Evernote is one of the most well-known note-taking apps on the Internet and offers a good amount of functionality.
That being said, the app isn’t perfect and has a number of weaknesses that prevent it from being the only note-taking and organization app worth using:
- Evernote is clunky for short memento style notes.
- Evernote isn’t open source.
- Tasks feature is relatively limited.
- You can’t organize and connect notes visually.
- 2 max devices (free version).
- 25 MB maximum note size (free version).
- 60 MB monthly uploads (free version).
- Somewhat confusing UI and with slow load times.
Free alternatives to Evernote
1. OneNote
OneNote is probably the closest possible competitor to Evernote in terms of features. The biggest differences between the two are on a user experience level and integration with other Microsoft productivity tools.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs OneNote:
Evernote Advantages:
- Better tagging system.
- Better UI than OneNote (for some users).
- Better search & filter functions.
OneNote Advantages:
- Better file size limits: 2 GB note size (vs 25 MB for Evernote).
- Large file size uploads.
- Unlimited devices (free Evernote has max 2).
- Integration with Microsoft software.
2. Notion
Notion can best be described as “like Evernote, but vastly more customizable”.
In many ways, Notion is more of an all-in-one workspace that offers tons of power features such as databases or tables, plus extensive ways to personalize how all of this information is presented.
Furthermore, Notion supports hierarchical organization using pages and sub-pages, and its advanced database functionality allows users to create relations between different elements.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Notion
Evernote Advantages:
- Simpler UI that is easy to use out of the box.
- More focused as a note-taking app.
- Free version allows for higher file sizes (25 MB in Evernote vs 5 MB in Notion).
Notion Advantages:
- More complex to use, but much more customizable.
- Simpler and faster organization structure.
- Notion is more of a one-person or small-team project management tool.
- Pro version is cheaper ($5 for Notion vs $7-8 for Evernote).
3. Google Keep
Google Keep is a lightweight, minimalist app designed for quick note-taking and simple organization.
It features a grid layout with color-coded notes that can include text, images, audio recordings, and checklists.
The app’s simplicity makes it ideal for users who need a straightforward tool for capturing ideas, creating reminders, and making to-do lists.
Google Keep integrates seamlessly with other Google products, such as Google Drive and Google Calendar.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Google Keep
Evernote Advantages:
- Much better organization options compared to Google Keep.
- Nearly unlimited words per note (Google Keep has ~4,000 words limit per note).
- Easier to navigate uploaded files.
Google Keep advantages
- UI is very simple and clean.
- Excellent for quick “reminder” notes.
- Unlimited devices.
- Excellent integration with Google services.
4. Nimbus Notes
Nimbus Notes is a direct competitor to Evernote, but with less features.
That being said, while Nimbus Notes has overall fewer features, it stands out over Evernote in a few key areas that can make it a better choice for some users such as speed of use, unlimited devices in the free version and arguably better organization.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Nimbus Notes
Evernote Advantages:
- It feels easier to write text in Evernote, because Nimbus uses blocks rather than lines.
- Evernote has useful formats such as tables, dividers, sketches, audio notes.
- Evernote notebooks and notes load faster than Nimbus.
- Evernote browser version is free (Nimbus browser is behind paywall).
- Evernote Premium is more affordable ($7-8 vs $9).
- Evernote allows annotations for PDF’s and images.
- Evernote has better file upload limits (Nimbus has 10 MB limit per note).
Nimbus advantages:
- UI is cleaner and arguably more attractive.
- Nimbus has unlimited devices.
- Folders and nested subfolders.
- Web clipper feature is better implemented than Evernote’s.
5. Amplenote
Amplenote is in a very similar situation to Nimbus Notes, where it doesn’t have as many features as Evernote, so it competes by having a better and cleaner user experience.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Amplenote
Evernote Advantages:
- Amplenote only offers tags as a way to structure notes. No folders or notebooks.
- Amplenote free only offers 5 MB upload limit per file & notes.
- Evernote has better text formatting options: highlight, strikethrough, font types, font colors etc.
Amplenote Advantages:
- Much cleaner UI and easier to take notes.
- Very simple and elegant way of linking notes among them.
- Amplenotes loads pages, notes and tags faster than Evernote.
- Amplenote offers unlimited devices.
6. Simplenote
Simplenote is a note taking app developed by Automattic (the creators of WordPress), and is as barebones as you can get.
If everything you need is basic note taking with no bells and whistles, then Simplenote might be worth a try.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Simplenote
Evernote Advantages:
- Evernote is full featured, while Simplenotes is extremely barebones.
- Simplenote has no file uploads, no text formatting, etc.
Simplenote advantages
- Simple, clean UI.
- Completely free.
- Unlimited devices.
- Good privacy policy.
7. Upnote
Upnote is a note taking app developed by a single person. Despite that, the app is very popular and has hundreds of thousands of users across PC, Mac, iOS and Android.
Unlike Simplenotes or Ample Notes, Upnote is relatively feature rich and comparable to Evernote, while also offering excellent UI and some interesting features not present in Evernote.
Perhaps one of its biggest disadvantages is that the app is developed by just one person, so in many ways your entire life depends on the dedication of a single developer.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Upnote
Evernote Advantages:
- Upnote doesn’t have a web browser version, only a PC/Mac desktop app.
- Evernote’s web clipper is much better than Upnote’s.
- Evernote is sustained by a corporation, while Upnote is developed by a single person. This means Upnote features come slowly, and the app could be discontinued any time.
Upnote Advantages
- Premium version is extremely affordable: $0.99 per month or $25 for lifetime.
- Extremely clean UI with fast loading times.
- Useful quality of life features: backlinks, collapsible sections, table of contents, thumbnail image control.
8. RemNote
Remnote is part note taking app, part flash card learning app.
RemNote encourages the creation of interconnected notes and knowledge bases using bi-directional linking and hierarchical organization. Users can easily create references and connections between different pieces of information, helping them understand relationships and build a more organized knowledge structure.
Users can create flashcards within their notes using a unique syntax, which RemNote then organizes into a review queue based on spaced repetition algorithms. This feature helps users memorize information more efficiently over time.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs RemNote
Evernote advantages:
- Evernote has better file size upload limits.
- RemNote’s synchronization is hit or miss. Sometimes it takes 60-120 seconds for a note to synchronize across devices.
- Better organized UI.
RemNote advantages:
- Text is organized in a list format, with collapsible and expandable subheadings with multiple levels deep.
- RemNote can create flashcards.
- 4+ devices permitted in the free version.
- Note interlinking.
9. Zoho Notebook
Zoho Notebook offers a more visually appealing interface compared to Evernote, with the ability to customize note covers and choose from various color themes for better visual organization.
Each note in Zoho Notebook can have a unique cover, making it easier to identify and distinguish between notes at a glance.
In contrast, Evernote has a more linear and text-based organization, primarily utilizing notebooks and tags for sorting notes.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Zoho Notebook
Evernote Advantages:
- Zoho Notebook doesn’t allow you to create nested notebooks. This means you will have dozens of Notebooks in Zoho, while in Evernote you can consolidate multiple Notebooks into a single stack.
- Search and filtering function in Zoho Notebook isn’t as granular and accurate as Evernote’s search.
- Much more text formatting features.
Zoho Notebook Advantages:
- Elegant UI and attractive design.
- Integration with other Zoho software.
10. Logseq
Logseq is a local-first, outliner-style note-taking app that emphasizes bi-directional linking and knowledge management.
It allows users to create a network of interconnected notes using a Markdown-based syntax, fostering a more organized knowledge structure.
The local-first approach means that your notes are stored on your device by default, which can be beneficial for privacy and security.
Website Link | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Logseq
Evernote Advantages:
- Overall more feature rich such as tasks, calendar integration, sketches etc.
- Strictly a note taking app, with content structured as notes, cards etc.
- Vastly better text formatting options.
- Has a functioning Android app (Logseq is still in beta and not on Google Play)
Logseq Advantages:
- Content is structured as bullet point outlines, and can go many layers deep.
- Open source.
- Can and drop bullet points from various “notes” to create new notes.
11. Obsidian
Obsidian emphasizes the creation of interconnected notes and knowledge bases using bi-directional linking, which allows users to easily create references and connections between different pieces of information.
This feature helps users build a more organized knowledge structure and fosters a non-linear approach to note-taking.
Obsidian is a local-first note-taking app that uses plain text Markdown files for note creation and organization.
This approach offers users more control over their data, as it is stored on their devices, which can be beneficial for privacy and security. Furthermore, plain text files are easily portable, allowing for greater compatibility and flexibility with other tools.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Obsidian
Evernote Advantages:
- Vastly more user-friendly UI.
- Strictly a note taking app, with content structured as notes, cards etc.
- Offers web clips, email to note, easy screen clips, OCR.
- Generally better as an information dump.
- Evernote Sync is included in free version. Obsidian requires either $96 per year, or a free integration with Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.
Obsidian Advantages:
- UI is complex, but offers more customization power than Evernote.
- Notes can be visually interconnected with one another, creating graphs or nodes.
- Much faster loading times.
- Better than Evernote at organizing and visualizing information.
- Information is stored only on your devices.
- Unlimited file storage, since everything is stored on your devices.
12. Inkdrop
Inkdrop is primarily a developer’s note taking app. It is developed by a very small team, and for a very, specific userbase: coders, programmers and generally programming savvy people.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
Evernote vs Inkdrop
Evernote advantages
- More user-friendly UI.
- Evernote has a free version (Inkdrop only offers a $5 a month paid plan).
- Traditional note taking app.
- Generally more user friendly.
Inkdrop advantages
- An excellent Markdown style note-taking app.
- Extensive plugin support.
- Designed for coders and developers.
- You can setup your own server to store your notes and files.
Apps similar to Evernote (that aren’t note apps)
If none of the note taking apps above don’t fit your needs, but you still want to jump away from Evernote, then it’s possible you’re looking for a different sort of information storage app.
The 7 apps below are store information in a different way to note taking apps, and so they might be what you actually need.
1. Xmind
Xmind is a mind-mapping software, where information is structured visually like a spiderweb rather than as notebooks, files or folders.
Mind maps are visual diagrams used to represent ideas, tasks, or other concepts. These diagrams help users visualize the relationships between different elements and organize their thoughts in a more intuitive manner.
Mind maps typically follow a hierarchical structure, starting with a central topic and branching out into related subtopics. This format allows users to see the bigger picture and understand how various concepts are connected.
XMind is especially useful for brainstorming sessions, project planning, and creative thinking, as the visual format encourages exploration of ideas and promotes the generation of new thoughts.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
2. Airtable
Airtable is a versatile platform that combines elements of a database and a spreadsheet, allowing you to create custom tables with flexible data types, relationships, and views.
It is especially useful for project management, inventory tracking, and content planning, among other use cases.
Airtable offers multiple ways to visualize and interact with your data, such as grid view, calendar view, kanban view, and gallery view. Users can also apply filters, sorts, and grouping to better organize and analyze their data.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
3. Walling
Walling is a mix of note taking app combined with Kanban style project management tools.
Instead of “notebooks”, Walling uses “walls” where each “brick” represents an individual note. Each wall can also be further subdivided into “sections”.
Walling supports various content types, including text, images, links, and files, which can be combined in a single wall to create rich multimedia presentations or collections.
Walling is particularly useful for tasks that benefit from a visual representation, such as planning projects, organizing research, or generating mood boards.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
4. Trello
Trello is traditionally seen as a project management and team collaboration app.
However, people who see their life in a more task-oriented way can use Trello to properly organize their activities, while also adding attachments and files.
On top of this, Trello is very convenient if you want a more family oriented note-taking tool, since it’s collaboration features are perfect for this type of activity.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
5. Workflowy
Workflowy is described as an “infinite document” where you store information in bulleted lists.
These bulleted lists can be expanded and collapsed, and can go many layers deep.
It also offers some basic file storage, with up to 100 MB per month in the free version and unlimited in the paid version, which costs $5 per month.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
6. Any.do
Any.do is more of a task app rather than a note-taking app.
That being said, Any.do does have some note taking capabilities for when you create tasks. This allows you to better contextualize what needs to be done and how to do it.
Website Link | Google Play | iTunes App Store
7. Raindrop.io
Raindrop.io is a bookmarking tool where you can organize and store information that is essential to you.
Information in this case means web pages, files, images, documents etc.
Unlike Evernote, you cannot write down individual notes. However, the paid version ($5 per month) allows you to annotate any files or bookmarks you have saved in Raindrop.io, so there is some functionality in that regard.
That being said, Raindrop doesn’t offer any of the other useful Evernote functionality such as tasks, OCR, text formatting, etc.