Looking for an alternative to Evernote? We compared the top note-taking tools across pricing, features, security, ease of use, and long-term value so you can switch with confidence.
Evernote is a note-taking platform we have tested hands-on. We update this comparison as new data and pricing become available.
Notion leads the pack at 4.7/5 : a strong Evernote alternative for anyone prioritizing relational databases. Many teams outgrow Evernote once they need more than free tier now limited to 50 notes : essentially a trial. If your use case leans toward 100% local files, Obsidian (Free) fits better.
4.7/5 · From $10/seat/mo · 5-500 employees
Pick if You want the highest-rated all-rounder. Notion leads on relational databases.
Skip if Not local-first : cloud dependent
From $1.99/mo · Individual to 10 employees
Pick if You want the most bang for your buck. UpNote delivers closest evernote-feel at a fraction of the price at a great price.
Skip if No AI features or OCR
4.6/5 · Free · Individual to 50 employees
Pick if You want a strong alternative. Obsidian excels at 100% local markdown files : full data ownership.
Skip if No real-time collaboration
4.2/5 · Free · Individual to 20 employees
Pick if You prioritize completely free and open-source.
Skip if No mobile app (yet : beta in progress)
| Tool | Rating | Starting Price | Best For | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 EvernoteCurrent | 3.8/5 | From $10.83/mo | Individual to 50 employees | |
| Notion | 4.7/5 | From $10/seat/mo | 5-500 employees | Visit |
| Obsidian | 4.6/5 | Free | Individual to 50 employees | Visit |
 Bear | From $2.99/mo | Individual to 20 employees | Visit | |
| UpNote | From $1.99/mo | Individual to 10 employees | Visit | |
| Logseq | 4.2/5 | Free | Individual to 20 employees | Visit |
 OneNote | Free | Any size | Visit | |
 Joplin | Free | Individual to 50 employees | Visit |
From $10/seat/mo
Best for: 5-500 employees
Strengths
Limitations
Free
Best for: Individual to 50 employees
Strengths
Limitations
Free
Best for: Individual to 20 employees
Strengths
Limitations
These are worth considering but have not been reviewed by us yet. The points below reflect public positioning : not our verdict. We'll add full hands-on reviews as we test each tool.
Known for (vendor claimed)
From $2.99/mo: Free; Pro $2.99/mo
Visit BearKnown for (vendor claimed)
From $1.99/mo: Free (50 notes); Premium $1.99/mo or $39.99 lifetime
Visit UpNoteKnown for (vendor claimed)
Free: Free (standalone); included with Microsoft 365
Visit OneNoteKnown for (vendor claimed)
Free: Free (open-source); Cloud $2.99/mo
Visit Joplin| Feature | Evernote | Notion | Obsidian | Logseq |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Transparency | : | : | : | : |
| Free Trial | : | : | : | : |
| Mobile App | : | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | |
| API Access | : | : | : | : |
| SSO Integration | : | : | : | : |
| Reporting | : | : | : | : |
| Integrations | : | : | : | : |
| Customer Support | : | : | : | : |
| Setup Difficulty | : | : | : | : |
| Scalability | : | : | : | : |
| Compliance | : | : | : | : |
| Documentation | : | : | : | : |
| Free Tier | ⚠️ | : | ||
| Enterprise Plan | : | : | : | : |
| User Reviews | : | : | : | : |
✅ Supported⚠️ Partial / Limited: Not available
About Evernote alternatives
Based on TrulyCritic's independent testing across pricing, features, security, and real buyer fit, **Notion** is the best overall Evernote alternative (rated 4.7/5, From $10/seat/mo). For most teams, it offers the strongest balance of capability and value. **Obsidian** is a close second, particularly strong for 100% local files.
Companies typically leave Evernote because of: **Free tier now limited to 50 notes : essentially a trial; Recent price hikes after Bending Spoons acquisition; Proprietary format : hard to export; Heavy and slow compared to Notion/Obsidian**. The right alternative directly addresses your team's specific pain points while matching your budget and scale.
Yes. **Logseq (Free), OneNote (Free), Joplin (Free)** all offer free tiers. Logseq has the most generous free offering : capable enough for small teams and individuals to use indefinitely without paying.
It depends on your needs. **Notion wins on relational databases and ai assistant built-in**. However, Evernote still leads on best web clipper in the category and ai-powered search across all notes. If relational databases is your top priority, Notion is the better pick. If you need best web clipper in the category, stick with Evernote.
The most affordable alternatives to Evernote are **Obsidian, Logseq, OneNote, Joplin**. Remember to factor in migration cost, training time, and any feature gaps : the cheapest subscription isn't always the best value.
1) **Export** all your data from Evernote first (most tools offer CSV/JSON export). 2) **Pick** your replacement and start a free trial. 3) **Import** a subset of data to verify formatting and integrity. 4) **Run both systems in parallel** for 1-2 weeks while your team adapts. 5) **Keep Evernote read-only** for 3-6 months as a backup. The full migration typically takes 1-4 weeks depending on data volume.
For security-focused teams, **Notion** offers the strongest security posture with enterprise compliance certifications. For transparency, **Logseq** is open-source and independently auditable. Always verify security claims against your specific compliance requirements (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, etc.).
Compare 7 alternatives side-by-side, or try Battle Mode for interactive head-to-head comparisons with real-time scoring.