Cloud Outliner vs Dynalist
We give Cloud Outliner a 2.8 GPA and Dynalist a 3.4, out of 4.0. Dynalist grades higher on the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Cloud Outliner
Outliner for iPhone, iPad and Mac with iCloud sync
Dynalist
Outlining app for nested lists, notes and tasks
How we grade them
| 2.8GPACloud OutlinerGood | 3.4GPADynalistVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BPro is $4.99 on iPhone and iPad and $9.99 on Mac, bought separately, so $14.98 to sync the two. Small money next to the $5.99 a month this category typically starts at. But the listings show no billing period and don't say what Pro adds. | BPro is $7.99 a month billed annually ($95.88), or $9.99 monthly. That's toward the dearer end for notes apps here, but still in the usual range. It adds Google Calendar sync, recurring dates, file attachments, version history and daily backups. No refunds, the terms say. |
| Free plan and trial | BBoth apps are free to download, and ads came out of the free iOS version in 2.8.1. But the store listings don't spell out what free leaves out, so we can't say how far you'd get. Sync between a Mac and a phone needs Pro on each. | AFree gets unlimited items and documents, internal links, Markdown, dates, tags, checklists, sharing and export. The only number on it is 5 bookmarks. Most people could stay here for good. |
| Features | BIt only does outlines, but it does them fully: drag to reorder, indent, collapse, checkboxes, numbering, filters for checked items, templates, password protection, and export to PDF, OPML and plain text. The listing mentions no images or shared editing, though. | BNested bullets with notes, tags and colours, dates, checklists, backlinks, LaTeX, shared documents and public pages. Solid outlining. But attachments, recurring dates and version history are Pro, files stop at 50 MB each, and the last major feature in the changelog is from June 2020. |
| Ease of use | B4.52 from about 750 App Store ratings, just under our line for an A. A swipe changes a row's indent on the phone, and the Mac app has shortcuts you can change. | BIt's a bullet list, so you already know how it works. Finish the onboarding tutorial and you unlock a 14-day Pro trial as well. There's no App Store rating on record to go by, so a B is as high as we go. |
| Platforms and integrations | CiPhone, iPad and Mac, and that's all. No Windows, Android or web version. Sync runs through iCloud. The vendor's site still lists Evernote sync, which the current App Store pages don't mention. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension. It syncs with Google Calendar, backs up to Dropbox and Google Drive, and there's an API if you like wiring things together. |
| Best for | simple nested outlines on Apple devices | a free outliner with no cap on your lists |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Cloud Outliner and Dynalist. How we grade
Where they differ
- Cloud Outliner starts at $4.99 in-app purchase on iPhone and iPad; $9.99 on Mac. Dynalist starts at $7.99 per month, billed annually ($95.88 per year).
- Only Dynalist lists a web app.
- Only Dynalist lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Dynalist lists a browser extension.
- Cloud Outliner also covers templates.
- Dynalist also covers Markdown, linked notes and web clipper.
At a glance
| Cloud Outliner | Dynalist | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $4.99 in-app purchase on iPhone and iPad; $9.99 on Mac | $7.99 per month, billed annually ($95.88 per year) |
| Free plan | Both apps are free to download, with a Pro upgrade sold in-app. The store listings do not say what the free version leaves out; ads were removed from the free iOS version in 2.8.1. | Unlimited items and documents, internal links, Markdown, dates, tags, checklists, sharing and collaboration, export and import, and 5 bookmarks. |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day Pro trial, unlocked by completing the onboarding tutorial |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Xwavesoft | Dynalist |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | dynalist.io |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Cloud Outliner
- Planning projects and lists as nested outlines on Apple devices
- Checklists that are filtered by checked and unchecked items
- Setapp members, since the Mac app is in the catalog
Dynalist
- People who think in outlines and nested bullet lists
- Mixing notes with dated tasks in the same list
- A free outliner with no cap on items or documents
Worth knowing
Cloud Outliner
- Apple only: there are apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac, and no Windows, Android or web version.
- The iOS and Mac apps are separate downloads with separate Pro upgrades ($4.99 and $9.99), and each listing says sync with the other platform needs Pro there.
- The App Store listings show the upgrade prices without a billing period and do not list what the free version lacks.
- The vendor's product page still describes Cloud Outliner 2 with Evernote sync, which the current App Store feature lists do not mention.
Dynalist
- The free plan allows 5 bookmarks and leaves out file attachments, version history, recurring dates and Google Calendar sync.
- The changelog's most recent major feature entry is dated June 2020, and the site footer carries a 2021 copyright.
- File attachments need Pro and are limited to 50 MB per file.
- The terms of service say a paid account can be cancelled at any time but is not refunded.
Key features
Cloud Outliner
- Rich-text outline editor
- Rows can be dragged to reorder, indented, multi-selected, collapsed and expanded, with optional checkboxes, automatic numbering and a note attached to any row.
- Text styling and filters
- Text size, color and style can be changed to highlight important rows, and filters show only the checked or only the unchecked items.
- Document manager with protection
- Outlines live in a multi-level document manager with color tags, password protection, custom templates and a duplicate command.
- Sync across Apple devices
- Outlines sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac through iCloud, and the vendor's site also lists sync with Evernote. Each store listing says sync with the other platform needs Pro there.
- Export and sharing
- Outlines export to PDF, OPML and plain text, plus HTML on the Mac, and OPML files can be imported. They can also be printed or sent by email or messenger.
- Gestures and keyboard shortcuts
- On iPhone and iPad a swipe changes a row's indentation and wireless keyboards get shortcuts. The Mac app has customizable shortcuts, autosave and a full-screen mode.
Dynalist
- Outlines with notes, tags and colors
- Content is arranged as nested bullets that can carry a note, tags and a color label, and lists can be sorted, numbered and edited several items at a time.
- Dates and checklists
- Any list can become a checklist, and items can be given dates and filtered by them. Recurring dates and Google Calendar sync are Pro features.
- Cross-linking and backlinks
- Items and documents can link to one another, and an option shows the number of links pointing at an item along with its references.
- Markdown formatting
- Supports bold, italics, code, images, links and LaTeX, typed as Markdown inside any item.
- Sharing and public lists
- Documents are shared with collaborators under adjustable permissions, or published so visitors can read them without signing up.
- Export, version history and backup
- Exports to OPML, plain text or formatted text on every plan. Version history and daily backups to Dropbox or Google Drive need Pro.
Plans
Cloud Outliner
Free download$0
The iPhone, iPad and Mac apps without the Pro upgrade. The store listings do not spell out the free version's limits.
Unlock Pro Features (iOS)$4.99
in-app purchase; billing period not shown
The Pro upgrade for the iPhone and iPad app on the US App Store. The listing says sync with a Mac requires Cloud Outliner Pro for macOS, sold separately.
Upgrade to Pro (Mac)$9.99
in-app purchase; billing period not shown
The Pro upgrade for the Mac app on the US Mac App Store. The listing says sync with iOS devices requires Cloud Outliner Pro for iOS, sold separately.
Setapp$14.99
per month, through a Setapp membership
The Mac app as part of the Setapp catalog. Setapp's listing prices membership from $14.99 a month, free for 7 days.
Dynalist
Free$0
Unlimited items and documents, internal linking, Markdown, dates, tags, checklists, sharing, export and import, with 5 bookmarks.
Pro$7.99
per month, billed annually ($95.88); $9.99 billed monthly
Adds Google Calendar integration, capture to inbox, recurring dates, unlimited bookmarks, file attachments, version history and daily backups.
Ways to pay less
Cloud Outliner
No public discounts listed.
Dynalist
- Annual discount
20% off with annual billing
Pro costs $95.88 a year on annual billing, which works out to $7.99 a month against $9.99 billed monthly. The pricing page labels this 20% off.
- Education
50% off Pro for students
Students can request a 50% discount on Dynalist Pro by emailing from a school address. The discount has to be renewed every year.
- Other savings
Referral credit toward Pro
Each friend who signs up through an invite link earns $5 of Dynalist Pro credit, which can cover up to half of each payment.
