Best Outliner Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Workflowy is ranked #1 of 31 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Dynalist and Logseq. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Dynalist. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Gingko Writer at $0.81/mo.
Outliner software helps you arrange notes, plans, and ideas in nested structures you can navigate. Compared on navigation modes, Markdown support, and backlinks, the entries offer ways to assess how each may fit your writing and reference habits. App platforms and offline access matter when choosing where you can work; export formats and real-time collaboration add further considerations. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing round out the comparison. Workflowy, Dynalist, and Logseq are among the options, alongside Checkvist and Legend. Consider whether you need outlines on particular devices, want to collaborate live, or expect to move your work into another tool.
31 outliner software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
31ranked
11free plans on this page
$0.81/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Outliner Software 25 channels on this page · 115 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromApp platformsExport formatsOffline accessMarkdown supportReal-time collaborationBacklinks Spec sheet Score
01 Workflowy Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsnot statedExport formatsnot statedOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 8.3
02 Dynalist Free planYesPaid from7.99/user/moApp platformsweb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidExport formatsHTML, plain text, OPMLOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationYesBacklinksYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.2
03 Logseq Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsnot statedExport formatsnot statedOffline accessYesMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.9
04 Checkvist Free planYesPaid from3.9/user/moApp platformsweb, chrome extension, api, mobile progressive web appExport formatsOPML, plain text, Markdown, rich textOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationYesBacklinksYes 8/8spec lines stated 7.8
05 Legend Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsweb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidExport formatsHTML, Plain Text, Markdown, OPML, JSONOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationYesBacklinksYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.8
06 Tana Free planYesPaid from30/user/moApp platformsnot statedExport formatsnot statedOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.8
07 Tine Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsLinux, macOS, Windows, AndroidExport formatsMarkdown, Org, Text, OPML, HTML, PDFOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.8
08 Indenta Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsweb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOSExport formatsMarkdown files in ZIP archiveOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.7
09 outl Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsmacOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, AndroidExport formatsMarkdown, JSON, HugoOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationNoBacklinksYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.5
10 Gingko Writer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedApp platformswebExport formatsJSONOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationNoBacklinksnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
11 Org mode Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxExport formatsASCII, Beamer, HTML, iCalendar, LaTeX, Markdown, ODT, Org, Texinfo, manOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.4
12 Zavala Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsmacOS, iOS, iPadOSExport formatsPDF, HTML, Markdown, OPMLOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationYesBacklinksYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.0
13 Roam Research Free planNoPaid fromnot statedApp platformsnot statedExport formatsnot statedOffline accessYesMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.9
14 Cloud Outliner Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsiOS, macOSExport formatsPDF, OPML, HTML, plain textOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.3
15 Kindling Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsmacOS, Windows, LinuxExport formatsScrivener 3, DOCX, EPUB, Markdown, Obsidian Longform, Treatment DOCXOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationNoBacklinksnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.3
16 Fractal Note Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedApp platformsmacOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome extensionExport formatsPDF, MarkdownOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.2
17 Leo Editor Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedApp platformswindows, macos, linuxExport formatsHTML, MORE, Markdown, Org mode, reStructuredText, Vim outlineOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.2
18 Oxinot Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedApp platformswindows, macos, linuxExport formatsnot statedOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksNo 4/8spec lines stated 6.2
19 TreeLine Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsWindows, LinuxExport formatsHTML, plain text, tab-indented text, CSV, tab-delimited text, TreeLine, XML, ODF, Mozilla HTML bookmarks, XBEL, PDFOffline accessYesMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.2
20 CrossLine Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedApp platformsWindows, Linux, macOSExport formatsHTML, CLDXOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksYes 3/8spec lines stated 6.1
21 Kosshi Outliner Free planNoPaid fromnot statedApp platformsmacOS, iOS (iPhone, iPad)Export formatsMarkdown, Rich Text, TextBundle, Plain Text, OPMLOffline accessYesMarkdown supportYesReal-time collaborationNoBacklinksYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.1
22 AI Outliner Free planNoPaid fromnot statedApp platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxExport formatsOPML, PowerPoint, Word, PDFOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
23 Dashword Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsmacOS, WindowsExport formatsnot statedOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationNoBacklinksNo 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
24 Cloud Outliner Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsiOS, macOSExport formatsPDF, OPML, HTML, plain textOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
25 Drummer Free planYesPaid fromnot statedApp platformsweb, macosExport formatsOPMLOffline accessnot statedMarkdown supportnot statedReal-time collaborationnot statedBacklinksnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | App platforms | Export formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Workflowy | 8.3 | Free plan | $6.99/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | Dynalist | 8.2 | Free plan | $9.99/mo | Yes | 7.99 /user/mo | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | HTML, plain text, OPML |
| 3 | Logseq | 7.9 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | Checkvist | 7.8 | Free plan | $3.90/mo | Yes | 3.9 /user/mo | web, chrome_extension, api, mobile progressive web app | OPML, plain text, Markdown, rich text |
| 5 | Legend | 7.8 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | — | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | HTML, Plain Text, Markdown, OPML, JSON |
| 6 | Tana | 7.8 | Free plan | $2,030/mo | Yes | 30 /user/mo | — | — |
| 7 | Tine | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux, macOS, Windows, Android | Markdown, Org, Text, OPML, HTML, PDF |
| 8 | Indenta | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Markdown files in ZIP archive |
| 9 | outl | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android | Markdown, JSON, Hugo |
| 10 | Gingko Writer | 7.4 | No | $0.81/mo | No | — | web | JSON |
| 11 | Org mode | 7.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | ASCII, Beamer, HTML, iCalendar, LaTeX, Markdown, ODT, Org, Texinfo, man |
| 12 | Zavala | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macOS, iOS, iPadOS | PDF, HTML, Markdown, OPML |
| 13 | Roam Research | 6.9 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 14 | Cloud Outliner | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | iOS, macOS | PDF, OPML, HTML, plain text |
| 15 | Kindling | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macOS, Windows, Linux | Scrivener 3, DOCX, EPUB, Markdown, Obsidian Longform, Treatment DOCX |
| 16 | Fractal Note | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | macOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome extension | PDF, Markdown |
| 17 | Leo Editor | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | windows, macos, linux | HTML, MORE, Markdown, Org mode, reStructuredText, Vim outline |
| 18 | Oxinot | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | windows, macos, linux | — |
| 19 | TreeLine | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, Linux | HTML, plain text, tab-indented text, CSV, tab-delimited text, TreeLine, XML, ODF, Mozilla HTML bookmarks, XBEL, PDF |
| 20 | CrossLine | 6.1 | No | — | — | — | Windows, Linux, macOS | HTML, CLDX |
| 21 | Kosshi Outliner | 6.1 | No | — | No | — | macOS, iOS (iPhone, iPad) | Markdown, Rich Text, TextBundle, Plain Text, OPML |
| 22 | AI Outliner | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | OPML, PowerPoint, Word, PDF |
| 23 | Dashword | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS, Windows | — |
| 24 | Cloud Outliner | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | iOS, macOS | PDF, OPML, HTML, plain text |
| 25 | Drummer | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | web, macos | OPML |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which outliner software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Workflowy is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 8.3. Dynalist is second and Logseq third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Gingko Writer has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.81/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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