniOutliner alternatives work on Linux?
The OmniOutliner listing does not include a Linux app. Workflowy, Dynalist, NoteCase Pro and TreeSheets list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to OmniOutliner?
Zavala and TreeSheets are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 6, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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