Alternatives to Workflowy
A nested outliner that organizes notes, lists and projects as a single tree of bullets. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Workflowy
A nested outliner that organizes notes, lists and projects as a single tree of bullets.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Workflowy.
Logseq
An outliner that stores notes as plain Markdown files, built around a daily journal and linked blocks.
Logseq is an AGPL open source outliner storing plain Markdown files locally with block-level linking and a daily journal, with no node caps or required account.
Roam Research
A networked note-taking outliner for connecting related ideas into a graph of linked notes.
Roam Research is a paid web outliner adding linked notes in a graph and real-time collaboration, without Workflowy's native desktop and mobile apps.
Checkvist
A keyboard-driven online outliner for building nested task lists, checklists and research notes.
Checkvist is a web and browser-extension outliner driven by keyboard shortcuts, with unlimited hierarchy, shareable password-protected lists and import and export, but no native desktop or mobile apps.
RemNote
Note-taking app that pairs outlining with built-in spaced-repetition flashcards.
RemNote pairs outlining with built-in spaced-repetition flashcards on Windows, macOS and web, adding study features with a steeper learning curve.
Bike
A fast outliner and rich text writing app for the Mac that uses standard file formats.
Bike is a paid Mac-only outliner that stays fast with large outlines, uses standard file formats and supports scripting, without cloud sync or mobile apps.
OmniOutliner
An outlining app for Mac, iPad, iPhone and Vision Pro for structuring ideas and documents.
OmniOutliner is a paid outliner for Apple devices only, adding columns with calculations and attachments inside outlines, with one purchase covering Mac, iPad and iPhone.
Org mode
A GNU Emacs major mode for notes, outlines, to-do lists and documents kept in plain text.
Org mode is a free, open-source GNU Emacs mode that keeps outlines, tasks and agendas in plain text files, but requires Emacs and has a steep learning curve.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Workflowy as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
TreeSheets
Organize ideas in a grid of nested cells.
Workflowy organizes everything as one nested tree of bullets with synced desktop, mobile and web apps, but is closed source and caps free nodes monthly.
Twos
An app for quickly writing down notes, to-dos, reminders and events organised by day.
Workflowy keeps notes and tasks in one nested outline across desktop, mobile and web, organised by hierarchy instead of by day.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Amplenote
A note-taking and task app that combines linked notes, a to-do list, calendar planning and AI agents.
Notion
All-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, wikis, and task boards.
Tinderbox
A Mac app for making, visualizing and analyzing notes, with map views and automation.
Effie
A minimalist writing app combining notes, outlines and mind maps, with an optional AI assistant.
