Workflowy vs Zavala
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Workflowy
Outliner that keeps notes, to-dos and plans in one nested list
Where they differ
- Workflowy starts at $6.99 per month, billed annually (Pro). Zavala is free.
- Only Workflowy lists a web app.
- Only Workflowy lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Workflowy lists a browser extension.
- Zavala is open source, according to its own site.
- Workflowy also covers tasks and kanban boards.
- Zavala also covers web clipper.
At a glance
| Workflowy | Zavala | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $6.99 per month, billed annually (Pro) | Free |
| Free plan | Basic plan, free forever: listed with all features, limited to 100 nodes (bullets) per month and 100 MB of file uploads. Help pages say AI Nodes and AI Actions need Pro. | Free on Mac, iPhone and iPad, with no paid tier. The About page says the project is open source and will be free forever. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial of Pro. | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | FunRoutine Inc. | Vincode, Inc (Maurice Parker) |
| Price read from | workflowy.com | zavala.vincode.io |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Workflowy
- People who think in outlines and nested lists
- Keeping notes, to-dos and plans in one place
- University faculty and students, who can apply for free Pro
- Teams working from a shared outline
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
Worth knowing
Workflowy
- The free Basic plan allows 100 new nodes per month and 100 MB of file uploads; past the limit you are prompted to subscribe.
- Content is organized as one bullet outline, with no separate documents or folders.
- Workflowy describes its API as basic, supporting CRUD operations.
- AI Nodes and AI Actions need Pro, and the optional AI features send prompts and selected content to third-party model providers, named as OpenAI and Anthropic.
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.
Key features
Workflowy
- Infinitely nested outline
- Everything is a bullet that can be indented under another, so the same list works as notes, folders, to-dos and documents without separate files.
- Boards, tables and node types
- A bullet can be turned into a to-do, heading, paragraph, code block or quote, and a list can be laid out as a kanban-style Board or as a Table.
- Tags, dates, links and mirrors
- Tags, mentions and date tags filter the outline, links between bullets create backlinks, and mirrors show the same bullet in several places.
- Sharing and collaboration
- Notes and resources can be shared for real-time collaboration, with comments on bullets and an instant presentation view.
- Calendar and quick capture
- A Calendar and Timeline lay out dated items, while Quick Add, mobile sharing and Email to Workflowy capture ideas from outside the app.
- AI, API and integrations
- Optional AI features generate, edit and summarize content; AI Nodes and AI Actions need Pro. A basic API, Zapier and a Readwise sync connect Workflowy to other apps.
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.
Plans
Workflowy
BasicFree
Listed with all features, 100 nodes per month and 100 MB of file uploads. Help pages say AI Nodes and AI Actions need Pro.
Pro$6.99
per month, billed annually ($8.99 billed monthly)
Unlimited nodes and uploads. The help center also lists full sharing, Dropbox backups, priority support, AI Nodes and AI Actions as Pro.
Teams$6.99
per user / month, paid yearly
Unlimited nodes and file uploads for every member, one-on-one team setup and auto-backup to Dropbox.
Zavala
Zavala$0
The full app from the App Store for Mac, iPhone and iPad, including iCloud sync, sharing and encrypted outlines.
Ways to pay less
Workflowy
- Annual discount
About 22% lower price with annual billing
Pro is $6.99 per month when billed annually against $8.99 per month on monthly billing.
- Education
Free Pro for university faculty and students
Faculty and students at a college or university can apply with an academic email for free Pro for life. Students invited by a faculty member get Pro for the duration of their studies.
- Nonprofit
50% non-profit discount on Pro
The pricing FAQ lists a 50% non-profit discount on Pro subscriptions, arranged by emailing Workflowy.
Zavala
No public discounts listed.
