# Outliner — user reviews > 319 indexed App Store user reviews of Outliner by CarbonFin, rated 4.80/5 from 88 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outliner/id284455726/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outliner/id284455726.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 80 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 2 ## What do users think of Outliner? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Fast, simple, and intuitive - 🔒 Reliable and stable - 👍 Excellent outlining functionality - 👍 Seamless sync across devices - 👍 Clean and uncluttered interface - 👍 Great for organizing tasks and projects **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional crashes and data loss issues - 🔒 Concerns about data security and privacy - 👎 Limited customization options (e.g., no color coding) - 👎 Clunky data entry and navigation in some cases **Commonly reported bugs** - Unexpected error: 500 when saving data - Pane that lists outlines won't go away or resize - Keyboard takes up too much screen space **Most requested features** - Add due dates and priority levels for tasks - Improve export and sharing options (e.g., PDF, Word) - Implement better organization and search capabilities - Introduce a desktop companion app for easier editing - Add support for voice notes and other multimedia ## Newest reviews (19 of 319) ### 3/5 — Unexpected Error: 500 *2025-11-28, version 3.19.1* I love, love, love this app, and have been using it for many years, but for the past year or so I’ve noticed that when I try to save the data in the app, it gives me an “unexpected error: 500” pop-up, and I can see that half of my text files are being left unsaved. This makes me nervous that my data is vulnerable to being lost forever, which explains the 3 star rating. Fix this, and I’ll set it back to five stars! :-) ### 2/5 — Big problem *2025-11-24, version 3.19.1* I’ve used the previous version on my ipad and have been very happy with it. The new version however has me reconsidering my fidelity to it. The pane that lists my outlines will not go away, shrink, or move out of the way, thereby eating up a third of the screen. The keyboard is now much bigger and now fills a third of the screen from the bottom. What’s left is a postage stamp sized space for the outline itself. This is unacceptable. Am I doing something wrong? ### 3/5 — Great App but Dated *2025-03-09, version 3.18.0* This was a leading app when it was launched a while back. It has been by go to app since it was launched. It has always been able to meet my requirements. However, over the years it has lagged as most other similar apps were updated. Features such auto grouping or auto categorisation, recurrence and reminder features is sadly missing. Although dated, It is nevertheless an excellent app. Thankfully this is not a subscription payment app. ### 5/5 — Solide comme le roc! *2024-10-04, version 3.17.0* App très fiable, sync instantanée mais manuelle, permettant d'éviter de petits désastres ou de conserver 2 versions. Un outliner classique très performant. Jamais eu de problème depuis ses débuts sur le store tout comme l'appli Alarmed. Merci d,en prolonger l'existence ### 5/5 — Love that it works on all devices (ipad, mac, iphone) *2024-09-26, version 3.17.0* Very good outliner that syncs and works well on all devices. Optimized for touch devices, but servicable on desktop. Keep up the good work! ### 5/5 — Best, easiest, outliner *2024-07-02, version 3.16.0* I've been using CarbonFin for more than 10 years now, and it is still my choice of outlining apps. To many other apps try to have amazing features (calendar integration, notifications, etc), but sometimes at the expense of the basics - i.e. good multilevel lists, with associated notes. You end up with a complicated and often expensive app, with more features than you use most of the time. CarbonFin does the job without the feature bloat and cost. It is quick to learn, and easy to use. It syncs across web and multiple devices. It is exactly what I need. I hope the developers continue to maintain this app, and I'd even be happy to pay for a small subscription fee or additional one-off fee for new versions in the feature. Thanks for your awesome work! ### 5/5 — Perfect for capturing a variety of information *2023-12-31, version 3.16.0* Simple interface but powerful. Produce nested topics, rearrange freely. Use as a simple todo list or capture complex workflow. Sync to a cloud service and access from a browser on any machine. This has been my go to outliner for many years. ### 5/5 — STILL, one of my most used daily apps *2023-12-30, version 3.16.0* I’ve used it daily for over a decade now. There’s simply no better app for nestling lists within lists within lists. Now, I wouldn’t say it absolutely needs an Apple Watch companion app but it sure would be awesome on the watch. ### 4/5 — Still great 😀, still no mac app ☹️ *2023-10-09, version 3.16.0* One of the best outliners I’ve ever used but these days I’m on the mac more than my phone or iPad. A Mac dedicated app would be needed to pick this back up again seriously. I use Obsidian for all my notes and Scrivener for long form writing - outlining and mindmaps are where things start for me. I’ve been using an online based app which just doesn’t sit right for me - had there been a desktop arm to this Id have probably paid for it a long time ago. ### 5/5 — still the best outliner for IOS *2023-09-10, version 3.15.0* Truly amazing. I’m using it for like 10 years for all kinds of lists and have absolutely zero complains about interface, functionality, sync or web version. ### 5/5 — Super Multi Use App *2023-08-23, version 3.15.0* I have used this app, and relied on it, for many years. I just count on it so much, it’s a part of life for me. It keeps my lists, checklists for when I have to travel, outlines for classes I teach, etc. Super features for me: Easy movement of whole outline blocks, simple to do and without the complicating logistics of other programs The ability to access outlines from ipad, iphone and the web. Easy export Just puts from my knothole. Thanks a ton for keeping this going. I wrote this review several years ago and my opinion hasn’t changed a bit!! ### 5/5 — Absolut top! Kenne keine Bessere! Perfekt durchdacht! *2023-06-07* Die App besticht durch Eleganz und absolut anwenderfreundliche Benutzerführung. Jede Funktion ist durchdacht – alles läuft fließend. Danke an die Entwickler, die diese App seit vielen Jahren immer wieder aktualisieren. Ich vermisse nichts! ### 5/5 — Love This Outliner App *2023-03-11, version 3.15.0* It’s so incredibly simple fast & easy to use. Elegant software at it’s finest! ### 5/5 — Best Outliner App *2023-01-26, version 3.15.0* Great for all kinds of outlining. Also great for Goal tracking and other aspects of linear time management. Excellent integration with Dropbox and seamless text exporting. It is not perfect, but it is a minimalist app which perfectly handles outlines. ### 5/5 — Amazing that it still works *2023-01-11, version 3.15.0* I continue to be amazed that this app is still working 14 years after I bought it for my phone AND it still syncs reliably across my iOS devices. Major kudos to the developer!! ### 5/5 — Perfect again! *2022-10-03, version 3.15.0* Let me start by saying I love this app. I’ve reviewed it with 5 stars before but I’ve recently ran into a problem. I use Dropbox to sync my OPML files and this has worked flawlessly for a long time. However, I had to create a new Dropbox account a few days ago due to a lock. This meant I had to re-connect apps that relied on the platform to Dropbox from scratch. Outliner was one of those apps. Unfortunately, a few hours after authorizing the app, Outliner threw a sync error asking me to re-authorize. I did so thinking it was a fluke. However, this kept happening every time I used Outliner thereafter, the app kept asking me to re-authorize. At first, I thought this was an issue with mine alone or my Dropbox having a problem. However, upon researching, I found that Dropbox have updated their API with short-lived access tokens that expire in 4 hours time. According to Dropbox team, the app itself needs to be update to make use of permanent tokens if one wishes to authorize access once and have syncing without interruption after. And so I’m asking the devs here. Please update the app to correctly sync with Dropbox once more. Since there aren’t many cloud storage services available to use for syncing, users are limited on their choices and the buggy behavior slows workflow a lot besides being plain annoying. Edit: just like that it’s back! Much thanks to the good folks at CarbonFin for fixing the Dropbox issue. Now it syncs perfectly like it did before. This app is indispensable! ### 5/5 — Excellent outline app *2022-08-01, version 3.14.0* I have used this app for a number of years and it stays on all my devices and is used constantly. If you're looking for an outline app this is a must for you! ### 5/5 — Used for years *2022-07-08, version 3.14.0* This app is incredibly useful. I’ve used almost daily it for many, many years. Not sure what if do without it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ### 5/5 — Super Multi Use App *2022-04-30, version 3.14.0* I have used this app, and relied on it, for many years. I just count on it so much, it’s a part of life for me. It keeps my lists, checklists for when I have to travel, outlines for classes I teach, etc. Super features for me: Easy movement of whole outline blocks, simple to do and without the complicating logistics of other programs The ability to access outlines from ipad, iphone and the web. Easy export Just puts from my knothole. Thanks a ton for keeping this going. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Latest version loses functionality *2025-10-19, version 3.19.0* The new drop down menu basically is confusing and not as easy as the bottom Page menu bar was. ### 1/5 — Unclear on the concept *2020-10-01, version 3.13.0* The app provides for the use of tags. I had intended to make an outline of a project and use tags to identify resources and people for each item. The developer just told me that tags can only be applied to a WHOLE outline, not individual entries. Makes the app useless for my purpose. Why tag a whole outline when you have a title. Support, when explaining this limitation asked. “Does that make sense?” Well...no. ### 1/5 — DISAPPOINTED *2019-01-09, version 3.10.2* I mainly create my outlines from my MacBook or iMac using OutlineEdit (which can export an OPML file. Since the description mentioned syncing with DropBox I was hoping I could save the exported OPML docs in my DropBox account and directly see and open those outline files from DropBox using the Outliner app. Tried with both my iPad and iPhone but no luck. ### 1/5 — 起動できず落ちる *2015-12-21, version 3.6.1* 非常に困っているので早急に改善されたし ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2015-04-08, version 3.6.0* The app shuts down and doesn't save anything. This app does not do what it says it would do. It's not fair that we have to pay for these apps before we have a chance to see that they don't work. There must be a way for us to get our money back. This app does not deserve one star. I worked on it all day and I can't get it to save anything. I set up several outlines and none of them saved. The app unexpectedly shuts down and when you turned it back on the outline is gone along with all the work it took to create it. Do not waste your money on this app. ### 1/5 — Not impressed *2014-04-05, version 3.4.4* Read great things about this online in reviews, but was disappointed by the export/import options. No export as plain text! I have to use a more expensive app like omni outliner on the iPad to do this!!! So why use Outliner then? I see no point. ### 1/5 — Buyer beware *2010-10-03, version 0* You'll pay for this twice if you want it on your iPhone and iPad. ### 1/5 — 使いやすいのに *2010-09-13, version 0* 日本語バグで台無しです ### 1/5 — No where near Natara's Bonzai *2010-02-24, version 0* I am sorry, the last review not withstanding, this app is a very skimpy attempt at an outliner. It is very difficult to use, and has very few options, especially compared to the Natara Bonzai app on my palm. The font is way too big, the controls clumsy, and the look bland. However my palm is dying and I was desperate for a replacement. I can appreciate there are some limitations with the iphone specs, but hopefully with time CarbonFin will use my ten bucks wisely and produce a Bonzai-worthy app. Anyone else out there working on an outliner? Any updates available? Curtisthehippo ### 1/5 — if I could export it into e.g. Word or Powepoint ... but it's dead end *2009-06-23, version 0* Hi, this app is only working on the iPhone. The "Standard" OPML is not supported by MS Office. If you, like me, work in an office and like to take your notes for a meeting while commuting, you would need to transfer it quickly into Word or Powerpoint or something similiar. This doesn't work. You can email OPML plain text pasted into the email or a kind of ASCII art which is of no use either. The website, you could sync with, doesn't has an interface to further work on the outline. So forget to use it in Meetings. If you copy the synced outline from the browser to you Office software you will get weird form elements. So there is actually no way to get into MS Office besides formatting it again. This is of course too time consuming and you'd rather use pen and paper. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Best outliner *2026-06-21, version 3.19.3* I’ve used this app for many years. Super easy, super flexible, and dead simple. Full print, export, import. Can’t say enough good about it. ### 5/5 — Absolut top! Kenne keine Bessere! Perfekt durchdacht! *2026-06-02, version 3.19.3* Die App besticht durch Eleganz und absolut anwenderfreundliche Benutzerführung. Jede Funktion ist durchdacht – alles läuft fließend. Ich nutze diese App seit vielen Jahren - die wurde immer besser. Ich habe Listen für meine Dienstreisen, für meine Privat Urlaube, für meine Weihnachtsgeschenke, Für Vokabeln lernen, für To-dos auf Reisen und und und ... Alles kann man super kategorisieren und auch vorab abhaken. Im Sommer auf Reisen zB. kann ich mit einem Klick alle Wintersachen deaktivieren. Danke an die Entwickler, die diese App seit vielen Jahren immer wieder aktualisieren. Ich vermisse nichts! ### 5/5 — Astonishingly Great *2026-05-10, version 3.19.3* This is software the way it should be. It does one job, it does it VERY well, VERY fast, and with perfect reliability. I have the OmniOutliner v5 but I use this instead on the iPhone. This is not trying to do a million other things, it just does outlining to perfection, so it’s faster, simpler, better. I appreciate the fact that this uses standards based files so swapping between OmniOutliner and this via DropBox works perfectly. I use it all day every day. My daily routines are in here, as are my weekly and monthly routines - check things off then reset for tomorrow / next week / next month. I also have a tonne of checklists in here - such as standard lists of things I might need when I visit various stores, things to do when visiting other cities, packing lists for travel, favourite stopping points on long trips, and on and on. I’ve been using it for more than 10 years and unlike so many packages it’s never lost its way, never made silly changes to try and bring in whole new classes of user, and so on. …and today I found out that there’s a free online companion that lets me access my CarbonFin account from the web. Awesome! If the developer wants to get a Patreon or something going I’d be very happy to donate to keep this great bit of software going. ### 5/5 — Parfait *2026-02-03, version 3.19.2* Parfait, simple et efficace. ### 5/5 — very good !! 너무 좋네요 *2025-12-13, version 3.19.2* It's so nice Please stay updated for a long time I think it would be nice if you could change the font I love it. Please take care of the app constantly. 👍👍👍❤️ 깔끔하다....😌 ### 5/5 — Excellente app de gestion de tâches *2025-10-18, version 3.19.0* Excellente app de gestion de tâches, très ergonomique. Un plus très utile est la synchronisation entre iPhone, iPad et interface Web ### 5/5 — Fast, simple, EASY *2025-10-13, version 3.18.0* I’ve been using this thing for Years. A no frills outliner that does everything you need. Unbelievably easy, fast, intuitive, STABLE. Don’t get wrapped up in options- use this and GET THINGS DONE. ### 5/5 — Excellent! *2025-06-26, version 3.18.0* Great outliner, lots of features, jet black dark mode, powerful etc. A very smart piece of software. Excellent! Devs: I just wish there were some way to have color tags and I also wish you could attach a jpeg into the notes section of a item. ### 5/5 — merci pour votre excellent travail *2025-03-11, version 3.18.0* App três fiable, sync instantanée mais manuelle, permettant d'éviter de petits désastres ou de conserver 2 versions. Jamais eu de problème depuis ses débuts sur le store . ### 5/5 — Excellent! *2025-01-28, version 3.18.0* Great outliner, lots of features, jet black dark mode, powerful etc. Excellent! Devs: I just wish there were some way to color tags. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*