Zavala
Zavala is a free, open-source outliner for organizing information in related hierarchical rows.
What Zavala is
Zavala is a free, open-source outliner for organizing information in related hierarchical rows. It can be used for notes, task lists, brainstorming, project planning, project management, and documentation. Outlines work offline and can sync through iCloud, which requires iCloud Drive setup; users can also share them for real-time collaboration with other Zavala users. The app imports and exports OPML, Markdown, and HTML, can print outlines, and lists PDF among its export formats. A share extension downloads a web page and attempts to convert it into an editable outline, with results depending on the page structure. Apple Shortcuts actions support creating, finding, editing, exporting, and manipulating outlines and rows. Locked outlines encrypt rows and images on disk and during iCloud sync, but titles, tags, and some metadata remain unencrypted. Zavala is available for Apple platforms, and its current listing requires iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 or later. It is free forever under the MIT license.
Good
- Free forever and open source
- Supports offline editing and iCloud sync
- Enables real-time sharing with other users
- Imports and exports several outline formats
- Includes Apple Shortcuts actions
Watch out
- Requires iOS, iPadOS, or macOS 26 or later
- iCloud Drive setup is needed for sync
- Titles, tags, and some metadata are not encrypted
Who it suits
Zavala suits Apple-platform users who want a structured space for notes, plans, lists, or documentation. It may also fit people who need offline editing, iCloud collaboration, and outline import or export.
Verdict
Zavala combines hierarchical outlining with offline use, iCloud collaboration, and broad import and export options. Check its current Apple OS requirements and the limits of locked-outline encryption before choosing it.
Plans and prices
From Zavala's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Mac, iPhone, and iPad · Requires Apple platforms · Free forever |
The facts
Each one read from Zavala's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Automation
- Zavala supports Apple Shortcuts actions for creating, finding, editing, exporting, and manipulating outlines and rows.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- Users can share outlines through iCloud to collaborate in real time with other Zavala users.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Data collection
- The App Store privacy disclosure says the developer does not collect data from the app; Apple notes this disclosure is developer-provided and unverified by Apple.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- Zavala imports and exports OPML, Markdown, and HTML files and can print outlines.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Outlining
- Outlines can be used for note taking, task lists, brainstorming, project planning, project management, and documentation.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker's privacy policy says data collected is not shared with other entities except the third-party services it describes and legally required disclosures.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- Zavala is a simple outliner for structuring information into related hierarchical rows.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- Locked outlines encrypt their rows and images on disk and during iCloud sync using AES-GCM with a 256-bit key; titles, tags, and some metadata are not encrypted.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker asks users to report bugs through Zavala's Provide Feedback option and says support interactions are retained for reference.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Sync and offline
- Zavala syncs outlines through iCloud and supports offline editing; iCloud Drive must be set up to use sync.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Web clipper
- The share extension sends a web page to Zavala, which downloads it and attempts to convert it into an editable outline; results depend on the page structure.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Current OS requirements
- The App Store listing requires iOS 26 or later, iPadOS 26 or later, and macOS 26 or later.checked 4 Oct 2026
Money
- Free and open source
- The maker says Zavala is free forever and open source under the MIT license.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The About page identifies Maurice Parker as Zavala's author.checked 4 Oct 2026
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