OmniOutliner vs Zavala

OmniOutliner

• Writers, students and planners who organize their thinking as outlines
• People who work across a Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro
• Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription

Zavala

• Apple users who want a plain outliner on Mac, iPhone and iPad
• Planning and drafting in nested lists from the keyboard
• Working on an outline together with other iCloud users

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.

Zavala

• Apple platforms only: the site describes it as an outliner for macOS and iOS, with no Windows, Android or web version.
• The current App Store version requires iOS 26.0, iPadOS 26.0 or macOS 26.0 or later.
• Sync and sharing run through iCloud, and collaboration is limited to other Zavala users.

OmniOutliner

Outlines of unlimited depth

Rows nest to any level, expand and collapse, and reorder by drag and drop. Optional status checkboxes turn an outline into a checklist.

Row notes and attachments

Each row can carry a note of any length, resizable inline images and attached reference files. Pro can also record audio into a document.

Columns and saved filters

Pro documents can hold several columns for pop-up lists, checkboxes, numbers, dates or durations, and filters saved on text, checkbox status or column value.

Templates, themes and styles

Built-in templates and themes adapt to Dark Mode automatically. Pro adds structural and named styles and row numbering for control over appearance.

Import and export

Imports OPML, plain text and RTF, and exports CSV, HTML, OPML, plain text, RTF, Word and PowerPoint, plus Excel with Pro. An OPML mode edits OPML files directly.

Omni Automation and AppleScript

Pro runs cross-platform Omni Automation plug-ins, which can use Apple Intelligence on supported devices, and supports AppleScript on the Mac.

Zavala

Native outliner on three devices

The Mac app has menus, keyboard shortcuts and customizable toolbars, the iPhone app uses gestures and context menus, and the iPad app supports multiple and side-by-side windows.

iCloud sync and realtime sharing

Outlines sync through iCloud and can be edited offline. An outline shared through iCloud can be worked on in real time with one or more other Zavala users.

Locked and encrypted outlines

Individual outlines can be locked and encrypted, and the App Store listing says iCloud sync is encrypted as well.

Links and backlinks

A link dialog connects one outline to another, backlinks show which outlines point at the current one, and pasted URLs turn into clickable links.

Tags, search and Open Quickly

Outlines take tags that become searches in the sidebar. A full-text search finds outlines, and Open Quickly opens one from part of its name.

Import, export and Shortcuts

OPML, Markdown and HTML files can be imported and exported, a web clipper share extension brings in web pages, and Shortcuts actions allow custom automation.

OmniOutliner

• v6 Essentials License$24.99

  one-time purchase, includes all 6.x updates

  Core outlining on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro: unlimited levels, checkboxes, row notes, attachments, themes, keyword filtering and Omni Links.

• Annual Subscription$49.99

  per year, renewing automatically

  The latest Pro version on all four Apple platforms, with no charge for major version upgrades while subscribed.

• v6 Pro License$99.99

  one-time purchase, includes all 6.x updates

  Adds columns, saved filters, style customization, audio recording, the section list, batch find and Omni Automation plug-ins.

Zavala

• Zavala$0

  The full app from the App Store for Mac, iPhone and iPad, including iCloud sync, sharing and encrypted outlines.

OmniOutliner

• Education

  Education licenses at $14.99 and $59.99

  Students, faculty and staff of accredited, degree-granting institutions can buy OmniOutliner 6 Essentials for $14.99 or Pro for $59.99 in Omni's education store. Subscriptions are excluded.

• Other savings

  Quantity discount of up to 30%

  Each perpetual license beyond the first in the same order takes a further 5% off the whole order, up to 30%. Subscriptions do not qualify.

• Other savings

  Upgrade discounts for existing owners

  Owners of versions 1 to 5 can upgrade to version 6 at about half price: the US App Store lists the upgrade at $12.49 for Essentials and $49.99 for Pro.

Zavala

No public discounts listed.