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Bike Outliner

Fast outliner and structured writing app for Mac

Free plan · from $29.99 one-timeNote-TakingChecked Oct 6, 2026
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What is Bike Outliner?

Bike Outliner is a Mac app for thinking and writing in outlines, made by Hog Bay Software, a one-person company. It is built to stay fast with very large outlines and saves each document as an ordinary file in an open format: its own HTML-based .bike format, OPML or plain text. A free mode with the core editing features never expires, and a license unlocks rich text, row types, focus and typewriter modes, and scripting.

Bike Outliner has a free plan. Paid plans start at $29.99 one-time license, or $19.99 per year on the Mac App Store. See every plan

Good for

  • Mac users who want a fast, minimal outliner
  • Writers who draft in outline form with focus and typewriter modes
  • People who want outlines kept as open HTML, OPML or text files

Worth knowing

  • It is a Mac app only; the site lists no iPhone, iPad, Windows or web version.
  • Rich text, row types, focus and typewriter modes, Shortcuts actions and AppleScript are locked in free mode.
  • The one-time license covers one year of updates; later updates need a renewal, offered at half price.
  • Copies from the Mac App Store or Setapp are unlocked by subscription only, not by the one-time license.

Key features

Outlining built for speed
Designed to handle very large outlines and to stay quick at basics such as opening files, scrolling and resizing windows.
Rich text and row types
Format text as bold, italic or links, and mark rows as headings, ordered lists, task lists and more. Both are unlocked by a license.
Distraction-free writing modes
Full screen, typewriter and focus modes, with live word counts and other text statistics in the status bar. Focus and typewriter modes need a license.
Open file formats
The native .bike format is HTML that can be viewed in a web browser, and Bike also reads and writes OPML and plain text files directly.
Links and navigation
Deep links into an outline keep working when the file is renamed or moved, and a navigation bar offers back and forward controls and a breadcrumb trail.
Scripts and Shortcuts
AppleScript and Shortcuts actions let other applications control Bike and fit it into existing workflows. Both need a license.

Bike Outliner pricing

Starts at
$29.99 one-time license, or $19.99 per year on the Mac App Store
Free plan
Free mode never expires and can read, write and edit outlines. Rich text, row types, focus and typewriter modes, text wrap, sorting, Shortcuts actions and AppleScript need a license.
Free trial
None listed
Free mode$0Core outlining with no time limit: read, write and edit outlines saved as .bike, OPML or plain text files.
Bike License – Monthly$2.99per month, Mac App Store subscriptionUnlocks all features in the Mac App Store copy for as long as the subscription is active.
Bike License – Yearly$19.99per year, Mac App Store subscriptionThe same Mac App Store subscription billed once a year.
One-Time Purchase License$29.99one-time, includes one year of updatesSold on the Hog Bay Software site. Unlocks all features; updates released within the year keep working unlocked afterwards.

Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Bike Outliner before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • Other savingsLicense renewal at 50% off

    After the first year, a one-time license can be renewed for another year of updates at half price; the renewal is listed at $14.99 in the vendor's checkout.

    Stated on hogbaysoftware.com
  • Annual discountYearly subscription costs about 44% less

    On the Mac App Store the yearly Bike License is $19.99 against $2.99 a month, which works out to about 44% less over twelve months.

    Stated on apps.apple.com

Works with

Bike Outliner alternatives

All Bike Outliner alternatives comparedAll note-taking apps

Common questions

Is Bike Outliner free?

Bike Outliner has a free plan. Free mode never expires and can read, write and edit outlines. Rich text, row types, focus and typewriter modes, text wrap, sorting, Shortcuts actions and AppleScript need a license. Paid plans start at $29.99 one-time license, or $19.99 per year on the Mac App Store.

How much does Bike Outliner cost?

Bike Outliner lists 4 plans. Free mode: $0. Bike License – Monthly: $2.99 per month, Mac App Store subscription. Bike License – Yearly: $19.99 per year, Mac App Store subscription. One-Time Purchase License: $29.99 one-time, includes one year of updates. Prices were read from apps.apple.com on Oct 6, 2026.

What platforms does Bike Outliner work on?

Bike Outliner is available on macOS.

Does Bike Outliner offer any discounts?

Bike Outliner publicly lists the following: License renewal at 50% off; Yearly subscription costs about 44% less.

Does Bike Outliner have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Bike Outliner is listed for macOS.

Does Bike Outliner have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Bike Outliner is listed for macOS.

Is Bike Outliner open source?

Bike Outliner is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.

What does Bike Outliner integrate with?

Bike Outliner's listing names Apple Shortcuts and AppleScript. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes Bike Outliner?

Bike Outliner is made by Hog Bay Software. It dates from 2004.

What are the alternatives to Bike Outliner?

The closest alternatives to Bike Outliner in our directory are OmniOutliner, Workflowy, Dynalist, Zavala and Logseq. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Bike Outliner.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.