Comparison

Cloud Outliner vs Zavala

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cloud Outliner

This app helps you structure your thoughts and tasks into clear, organized lists. It offers visual organization, synchronization across devices, and rich editing features for easy management of your ideas and plans. Share your organized content easily with others.

Highlights
  • Multi-level document management
  • Drag & drop reordering
  • Swipe to indent
  • Rich text formatting
  • iCloud synchronization
  • Export to PDF and OPML
  • Password protection
Features
Read full description

Cloud Outliner helps you turn ideas and tasks into clear, structured lists. Capture thoughts instantly, organize them visually, and keep everything synchronized across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad with iCloud. With rich editing, intuitive gestures, and easy sharing, staying organized has never been easier. Install Cloud Outliner and bring clarity to your work and life. Key Features Organize and Protect • Multi-level document manager • Color tags for quick highlights • Password protection • Custom templates • Duplicate documents Powerful Outline Editor • Drag & drop to reorder • Swipe to change indentation • Multi-select for bulk actions • Checkboxes and auto-numbering • Notes for list items • Rich text formatting and highlighting • Collapse or expand any level • Filters, undo/redo, copy/paste • Link and phone number detection • Read-only mode • Wireless keyboard support with shortcuts Sync and Share • Sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iCloud* • Mac version available • Export to PDF, OPML, plain text • Import OPML files • Print via AirPrint • Share by email or messenger Extra • Light and Dark mode • Clean, intuitive design • Portrait and landscape support * Sync with Mac requires Cloud Outliner Pro for macOS, sold separately.

About

Zavala

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.

Highlights
  • OPML Import & Export
  • Markdown Export
  • iCloud Syncing & Sharing
  • Nested Tags
  • Image Embedding
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Drag and Drop
Features
Read full description

Zavala is a modern take on a traditional outliner. It is a full featured app. It takes full advantage of your device by leveraging gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and multiple windows. Other features: * OPML import & export * Markdown import & export * HTML import & export * iCloud syncing * iCloud sharing with other iCloud users * Encrypted outlines and encrypted iCloud sync * Nested Tags for organizing Outlines * Support for embedding images * Print support * Drag and drop * Text formatting * Links * Completed items * Notes * Customizable fonts and sizes * Backlinks * Shortcuts support * Web clipper share extension * Typewriter scrolling * Automatic row numbering including Decimal and Legal numbering

Screenshots

Cloud Outliner4 screens
Zavala2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zavala at none against Cloud Outliner's 1. Zavala also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Cloud Outliner's advantage is ratings volume (756 vs 70) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Cloud Outliner sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Zavala asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Zavala holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cloud Outliner has 756 ratings behind it against 70, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Cloud Outliner's written reviews are positive against 88% of Zavala's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cloud Outliner ships an update every 6 months, Zavala every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Cloud Outliner versus Zavala: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCloud OutlinerZavala
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (756 ratings)4.8 (70 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews87.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings756 — better70
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoVincode, Inc

Customer experience

Cloud Outliner

All ratings751 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews421 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral9.0%
Negative10.9%

Zavala

All ratings69 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive87.7%
Neutral3.1%
Negative9.2%

User reviews

Cloud Outliner

From 756 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
  • 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices
  • 📝 Great for organizing thoughts and ideas
  • 🔍 Helpful for creating checklists and to-do lists
  • 💻 Works well on both mobile and desktop

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional syncing issues and data loss
  • 🔍 Limited search and filtering capabilities
  • 💻 Lack of split-screen support on iPad
  • 🔄 Frequent prompts to rate the app
  • 🎨 Limited customization options for text and formatting

Zavala

From 70 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and intuitive UI
  • 🚀 Fast and lightweight
  • 🌟 Excellent outliner functionality
  • 🆓 Free and open source
  • ✨ Elegant and clean design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Sync issues reported
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes
  • 🐛 Glitchy behavior
  • 🐛 Formatting issues
  • 🐛 Incompatible iCloud database

Bugs and requests

Cloud Outliner

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes and freezes on certain devices
  • Issues with restoring Pro purchases on new devices
  • Inconsistent syncing behavior between iOS and macOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for attaching files and images
  • Improve export options beyond OPML
  • Introduce a true dark mode with black text on dark background
  • Add keyboard shortcuts for common actions
  • Enhance the ability to move and reorganize outline items

Zavala

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Broken sync between iPhone and Mac
  • iCloud database incompatibility
  • Unable to format using toolbar
  • Lost outline after update
  • Sidebar not available
Show 4 more
  • Cannot open outlines from Document Provider
  • App crashes on M1
  • IME input ignored in body text (Japanese)
  • Abstürze beim Anlegen des ersten Dokuments (M1)

Requested features

15 requests
  • Continue releasing macOS builds for older versions
  • Legacy database option for iOS apps
  • Cross-platform support
  • Ability to change tag and outline list order manually
  • Support for hiding notes
Show 10 more
  • Typewriter scroll mode
  • Due dates on the right of the note
  • Font color change
  • Multi-select for dragging
  • Copy and paste lines
  • Option to use system fonts
  • Full screen document view with swipe gesture
  • Adjust line spacing
  • Improve drag and drop behavior on Mac
  • Sync via Nextcloud

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cloud Outliner

One-time1
  • Unlock Pro Features$2.99
None

Zavala

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cloud Outliner free?
Cloud Outliner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zavala free?
Zavala is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cloud Outliner or Zavala?
Zavala is rated higher. Cloud Outliner averages 4.5 out of 5 from 756 ratings, while Zavala averages 4.8 from 70 ratings.
Do Cloud Outliner or Zavala have ads?
Neither Cloud Outliner nor Zavala shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cloud Outliner or Zavala?
Cloud Outliner ships an update every 6 months, and Zavala every 2 weeks. Most recently, Cloud Outliner was updated on November 1, 2026 and Zavala on November 3, 2026.

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