Zavala

Zavala

Modern Outlining

70 ratings
65 reviews
Free

Details

Released
June 11, 2021
Updated
October 24, 2026

Features

Zavala screenshot #1 for iPhone
Zavala screenshot #2 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
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About

This app offers a modern approach to outlining, providing a full suite of features. It supports gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and multiple windows for efficient organization and content creation. Easily import and export in various formats, sync across devices, and customize your outlining experience.

✓OPML Import & Export
✓Markdown Export
✓iCloud Syncing & Sharing
✓Nested Tags
✓Image Embedding
✓Keyboard Shortcuts
✓Drag and Drop
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What users say about Zavala

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What's New in Zavala

4.5.1

October 24, 2026

* Undo After Delete at the start of a row with children no longer duplicates the row. * Joining rows with a note in the lower row no longer drops the lower row's note. * Fixed an issue where undoing a Cut or Delete that had collapsed rows wouldn't restore them correctly. * We now only undo complete/uncomplete on the changed rows, not all selected rows when performing those functions. * Undoing an indent, cut, or delete now puts the parent row's completion back to what it was. * Hitting return on a child row that was emptied by deleting it, now correctly moves the cursor to the left. * We now move the cursor to the closest visible parent when collapsing all the rows and the cursor was on a collapsing row. * A redo of Duplicate Rows will now put back the rows in the correct location. * Text you type right before Return or Tab is now its own undo step. * Made the hieght and corner radius of the Tag Input Pill more consistent. * Made the navigation bar look and work consistently on the iPhone. * Brightened the control label colors on the iPad in Dark Mode to make them more legible.

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User reviews

Awesome outliner

Everyone should have a good outliner. I’d been looking for a while, but hadn’t quite found the right option. This one is excellent.

I really enjoy this outliner

I really enjoy this app. A lot of care has gone into it, and it shows. Thank you!

Broken sync

The software itself is really great. Unfortunately, the app on my iPhone is at version 4.2.2 (169) whilst my Intel Mac is running MacOS Seqoia (15.7.1) and can only run Zavala version 3.3.10 (150). This throws an error that the iCloud database is incompatible. There are various installed software issues that mean I can’t readily upgrade this MacOS version right now without breaking a bunch of stuff.

It would be insanely great if you could continue releasing MacOS builds for older MacOS versions. Or, failing that, some sort of “legacy database version” option for the iOS apps to allow sync to continue to operate.
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simple yet FEATURE PACKED

this is the text app everyone needed from the start and only needed.
simple lightweight fast intuitive. everything you could want that nearly all the other apps out there overthought
THIS IS ALL ANYONE NEEDS for jotting down sortable thoughts❤️ 0 % BS🐮💚

Simply the best outlining app out there

Checks every box for me, 10-fold, on steroids. I know it may sound over-the-top to describe an outlining app this way, but in addition to the ADD mitigation features of the design of the app… the app is free forever. Even if the dev charged, it would be a one-time fee vs subscription model. Kudos and bravo to Mr. Parker for this labor of love. I’m so grateful I discovered this.
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Response from developer

I’m glad that you are enjoying Zavala. I never plan on switching to a commercial model for Zavala. It is and always will be free.

Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

9 issues

Broken sync between iPhone and Mac

Bug

iCloud database incompatibility

Bug

Unable to format using toolbar

Bug

Lost outline after update

Bug

Sidebar not available

Bug

Cannot open outlines from Document Provider

Bug

App crashes on M1

Bug

IME input ignored in body text (Japanese)

Bug

Abstürze beim Anlegen des ersten Dokuments (M1)

Bug
✨

Requested Features

15 requests

Continue releasing macOS builds for older versions

Feature

Legacy database option for iOS apps

Feature

Cross-platform support

Feature

Ability to change tag and outline list order manually

Feature

Support for hiding notes

Feature

Typewriter scroll mode

Feature

Due dates on the right of the note

Feature

Font color change

Feature

Multi-select for dragging

Feature

Copy and paste lines

Feature

Option to use system fonts

Feature

Full screen document view with swipe gesture

Feature

Adjust line spacing

Feature

Improve drag and drop behavior on Mac

Feature

Sync via Nextcloud

Feature

FAQ

What does Zavala do?

Zavala is a modern outlining application designed to help users organize their thoughts and information. It offers a comprehensive set of features for creating, managing, and exporting outlines efficiently.

What are the key features of Zavala?

Key features include OPML and Markdown import/export, iCloud syncing and sharing, nested tags for organization, support for embedding images, drag and drop functionality, and customizable text formatting.

Is Zavala free to use?

Yes, Zavala is a free application. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements, allowing users full access to its features without cost.

How can I organize my outlines in Zavala?

You can organize your outlines using nested tags, which allows for hierarchical categorization of your content. The app also supports features like backlinks and completed items to further structure your work.

What file formats can I import or export with Zavala?

Zavala supports importing and exporting outlines in OPML format, a standard for outlining applications. It also allows for exporting content in Markdown format, making it easy to integrate with other writing tools.