CarbonFin Outliner vs Cloud Outliner
CarbonFin Outliner
carbonfin.comCloud Outliner
xwavesoft.comSide by side
| Figure | CarbonFin Outliner | Cloud Outliner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 8 |
| Spec score · Outlining Software | 9.2 (#2) | 9.0 (#3) |
| Import and export | Outliner supports importing OPML files and exporting outlines as plain text or OPML. | It imports and exports OPML and exports to PDF, HTML on macOS, plain text and other sharing destinations. |
| Integrations | OneDrive and Dropbox synchronization stores outlines as OPML files. | Cloud Outliner synchronizes through iCloud and Evernote. |
| Limit: formatting | A Macdrifter review reports no rich formatting, images, multiple columns or summary rows compared with OmniOutliner. | An iPad reviewer says the same text colors in light and dark modes make black or white text unavailable and can reduce readability. |
| Limit: printing | The app does not have native printing support; synced outlines can be printed through Outliner Online and a web browser. | Multiple Mac reviewers reported that printing did nothing or remained broken for months, sometimes requiring PDF workarounds. |
| Notes | Each outline item can contain notes, with options for note previews, hidden notes and compact fonts. | Individual outline items can contain notes. |
| Organization | Users can tag, archive and filter outlines, and optionally number outline items. | The product provides color tags, password protection, templates and document duplication. |
| Praise: synchronization | Independent reviewers praise dependable web, Dropbox and cross-device synchronization over many years. | Reviewers repeatedly praise automatic cross-device syncing, including per-item synchronization that handles offline edits. |
| Purpose | Outliner organizes thoughts, tasks, and projects in outlines. | Cloud Outliner creates interactive, customizable notes to organize plans, projects, and ideas. |
| Security | CarbonFin describes online syncing as secure; its version history says syncing was secured using HTTPS in version 2.1. | The privacy policy says data is transmitted over HTTPS and account passwords are stored as a hash. |
| Support | CarbonFin lists [email protected] for sales, support, or feedback. | Xwavesoft directs users to [email protected] and says replies usually arrive within 48 hours. |
Plans
Cloud Outliner
- Monthly ProPriced on request
- Yearly ProPriced on request
- Lifetime ProPriced on request
- Cloud Outliner for MacFree
- Cloud Outliner - Nested Lists (iPhone/iPad)Free
- Cloud Outliner – Nested Lists (Mac)Free
- Cloud Outliner 2 for iOS$4.99, paid once
- Upgrade to Pro for Mac$9.99, paid once
In their own words
CarbonFin Outliner
CarbonFin Outliner organizes thoughts, tasks, and projects in nested outlines. Tasks can contain subtasks, with progress indicators for parent tasks that have them. Its editor supports inline changes, cut, copy, paste, undo, redo, drag-and-drop reordering, search, and controls to collapse or expand items. Outlines can be tagged and filtered by tag, searched across the collection, archived, and optionally numbered. Each outline can include notes, with configurable checkboxes, note previews, and numbering. The iPhone and iPad app costs $4.99, paid once. Outliner Online is a free browser-based companion for syncing, editing, printing, importing, exporting, and sharing outlines. Outliner users can invite other Outliner users to view and edit shared outlines; published outlines can be viewed read-only by anyone with the URL. The app can sync outlines as OPML files with Dropbox or OneDrive, import OPML, and export plain text or OPML. Shared editing through Outliner Online is limited to iPhone or iPad app users. The app lacks native printing, though synced outlines can be printed through Outliner Online in a browser.
Cloud Outliner
Cloud Outliner is an outlining app for organizing plans, projects, and ideas as interactive notes. Its editor supports drag-and-drop reordering, multi-selection, checkboxes, automatic numbering, item notes, rich-text formatting, and highlighting. A multi-tier document manager adds color stickers, password protection, customizable templates, and document duplication. Search covers outline names and text; entries can be collapsed or expanded, filtered by checked status, and viewed in light or dark themes. The maker says outlines sync through iCloud and Evernote. Export options include PDF, OPML, HTML on macOS, and plain text, with sharing through email, instant messaging, and listed social or Apple services. It runs on iOS and macOS, with iOS read-only mode, indentation gestures, orientation support, and wireless keyboard shortcuts. Downloads are free with in-app purchases; Pro plans add cross-device sync and remove banners or ads.