Choosing an Outliner

Outliners share core operations but differ in platform support, storage, document model, and features.

This comparison covers four outliners as of August 2026. See What Is an Outliner? for the basic operations.

What to Look For

Web app or native app. Web outliners like Workflowy run in a browser and support multiple platforms. Bike and Kosshi are native apps built for Apple platforms using OS frameworks. Platform support, keyboard behavior, and system integration differ between these approaches.

Where your data lives. Workflowy stores data in its service. Bike and OmniOutliner use document files, which can be stored locally or with a cloud storage provider. Kosshi stores data in a local database and syncs between devices via iCloud (CloudKit). Where your data lives affects offline access and privacy.

One outline or multiple documents. Workflowy and Kosshi are designed around putting everything into a single outline. You zoom in to see the part you need, navigating within one structure. Bike and OmniOutliner work with multiple files or documents. If you prefer to separate things by project or topic, that approach may suit you better.

Workflowy

Workflowy keeps everything in one outline and provides zoom and tag filtering within it.

It is available on the web and as desktop and mobile apps. Workflowy supports images.

A good fit if you:

• Need to work on Windows, Android, or Linux
• Want to share outlines with a team

Bike

Bike is a native outliner for Mac. It stores outlines as .bike files that you can manage in Finder. It supports rich text, row types such as headings and task lists, focus mode, printing, and Quick Look previews in Finder. It is an option if you want a responsive, file-based outliner for Mac.

A good fit if you:

• Work on macOS and focus on text
• Prefer file-based document management
• Want rich text and a focus mode

OmniOutliner

OmniOutliner is an outliner by The Omni Group for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It stores each outline as a separate document.

The Pro edition adds multiple columns for tracking status, dates, numbers, and other attributes. It also lets you customize styles and templates.

A good fit if you:

• Need columns to manage multiple attributes
• Want customizable styles and templates
• Are organizing structured data rather than free-form text

Kosshi

Kosshi is a native outliner for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It keeps everything in one outline and is designed for outlines with more than 100,000 rows. It also supports images and iCloud sync.

You can place screenshots, diagrams, and photos inside your outline alongside text.

Data is stored locally and syncs across Mac, iPhone, and iPad through iCloud (CloudKit). Kosshi works offline and uses a one-time purchase rather than a subscription.

A good fit if you:

• Want to use the same outliner on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
• Need images alongside text in your outlines
• Prefer native app performance
• Want to keep your data on your own devices and iCloud account
• Want to avoid subscriptions

Comparison

Every outliner has its own strengths. If possible, try a few and see which one fits the way you work.