The Zavala Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Zavala 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.
Zavala
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source outliner for Mac, iPhone and iPad
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Zavala’s own pages.
Made by Vincode, Inc (Maurice Parker) · checked Oct 9, 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 Zavala’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Zavala’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Zavala, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It does outlines and nothing else, with no free-form pages or attachments on record.
- 1
Best for a free outliner on Mac, iPhone and iPad
Zavala is a free, open-source outliner for Mac, iPhone and iPad, with iCloud sync and shared outlines.
- 2
It is free
Zavala has no paid plan at all. Free on Mac, iPhone and iPad, with no paid tier. The About page says the project is open source and will be free forever.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
Locked and encrypted outlines
Individual outlines can be locked and encrypted, and the App Store listing says iCloud sync is encrypted as well.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 107 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Zavala is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Zavala at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Vincode, Inc (Maurice Parker)
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free outliner on Mac, iPhone and iPad
Zavala is a free, open-source outliner for Mac, iPhone and iPad, with iCloud sync and shared outlines. It's Apple only, sharing works only with other Zavala users, and the current version needs iOS 26 or macOS 26, so older devices can't run it. It does outlines and nothing else, with no free-form pages or attachments on record.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It's free, where paid note apps here start at $2.99 a month and sit at $6 in the middle. Zavala is open source, there's no paid tier, and its About page says it will be free forever. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free on all three devices, with iCloud sync, sharing and encrypted outlines included. There's nothing held back for a paid plan, because there isn't one. |
| Features | C | It does outlines, all of them, and nothing else: links and backlinks between outlines, tags, full-text search, locked and encrypted outlines, live sharing, OPML, Markdown and HTML in and out, Shortcuts and a web clipper. That's a narrower job than a notes app, with no free-form pages and no attachments on record. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: get it from the App Store and start typing. The Mac app uses menus and keyboard shortcuts, and the iPhone one works by gestures. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Apple only: Mac, iPhone and iPad, tied together by iCloud and Shortcuts. The site lists no Windows, Android or web version, and sharing only works with other Zavala users. |
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 Zavala is for
- Fits if you plan and draft in nested lists on a Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Works for moving outlines in or out of another outliner by OPML
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows, Android or the web, as it's Apple devices only
- Not for you if your Mac or iPhone can't run version 26 of its system, which the app now needs
- Too light for free-form notebooks, because it's an outliner with no attachments on record
- Tight if you share outlines, since sharing runs through iCloud and only with other Zavala users
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Zavala is free to use.
Zavala is open source, there's no paid tier, and its About page says it will be free forever.
Zavala
$0
The full app from the App Store for Mac, iPhone and iPad, including iCloud sync, sharing and encrypted outlines.
The 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.
Read from zavala.vincode.io on Oct 9, 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: macOS and iOS
Free open-source outliner for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, real-time collaboration, keyboard-first, notes, linked notes, web clipper.
That's a narrower job than a notes app, with no free-form pages and no attachments on record.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- iCloud
- Shortcuts
Zavala is made by Vincode, Inc (Maurice Parker).
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
107/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Zavala's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Zavala has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Zavala’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Zavala is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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.
Keep it
Zavala is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade.
What you could make
- Notes, linked notes and web clipper: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- Hooks into the device itself: Shortcuts.
What this rests on. Zavala’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
Bike Outliner, OmniOutliner, Workflowy, Dynalist and Cloud Outliner
The 5 tools Zavala is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Bike Outliner
Free plan · from $29.99 one-time
Fast outliner and structured writing app for Mac.
- Only Zavala lists an iOS app.
- Zavala is open source, according to its own site.
- Bike Outliner can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
OmniOutliner
Free trial · from $24.99 one-time
Outliner for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro.
- Zavala has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Zavala is open source, according to its own site.
- OmniOutliner can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Workflowy
Free plan · from $6.99/mo
Outliner that keeps notes, to-dos and plans in one nested list.
- Only Workflowy lists a web app.
- Only Workflowy lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Workflowy lists a browser extension.
- 3.0GPA
Dynalist
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Outlining app for nested lists, notes and tasks.
- Only Dynalist lists a web app.
- Only Dynalist lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Dynalist lists a browser extension.
- 2.4GPA
Cloud Outliner
Free plan · from $4.99
Outliner for iPhone, iPad and Mac with iCloud sync.
- Zavala is open source, according to its own site.
- Zavala also covers linked notes and web clipper.
- Cloud Outliner also covers templates and tasks.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Zavala free?
Yes. Zavala is free to use.
How much does Zavala cost?
Zavala lists one plan. Zavala: $0.
What platforms does Zavala work on?
Zavala is available on macOS and iOS.
Does Zavala have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Zavala is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does Zavala have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Zavala is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is Zavala open source?
Yes. Zavala is open source, according to its own site.
Does Zavala 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 Zavala integrate with?
Zavala's listing names iCloud and Shortcuts. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Zavala?
Zavala is made by Vincode, Inc (Maurice Parker).
What are the alternatives to Zavala?
The closest alternatives to Zavala in our directory are Bike Outliner, OmniOutliner, Workflowy, Dynalist and Cloud Outliner.
How does Zavala compare with other note-taking apps?
Zavala's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Is Zavala good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Zavala A for value for money. Zavala has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Zavala?
Zavala is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Zavala’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Zavala's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-06.
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 Vincode, Inc (Maurice Parker). Prices change, so check zavala.vincode.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 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.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Zavala, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/zavala
- 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, "Zavala: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/zavala
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/zavala/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Zavala, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 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 Zavala’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. Zavala is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Vincode, Inc (Maurice Parker). Prices and plans change: check zavala.vincode.io before you buy.