Alternatives to Evernote
Evernote alternatives worth switching to
The best Evernote alternatives are Obsidian (local Markdown files you own outright, free for personal use), Joplin (open source with the closest notebook-and-sync model to Evernote), and Notion if you want a workspace rather than a notebook. Switch if the free-tier restrictions or price rises pushed you out — and export your notes before you cancel, not after.
Pricing verified 2026-07-28 · we re-check quarterly ·
how we compare
Why people leave Evernote
- Free-tier restrictions that made the product unusable for many longtime users
- Repeated price increases on paid tiers
- Uncertainty after the company changed ownership
- Wanting notes stored as files you control rather than in a proprietary service
The alternatives
1 Obsidian
Best for: Owning your notes as plain files
Pricing: Free for personal use. Optional paid add-ons cover official sync and publishing. Prices change often, so check the vendor's current pricing page before deciding. source
Strengths
- Notes are plain Markdown files on your disk — no lock-in of any kind
- Free for personal use with no artificial limits
- Huge plugin ecosystem and linking between notes
Trade-offs
- Sync is a paid add-on unless you use your own cloud folder
- More of a knowledge base than a quick-capture notebook
- Web clipping is weaker than Evernote's
Verdict: The best long-term home for notes you intend to keep for decades. Plain files outlive every company.
2 Joplin open source
Best for: The closest open-source Evernote replacement
Pricing: Free and open source. Your cost is hosting — roughly $5–20/month on a small VPS, or nothing on hardware you already own — plus your own time for updates and backups. Free; optional paid Joplin Cloud sync, or sync via your own storage. source
Strengths
- Direct Evernote import including notebooks and tags
- End-to-end encrypted sync via your own cloud storage
- Genuinely open source with no tier restrictions
Trade-offs
- Interface is plainer than Evernote's
- Sync setup takes a few minutes of configuration
- Mobile apps are functional rather than delightful
Verdict: The most direct migration path. If you want Evernote's structure without Evernote, this is it.
source code ↗ 3 Notion
Best for: Notes as part of a wider workspace
Pricing: Free tier for personal use, plus per-user paid plans for teams. Prices change often, so check the vendor's current pricing page before deciding. source
Strengths
- Databases, wikis and notes in one place
- Excellent for teams and structured content
- Generous personal free tier
Trade-offs
- Requires the internet for most workflows
- Slower for quick capture than a dedicated notes app
- Your content lives in Notion's format, not yours
Verdict: Choose it if you want a workspace. If you only want notes, it is more product than you need.
4 Standard Notes open source
Best for: Privacy above all
Pricing: Free tier with end-to-end encryption; paid tiers add editors and features. Prices change often, so check the vendor's current pricing page before deciding. source
Strengths
- End-to-end encrypted by default, on every tier
- Open source and independently audited
- Deliberately simple and built to last
Trade-offs
- Rich editing and advanced features are paid
- Deliberately minimal — fewer features by design
- Weaker clipping and attachment handling
Verdict: The right pick when confidentiality of your notes matters more than features.
source code ↗ Don't switch if…
- Your workflow depends on Evernote's web clipper and searchable attachments
- You have a very large note archive and migration risk feels worse than the subscription
- The current plan still does what you need at a price you accept
- You use its OCR of scanned documents, which most alternatives handle less well
We say this on every page. A comparison that never recommends staying put is an
advert, not a comparison.
Questions people actually ask
Why did Evernote fail?
It did not shut down, but it lost its lead. Long-running performance complaints, feature churn and repeated price rises pushed users towards Notion, Obsidian and Apple Notes. It was acquired by Bending Spoons in 2023, after which restructuring and much stricter free-tier limits accelerated the exodus.
What is the alternative to Evernote 2026?
Obsidian if you want notes as plain files you own, Joplin if you want the closest open-source equivalent with direct Evernote import, Notion if you want a workspace, and Apple Notes if you live entirely on Apple devices.
What has happened to Evernote?
Evernote was acquired by the Italian company Bending Spoons in 2023. Restructuring followed, along with much stricter free-tier limits, which prompted many longtime users to migrate. The product still operates and is actively developed.
Will I lose my notes if I cancel Evernote?
Your notes remain in the account but a downgraded free tier limits what you can access and edit. Export everything first — Evernote can export to ENEX files, which Joplin and Obsidian (with a plugin) both import. Export before cancelling, never after.
Does anybody still use Evernote?
Yes, though far fewer than at its peak, and mostly longtime users with large archives who find migration daunting. New users rarely start there now.
Which app is better than Evernote?
It depends what you valued. Obsidian is better for long-term ownership and linking, Joplin for a like-for-like open-source replacement, Notion for team workspaces, and Apple Notes for quick capture on Apple hardware. Evernote still has the strongest web clipper.
What is the alternative to Evernote in 2026?
Obsidian if you want to own your notes as plain files, Joplin if you want the closest open-source equivalent with direct Evernote import, Notion if you want a full workspace, and Apple Notes if you are entirely on Apple devices.