The Orgro Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Orgro in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Orgro
The Insider’s Guide
Org Mode file viewer and editor for iPhone, iPad and Android
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Orgro’s own pages.
Made by Aaron Madlon-Kay · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Orgro’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Orgro’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 18 of the 169 other note-taking apps we grade
Orgro opens Org Mode files from the Emacs ecosystem on a phone or tablet. It renders tables, LaTeX and syntax highlighting, and lets you toggle TODO states and checkboxes or edit the raw text. It does not sync: you open a file, read or change it, and close it. The code is open source.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Orgro, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It has no sync of its own and the maker tells you to keep backups.
- 1
Best for opening Org Mode files on a phone
Orgro opens Org Mode files from Emacs on an iPhone, iPad or Android phone, and lets you toggle TODOs and edit text.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $4.99 one-time, after a 7-day free trial.
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial of all features, then a one-time purchase unlocks the app.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and Android.
- 5
TODO and checkbox toggling
Change TODO keywords on headlines and tick list checkboxes, with progress cookies updating.
- 6
Plain-text editing
Edit the raw Org markup in the app; saving recreates the file from an in-memory copy, which can change non-semantic whitespace.
- 7
Agenda notifications
Notifications for Org Agenda items, plus capture of text and links through the share sheet or org-capture:// links.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 18 of 169
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
Orgro at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $4.99 one-time, after a 7-day free trial
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial of all features, then a one-time purchase unlocks the app.
- Runs on
- iOS, Android
- Made by
- Aaron Madlon-Kay
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for opening Org Mode files on a phone
Orgro opens Org Mode files from Emacs on an iPhone, iPad or Android phone, and lets you toggle TODOs and edit text. It has no sync of its own and the maker tells you to keep backups.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $4.99 once after a 7-day trial, under a year of the category's middle subscription and below its $12.99 one-time middle. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 7-day free trial of all features, then the one-time unlock. The pages don't say whether a card is needed, and there is no free plan. |
| Features | D | One narrow function: view and lightly edit Org files, toggle TODOs and checkboxes. It has no sync, and it only makes sense next to Emacs or other Org tools. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You point it at files in cloud storage, and need to know Org Mode. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | iPhone, iPad and Android only, opening files from iCloud Drive, Dropbox and Google Drive. No computer or web version. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Orgro is for
- Fits if you keep notes in Emacs Org Mode and want to read them on a phone
- Works for people who tick off TODOs and checkboxes while out
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't already use Org Mode files
- Not for you if you want sync: the app opens and closes files, with none of its own
- Too light for structured editing, since only checkboxes and TODO keywords are toggled
- Watch out: the FAQ says saving may change parts of a file you didn't edit, so keep backups
Good to know
Good for
- Emacs Org Mode users who want to read and lightly edit files on a phone
- People whose Org files already live in iCloud Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive
Worth knowing
- Orgro has no sync of its own; files are opened from a storage provider and closed again.
- Structured editing is limited to toggling checkboxes and TODO keywords; everything else is raw-text editing.
- The FAQ advises keeping backups, because saving may alter parts of a file you did not edit.
- Links between Org files need a storage location that grants directory permissions, which many third-party apps do not.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.99 one-time
To start
Orgro is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $4.99 one-time, after a 7-day free trial.
The pages don't say whether a card is needed, and there is no free plan.
Full unlock
$4.99
one-time, after a 7-day free trial
One-time, permanent unlock of all features, per the App Store listing. The price is the one shown on the Orgro site.
Trying it first
7-day free trial of all features, then a one-time purchase unlocks the app.
Read from orgro.org on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: iOS and Android
Org Mode file viewer and editor for iPhone, iPad and Android. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, notes, tasks.
One narrow function: view and lightly edit Org files, toggle TODOs and checkboxes.
- TODO and checkbox toggling
- Change TODO keywords on headlines and tick list checkboxes, with progress cookies updating.
- Plain-text editing
- Edit the raw Org markup in the app; saving recreates the file from an in-memory copy, which can change non-semantic whitespace.
- Agenda notifications
- Notifications for Org Agenda items, plus capture of text and links through the share sheet or org-capture:// links.
- Emacs-style viewing
- Narrowing, visibility cycling, reader mode, LaTeX rendering, tables and syntax highlighting for Org files.
- Org Crypt and Org Cite
- The App Store listing lists symmetric Org Crypt section decryption and encryption, and Org Cite bibliography support.
Where it runs
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Emacs Org Mode
- iCloud Drive
- Dropbox
- Google Drive
Orgro is made by Aaron Madlon-Kay.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
18/169
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Orgro's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 18 of the 169 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 14.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 72 of 169) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 170 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Orgro’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 72 of 169
- CFree plan and trialAbove 13 of 169
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 169
- CEase of useAbove 10 of 169
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 34 of 169
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
You could make the core of Orgro for yourself: notes and tasks. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $4.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it. Orgro is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Notes and tasks: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Orgro’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Orgzly Revived, beorg, Orgzly, Markor and Logseq
The 5 tools Orgro is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Orgzly Revived
Free
Org mode outliner for notes and to-do lists on Android.
- Orgzly Revived has a free plan. Orgro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Orgro lists an iOS app.
- 3.2GPA
beorg
Free plan · from $0.99
Plain-text task manager for iPhone and iPad using Org mode files.
- beorg has a free plan. Orgro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Orgro lists an Android app.
- Orgro is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Orgzly
Free
Free Android outliner for notes and to-do lists in Org files.
- Orgzly has a free plan. Orgro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Orgro lists an iOS app.
- 2.8GPA
Markor
Free
Offline Android text editor for Markdown notes and todo.txt.
- Markor has a free plan. Orgro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Orgro lists an iOS app.
- Markor also covers Markdown.
- 3.0GPA
Logseq
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files.
- Logseq has a free plan. Orgro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Logseq lists a web app.
- Only Logseq lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Orgro free?
No, Orgro is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial of all features, then a one-time purchase unlocks the app.
How much does Orgro cost?
Orgro lists one plan. Full unlock: $4.99 one-time, after a 7-day free trial.
What platforms does Orgro work on?
Orgro is available on iOS and Android.
Does Orgro have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Orgro is listed for iOS and Android.
Does Orgro have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Orgro is listed for iOS and Android.
Is Orgro open source?
Yes. Orgro is open source, according to its own site.
Does Orgro work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Orgro integrate with?
Orgro's listing names Emacs Org Mode, iCloud Drive, Dropbox and Google Drive.
Who makes Orgro?
Orgro is made by Aaron Madlon-Kay.
What are the alternatives to Orgro?
The closest alternatives to Orgro in our directory are Orgzly Revived, beorg, Orgzly, Markor and Logseq.
How does Orgro compare with other note-taking apps?
Orgro's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 18 of the 169 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 14.
Could I make my own version of Orgro?
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box. You could make the core of Orgro for yourself: notes and tasks.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Orgro’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Orgro's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Aaron Madlon-Kay. Prices change, so check orgro.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Orgro, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/orgro
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Orgro: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/orgro
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/orgro/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Orgro, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 170 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Orgro’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Orgro is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Aaron Madlon-Kay. Prices and plans change: check orgro.org before you buy.