Plain Org vs Orc Mode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Plain Org
Manage your org mode tasks and notes on the go. This app offers a rich editing experience with support for various markup features, filtering, and cloud syncing. It allows for outline-style editing, task management, and customization of display modes.
- Rendered org markup
- Filter by keyword, tag, priority
- Cloud file syncing
- Outline-style editing
- Interactive checkboxes
- Light/dark mode
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View and edit your org mode tasks while on the go. Org is a wonderfully rich markup language, so **please check** if your favorite feature is supported below (or check https://plainorg.com/#faq): - Beautifully rendered org markup. - Filter by keyword, tag, and priority. - High fidelity org roundtripping. - Sync your org files using your favorite cloud provider. - Control your display between regular and compact mode. - Toggle visibility for scheduling, tags, and stars. - Toggle recurring tasks. - Log state transitions. - Optimize wrapping using paragraph fill. - Regroup your tasks so active ones bubble up. - Create new files. - Outline-style editing with toolbar - Keywords - Indent - Priority - Tags - Formatting: bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, verbatim, and code. - Open files via the iOS Files app using its "Share" menu. - Add links from Safari via share extension. - Add new tasks via Spotlight. - Reorder headings via drag/drop. - Checkboxes - Interactive toggling. - Quickly reset multiple checkboxes. - Open local links (including id links). - Render latex src blocks (experimental). - Render LOGBOOK. - Show inline images. - Show property drawers. - File-local keywords and visibility. - Filter open/closed tasks. - Edit raw text. - Light/dark mode. - Open either .org or .txt files. - Quickly switch between open file and recently open (tap on title). NOTE: Cloud syncing support varies across providers. Please check for compatibility https://plainorg.com/#cloud-providers
Orc Mode
A distraction-free task manager that helps you organize your work with clear task states, due dates, and recurring schedules. Track your progress through different workflows and review completed items.
- Task states (TODO, NEXT, WAITING, DONE)
- Due dates and recurring schedules
- Tagging and filtering
- Notes and task details
- Task history review
- Light and dark mode support
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Orc Mode is a focused task manager inspired by Emacs Org Mode. Organize your work with clear task states, due dates, tags, and recurring schedules. Track what needs attention now, what is waiting, and what is already done. Features: Create, edit, and delete todos; Use TODO, NEXT, WAITING, and DONE workflows; Add notes, due dates, and tags; Filter tasks by tag; Set recurring daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly tasks; Review completed items in history; Supports light and dark mode. Orc Mode is designed for people who want a simple, structured, and distraction-free way to manage personal tasks on iPhone.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Orc Mode at Free against Plain Org's $14.99. Orc Mode also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Plain Org's advantage is ratings volume (156 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Orc Mode is free to download; Plain Org costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Orc Mode holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Plain Org has 156 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | Plain Org | Orc Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (156 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 156 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Xenodium Ltd. | Patrick OBoyle |
Customer experience
Plain Org
Orc Mode
Bugs and requests
Plain Org
Reported bugs
11 issues- Text disappears when closing keyboard without saving
- Copy and paste doesn't work reliably
- Pasting from external sources fails
- Roam links fail to resolve
- 'What's New' dialog won't close when opening files via shortcuts
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- Sync hiccups requiring app restart
- File editing impossible on recent iOS versions
- Keyboard features missing in raw text editing mode
- Headings always start collapsed
- App automatically adds logbook entries to todos
- App auto-inserts 'Plain Org' text in new files
Requested features
17 requests- Widget support for home screen
- Agenda view across multiple files
- Apple Watch support
- Tag filtering and display
- Schedule/deadline date picker button
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Clock-in/clock-out time tracking
- Template system for new files
- Keyboard shortcuts for iPad
- Refile functionality
- Todo state support
- Color support for text and headers
- Dropbox sync integration
- Animations when opening subheadings
- Settings screen (instead of context menus)
- Fullscreen mode for iPhone
- Table formulas and calculations
- Attached files viewer
Orc Mode
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Plain Org
No in-app purchases
Orc Mode
No in-app purchases
