Comparison

Zavala vs Strata for Micro.blog

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

Head to head
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

About

Strata for Micro.blog

Read full description

Micro.blog notes are a new way to save content in Micro.blog when you don't want to use a blog post or draft. Notes are private by default and end-to-end encrypted. Notes are great for: * Jotting down ideas or brainstorming future blog posts. Notes use Markdown, so it's easy to move the text into a blog post draft later. * Sharing content with a smaller group of friends or family, without that content being linked on your blog. When a note is shared, it is given a unique, random-looking URL on your blog that you can send to others. * Journaling within Micro.blog, so you can use the same platform whether you're writing something just for yourself or sharing it with the world in a blog post. Strata requires a Micro.blog account.

Screenshots

Zavala2 screens
Strata for Micro.blog1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Zavala at every 2 weeks against Strata for Micro.blog's every 6 weeks. Strata for Micro.blog's advantage is iOS requirement (15.5 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zavala ships an update every 2 weeks, Strata for Micro.blog every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Zavala versus Strata for Micro.blog: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZavalaStrata for Micro.blog
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (70 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings70 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVincode, IncMicro.blog, LLC

Bugs and requests

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

Strata for Micro.blog

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Zavala

No in-app purchases

None

Strata for Micro.blog

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zavala free?
Zavala is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Strata for Micro.blog free?
Strata for Micro.blog is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Zavala or Strata for Micro.blog have ads?
Neither Zavala nor Strata for Micro.blog shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zavala or Strata for Micro.blog?
Zavala ships an update every 2 weeks, and Strata for Micro.blog every 6 weeks. Most recently, Zavala was updated on November 3, 2026 and Strata for Micro.blog on October 31, 2026.

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