outl vs Workflowy
outl
outl.app
Workflowy
workflowy.comSide by side
| Figure | outl | Workflowy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $6.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 5 |
| Spec score · Outliner Software | 8.5 (#8) | 8.3 (#12) |
| Spec score · Outlining Software | 8.5 (#7) | 8.3 (#11) |
| Data handling | The maker says the CLI and iOS app have no telemetry and notes stay on the user's device; the website uses Google Analytics for aggregate traffic statistics. | The privacy policy says user-generated content remains the user's property and that content may be shared with LLM providers for certain AI features with explicit opt-in consent. |
| Support | Users are directed to Discord for questions and GitHub issues for bugs. | Workflowy directs users with questions to [email protected]. |
| Sync | Devices sync peer-to-peer with end-to-end encryption; the maker says no account or cloud is required. | Workflowy says it saves automatically and syncs across devices. |
Plans
Workflowy
- BasicFree
- Pro$6.99 a month
- Pro (annual billing)$6.99 a month
- Workflowy Teams$6.99 a month
- Pro (monthly billing)$8.99 a month
In their own words
outl
outl is a free, local-first outliner and bullet-point note app that stores plain Markdown files on disk. Its nested blocks, wiki-style links, backlinks, tags, and daily journal support structured note-taking. Stable block IDs and metadata are kept in sidecar files rather than the Markdown notes. Notes can be edited offline, and devices on the same Wi-Fi can sync directly without internet; device syncing uses peer-to-peer end-to-end encryption and does not require an account or cloud. Markdown code blocks can run Python, JavaScript, Lua, and Rust, with Lisp available behind a build flag. An MCP server lets compatible hosts including Claude, Cursor, Zed, and ChatGPT read and write local notes. Native desktop builds are listed for macOS, Linux, and Windows, alongside iOS TestFlight and Android APK beta builds. The product is pre-1.0, and the download page describes builds as public beta. The macOS desktop DMG is currently unsigned. An optional Docker deployment can run an always-on peer with a full replica of notes. Export formats include Markdown, JSON, and Hugo; navigation includes search, a fuzzy switcher, and a command palette.
Workflowy
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.