# Zavala

> Free open-source outliner for Mac, iPhone and iPad

Zavala is a free, open-source outliner for Mac, iPhone and iPad written by Maurice Parker. Outlines sync through iCloud with offline editing, can be shared with other Zavala users for realtime collaboration, and can be locked and encrypted. It also links outlines to one another with backlinks, organizes them with tags, and imports and exports OPML, Markdown and HTML.

- **Category:** Note-Taking Apps
- **Made by:** Vincode, Inc (Maurice Parker)
- **Website:** https://zavala.vincode.io
- **Runs on:** macOS, iOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

Zavala is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** 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:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zavala | $0 | The full app from the App Store for Mac, iPhone and iPad, including iCloud sync, sharing and encrypted outlines. |

Read from https://zavala.vincode.io/features/ on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Zavala before buying.

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

- 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.

## Works with

iCloud, Shortcuts

**Tags:** Open source, Notes, Linked notes, Works offline, Real-time collaboration, Web clipper, Keyboard-first

## Alternatives

- [Bike Outliner](https://toolgpa.com/tools/bike-outliner): Fast outliner and structured writing app for Mac. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bike-outliner-vs-zavala)
- [OmniOutliner](https://toolgpa.com/tools/omnioutliner): Outliner for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/omnioutliner-vs-zavala)
- [Workflowy](https://toolgpa.com/tools/workflowy): Outliner that keeps notes, to-dos and plans in one nested list. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/workflowy-vs-zavala)
- [Dynalist](https://toolgpa.com/tools/dynalist): Outlining app for nested lists, notes and tasks. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/dynalist-vs-zavala)
- [Cloud Outliner](https://toolgpa.com/tools/cloud-outliner): Outliner for iPhone, iPad and Mac with iCloud sync. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cloud-outliner-vs-zavala)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://zavala.vincode.io/
- https://zavala.vincode.io/features/
- https://zavala.vincode.io/about/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zavala/id1546457750
- https://github.com/vincode-io/Zavala

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/zavala
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).