Leo Editor vs Workflowy

Leo Editor is a free, open-source programmable editor, outliner, and knowledge base for arranging code, writing, and research in flexible outlines. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, through an API, and as self-hosted software. Cloned nodes allow one idea to appear in several outline locations while remaining synchronized. Navigation includes expanding and collapsing, hoisting, promoting, clones, and clickable links, with backlinks available for related sections. Users can automate workflows with Python scripts, commands, and plugins. Outlines export to HTML, MORE, Markdown, Org mode, reStructuredText, and Vim outline formats. Jupyter integration lets @jupytext nodes represent notebook cells and save changes back to .ipynb files. The leoBridge module exposes Leo content to Python host programs. A WebSocket server accepts JSON queries and changes, using password challenge-response authentication; TLS is optional. Leo requires Python 3.9 or later and is distributed under the MIT license.

Workflowy is a note-taking app built around one expandable document and list. Users can nest items, focus on a bullet by zooming into it, and search across the document in real time. A bullet can become a checkbox, heading, board or table. Tags, dates, backlinks, mirrors and templates help connect or reuse material. Workflowy says it saves automatically and synchronizes across devices. Its API can read and write Workflowy data for apps, scripts and automations. Users can also enable multi-factor authentication with an authenticator-app code and recovery codes. The free Basic plan includes 100 nodes per month and 100 MB of uploads; reaching the node limit brings up a subscription prompt, though users can continue adding nodes. Pro lists unlimited nodes and uploads at $6.99 per month billed annually or $8.99 per month billed monthly. The annual option lists a seven-day trial. Workflowy supports web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and lists a Chrome extension. Its integrations include Readwise, Kindle Highlights, Google Calendar, Zapier and Workflowy Desktop MCP.