Legend

Legend is a productivity workspace for documents, notes, tasks, email, files, outlines, and projects. Users arrange work into Boards with multiple Panes, then switch between contexts. A Pane can show an Outline, grouped items, a List, or a Calendar, and filters can draw on prefixes, item contents, words, or tags. Writing and planning tools include Markdown, formatting hotkeys, backlinks, mirrors that connect notes and tasks, and an Agenda that orders tasks by priority and date. Legend says it syncs in real time across devices and collaborators, works offline, and reconciles changes when devices reconnect. Its privacy policy describes client-side encryption before item data is synced, with optional user-password and document-password encryption. Gmail, Drive, and Calendar integrations operate client-side, and the policy says email and file contents are not stored on Legend servers. The free plan includes 10 Panes, one plugin sync account, and unlimited documents and items. Paid plans start at $5 a month, billed annually. The Browser Pane is unavailable in the mobile app, though saved links open in a browser.

Legend combines several kinds of work in a configurable workspace, with offline access, multiple views, and note-task links. Check the Pane and plugin-account limits on the free plan, and note that the Browser Pane is desktop-only.

Legend may suit people who want notes, tasks, documents, and projects in one workspace, including users in sales, project management, HR, founding teams, or development. Its free plan may also suit individuals who can work within the 10-Pane and one-plugin-sync-account limits.

Overview

Legend is a configurable workspace for bringing notes, documents, tasks, email, files and projects into the same working environment. It is best suited to people who want outlining, reference material and task planning to stay connected. Choose it for that breadth; look elsewhere if a dedicated task list is all you need.

Key features

Boards, Panes and views

Boards divide work into Panes for separate contexts. Each Pane can show an Outline, grouped, List or Calendar view, and filters can use prefixes, item contents, words or tags. The Agenda sorts tasks by priority and date. This flexibility can help project-heavy users move between developing an idea and tracking its work, though it also means more setup than a single-purpose checklist requires.

Writing and connected tasks

Markdown, formatting hotkeys and an outliner support structured writing. Backlinks and mirrors connect notes and tasks, which is useful when a task needs to remain tied to the thinking behind it rather than becoming an isolated entry.

Sync, privacy and integrations

Legend says it syncs in real time across devices and collaborators, works offline, and resolves changes after devices reconnect. Its privacy policy describes item data being encrypted client-side before syncing to Firebase, with optional user-password and document-password encryption. Gmail, Drive and Calendar integrations operate client-side; email and file contents are not saved on Legend servers, according to the policy.

The Browser Pane can open websites and web apps inside Legend, with plugins for services including Gmail, Outlook, Office 365, GitHub, Shortwave, Jira and ChatGPT. It is desktop-only; on mobile, saved links still open in the browser. That distinction matters if embedded web apps are central to your workflow across devices.

Pricing

Legend has a free plan and paid plans billed annually. There is no free trial. The free tier costs nothing, billed per month and paid annually, and includes 10 Panes, one plugin sync account, and unlimited documents and items. It is a substantial starting point for individual use, but the Pane and plugin-account caps can constrain a workspace that spans many contexts or services.

Basic costs $5 a month, billed per month and paid annually. It raises the limits to 20 Panes and three plugin sync accounts, and adds notifications and advanced filtering. It suits users who have outgrown the free caps but do not need unlimited capacity.

Pro costs $9 a month, billed per month and paid annually. It includes unlimited Panes and plugin sync accounts, Board Folders, Pane naming, advanced display settings, Agenda customization and custom hotkeys. This is the more fitting tier for users who want to organize a large workspace and tailor its planning and display behavior.

Lifetime is a $299 one-time payment; the page also shows $399 and calls the price promotional. It includes all future features forever, making it a different commitment from the annual subscriptions. Consider the one-time cost only if you prefer an upfront purchase over recurring billing.

Platforms

Legend is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows. Offline access and real-time collaboration support work across devices, while the Browser Pane remains unavailable in the mobile app. Export formats are HTML, Plain Text, Markdown, OPML and JSON, giving users several ways to take their material elsewhere.

Who it's for

Legend is a plausible fit for home workflows and roles such as sales, project management, HR, founders and developers. Its combination of outlines, connected notes and date-oriented tasks is most valuable when a person or team needs more than a standalone to-do list. Email support is available, and Legend directs bug reports and feature requests to its forum.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Multiple views, flexible filters and an Agenda let users shape the same material for different kinds of work.
• Pros: Backlinks and mirrors keep notes and tasks connected, while Markdown and outlining support structured writing.
• Pros: Offline access, real-time sync and multiple export formats support continuity and portability.
• Cons: The free plan limits users to 10 Panes and one plugin sync account, so a broad workspace may require a paid plan.
• Cons: Mobile users cannot open web apps in the Browser Pane, which weakens the integrated workflow on phones and tablets.
• Cons: The feature-rich workspace may be unnecessary overhead for someone who only wants a simple task list.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, browse Outliner Software and Outlining Software.

• Checkvist is worth considering for hierarchical lists, sharing and collaboration, with a free plan that also supports tasks by email and Markdown.
• Dynalist is another freemium outlining option, with a free plan offering unlimited items and documents and support for Android, desktop and web platforms.
• Indenta is a free alternative for readers who prefer a product built and maintained as an independent personal project.
• Logseq is a free alternative for personal use, with a separate Sync Backer option for people who want access to its sync beta.
• Workflowy offers a free plan with all features, but caps that plan at 100 nodes per month and 100mb file uploads.
• Zavala is a free option for readers working exclusively on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
• outl is free, MIT licensed and has no paid tier.
• Tine is another free alternative.

Verdict

Legend is the stronger choice for people who want one configurable place to write, outline, connect notes to tasks and plan by date. Its free tier provides room to start, and paid tiers expand Pane and plugin capacity, but the mobile Browser Pane gap is a real drawback for users who rely on embedded web apps everywhere. Choose Legend for a connected, adaptable workspace; choose a narrower alternative if you mainly need a straightforward list.