Alternatives to
9 Best Evernote Alternatives in 2026
The best Evernote alternatives depend on whether you prioritize cost, control, or a different workflow.
- Reviewed
- Sep 2026
- Open source
- 2
- Self-hosted
- 0
What you are leaving
Evernote at a glance
- Pricing model
- Free tier capped at 50 notes and 1 device; paid individual plans billed monthly or annually
- Deployment
- Browser, desktop and mobile apps; cloud sync only
- Licensing
- Proprietary; closed source
- Free tier
- 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 device, 1 GB monthly uploads
- Web clipper
- Browser extension for saving articles and pages
- File format
- Proprietary note format; exports ENEX and HTML
- Main gripe
- Free tier is heavily restricted; frequent pricing and plan changes since the Bending Spoons acquisition
- Best for
- Capture-first note taking with web clipping across devices
Compare at a glance
Evernote alternatives compared
Short facts side by side. Filter by what matters to your team, then open any row for the full decision brief.
| # | Product | Overlap | Substitutability | Free? | Starting price | Self-host | Open source | Migration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Notion | Notes + databases | Partial replacement | Yes | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 02 | Obsidian | Note storage | Mostly replaces | Yes | $4/user/mo | No | No | Moderate | |
| 03 | Microsoft OneNote | Note taking + inking | Mostly replaces | Yes | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 04 | Joplin | Notebooks + tags | Full replacement | Yes | — | No | Yes | Easy | |
| 05 | Logseq | Note taking | Narrow overlap | Yes | — | No | Yes | Hard | |
| 06 | Zoho Notebook | Note capture | Narrow overlap | Yes | — | No | No | Hard | |
| 07 | Goodnotes | Handwritten notes | Narrow overlap | Yes | $11.99/yr | No | No | Hard | |
| 08 | Bear | Typed notes | Partial replacement | Yes | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 09 | Apple Notes | Note capture | Partial replacement | Yes | — | No | No | Hard |
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Frequently asked
Evernote alternatives FAQ
- Is there a free Evernote alternative?
- Yes. Microsoft OneNote, Obsidian, Joplin, Logseq, Zoho Notebook and Apple Notes are all free to use. OneNote and Apple Notes are free without meaningful limits, while Evernote's own free tier caps you at 50 notes and one device.
- What is the closest alternative to Evernote?
- Joplin is the closest match. It keeps Evernote's notebook and tag structure, has a web clipper, and adds free sync and end-to-end encryption. OneNote is the closest mainstream option if you want a large vendor and deep Office integration.
- Can I import my Evernote notes into another app?
- Yes. Evernote exports notebooks as ENEX or as HTML, and Joplin, Notion and Obsidian all accept one of those formats. Attachments and tags usually survive, but notebook hierarchy and web clippings often need cleanup after import.
- Which Evernote alternative is best for handwriting?
- Goodnotes is the strongest option for handwriting on a tablet, with unlimited notebooks on paid tiers and real-time collaboration on the Pro plan. OneNote also handles handwriting and inking well and is free, but its handwriting search and notebook tools are less polished.
- Which Evernote alternative has the best free plan?
- Microsoft OneNote and Apple Notes have the most generous free plans because they are not metered by note count. Obsidian is also free without limits for personal use, though syncing between devices requires a paid add-on or your own file sync.
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