Bike Outliner vs Cloud Outliner

Bike Outliner is a macOS app for thinking, writing, organizing lists, notes, and documents. Its outlines support headings, ordered lists, task lists, and other row types, while a rich text editor handles formatting. Full-screen, typewriter, and focus modes provide distraction-free writing. Navigation includes keyboard movement by focus heading, back and forward controls, breadcrumbs, inline buttons, and a navigation bar. Deep links remain valid when an outline file is moved or renamed. Bike uses an HTML-based .bike format and also supports .opml and .txt files, with Markdown support, printing, Quick Look previews, and Finder thumbnails. Scripts, Shortcuts, and AppleScript can control the app. Free mode never expires and covers reading, writing, and editing outlines; additional row types, rich text formatting, Shortcut Actions, and AppleScript require purchase.

Cloud Outliner organizes plans, projects, ideas, and tasks as structured outlines on macOS and iOS. Its editor supports drag-and-drop reordering, multi-selection, checkboxes, automatic numbering, notes, rich text, and collapse or expand controls. Search works by outline name or text, while filters show checked or unchecked items. A multi-tier document manager adds color markers, password protection, templates, and duplication. Outlines can sync between Mac and iOS through iCloud and can also sync with Evernote. Export and sharing options include PDF, OPML, plain text, printing, email, messenger, and several apps or social networks; macOS also supports HTML export. Light and Dark themes are available. iOS lists read-only mode, indentation gestures, portrait and landscape support, and wireless keyboard shortcuts. The Mac free version requires a separate iOS Pro purchase for iCloud sync. Listed minimums are macOS 12, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15.