I use Evernote almost daily. While the service is clearly doing some things right, I'm getting increasingly fed up with some of the limitations. Also, the company isn't doing much to make me want to upgrade my account.
So I'm thinking of switching to something else. I don't make much use of some of the app's more powerful integrations, and a simpler solution might offer more flexibility in the areas I value the most.
Today I'm going to take a look at some of those frustrations, and how they compare to the competition.
When I use a free service, I don't expect the world. But when Evernote cracked down on free accounts, Evernote Free vs. Paid:Which Plan Is Right For You? Evernote Free vs. Paid:Which Plan Is Right For You? Should I upgrade from Evernote's Basic to its paid Plus or Premium plan? We show you who will benefit from the paid plan and when not to bother. Read More The company is well within its rights to do this, but either way it does so, the free option is no longer competitive.
Microsoft's OneNote is free for all users. Apple Notes, if you're using iPhones and Macs, has improved exponentially since the company started modernizing the app in 2017. Simplenote could be, well simple , but it's always been free, and there's an app for just about every platform out there.
Evernote has clearly positioned itself as a premium product. That means it's no longer a compelling option for free users. The free version feels more like a free trial than a long-term solution. The biggest problems for those unwilling to vomit are:
There are two levels available to Evernote users:Basic and Premium. Basic is free and includes all of the above limitations. It's fine for very light users, but there are some glaring omissions from the list of features Evernote used to include for free.
The premium is a service of $89.99 per year (or $9.99 per month). For that, you'll get 10GB of new uploads each month, no device restrictions, the ability to search within attached documents, offline access to your notes, email forwarding, PDF annotation, a presentation wizard, and a document scanner. business cards.
A lot of those features, like PDF annotation and presentation mode, are completely lost on me and don't make compelling updates. Similarly, you could get a one-year subscription to Office 365 for $10 more ($99.99 per year), which will be shared with up to five family members while bathing in 1TB of OneDrive storage each. Evernote just doesn't seem worth the comparison.
The company used to offer a middle plan called Evernote Plus for about half the price, but now that option is gone. It's all or nothing if you want to use Evernote now, and I'm being pushed in favor of "nothing."
For its premium price tag, Evernote is still missing some obvious premium features. For me, top of the list (and you may disagree) is shrink support. I don't type anything in my note-taking software, but I probably would if I could. Markdown support would help tremendously in this regard.
It is also not possible to lock individual notes.. You can apply a lock to your mobile apps, which require a password or TouchID authentication on an iPhone, every time you return to the app. You cannot passcode protect notes on all platforms, per note. Apple Notes has had this feature for a long time, so why hasn't Evernote followed suit?
They seem to have put a lot of effort into developing features that I'm not interested in. There are separate apps for scanning documents. Top 7 Mobile Document Scanner Apps Top 7 Mobile Document Scanner Apps You don't need a scanner if you have a smartphone! With these Android, iOS, and Windows apps, scanning is at your fingertips. Scan, save to PDF, and you're done. Read More get the most out of your Apple Pencil and iPad Pro. Read More . There's a web clipper that I never use, and Work Chat that isn't for the lonely note taker.
I'd be much more inclined to the premium option if the company focused on enhancing the core functionality of the service with note-taking features, rather than expanding the ecosystem. Of course, this is a reflection of how I use the service, so your own mileage may vary.
I have noticed that the Mac app slows down considerably over the time I use the service. Despite this, the iPhone app is what frustrates me the most. After reinstalling the app multiple times in an attempt to fix it, Evernote seems to constantly run out of memory on iOS.
As an example, switching between Evernote and two or three other apps causes the note you were browsing to completely disappear. I am returned to the search engine, where I have to find the note again. This doesn't happen with Apple Notes, nor does it happen as frequently as it does with other applications.
Lastly, I've had to revoke Evernote's microphone permission on iOS simply because the “record voice memo” button is so easy to tap by mistake. It's right above the start button and destroys your free upload quota if the file is sent to the server.
If it sounds like I'm grumbling, you're right. I've used the service long enough that I can now sigh audibly when I have to search for a note again, delete a voice recording I never wanted, or have the Mac app slowly weave its way through a search.
Maybe you don't share any of my frustrations. That doesn't mean Evernote is the complete and ultimate note-taking. Well, not anymore anyway. There are many compelling Evernote alternatives The Best Evernote Alternatives You Need Today The Best Evernote Alternatives You Need Today Has Evernote's recent price increase and two-device restriction for the free plan affected your note-taking workflow? ? So, it's time to take another look at some of the best Evernote alternatives. Read More
Microsoft OneNote is probably the closest thing to an Evernote clone. It's free for everyone, with no Office 365 subscription required. You'll get a total of 5GB of shared storage with your OneDrive account and no device restrictions. There's a web clipper, integration with services like WordPress and IFTTT, and an app for all platforms.
Simplenote will satisfy you if you're a text-only purist. There are no storage limits, no device limits, and no fees at all. You can't attach media, so you'll have to find another way to organize your receipts and expenses. How to keep track of tax season expenses and receipts. How to keep track of tax season expenses and receipts. Use these tips and proper expense tracking. Software to record, organize and manage your personal and business expenses. Stay prepared for tax day. Read more.
Apple Notes is another worthy competitor, but you'll need Apple devices to make decent use of it. There's no Apple Notes app for Windows or Android, but you can use it via the web at iCloud.com. It's a simple note-taking app, with attachments, folders, locking, and built-in document scanning to boot.
Bear is an attractive option for Mac and iOS users who aren't happy with Apple's free option. The core service is free or you can pay $15 every year to lift device restrictions, data export, and new themes. It looks like a cleaner version of Evernote 10 Reasons Bear Notes Is Better Than Apple Notes 10 Reasons Bear Notes Is Better Than Apple Notes Bear is a great note-taking app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Here are several reasons for which he wins the battle Bear Notes vs. Apple Notes. Read More
But there is more than this small selection. We have rounded up unique note taking apps for Apple users. Forget Apple Notes:5 Unique Note-Taking Apps for Mac Forget Apple Notes:5 Unique Note-Taking Apps for Mac Looking for a best note-taking app for Mac? Don't settle for Apple Notes! Try one of these unique note apps instead. Read More, Best Free Android Note Taking Apps What is the best free note taking app on Android? What is the best free note-taking app for Android? If you want to take notes on your Android smartphone or tablet, you need one of these apps. More information, and productivity solutions for Linux users Productivity in Linux:7 applications to take notes. Productivity in Linux:7 applications to take notes. Here are seven different apps you can use to write notes and increase your productivity on Linux. There are often web versions available, but instead we'll focus on alternative desktop apps you can use. Read more too.
You can export Evernote content using a desktop version for Mac or Windows. Ultimately, the app you're replacing Evernote with will determine the best way to do it. The best way is to export notes on a notebook by notebook basis by right-clicking on an individual notebook and selecting Export Notes in ENEX format.
If you're switching from Evernote to OneNote, is there a process to migrate from Evernote to OneNote Migrate from Evernote to OneNote? All you need to know! Migrating from Evernote to OneNote? All you need to know! OneNote is one of the best alternatives to Evernote and it's free. We'll show you how OneNote is different and show you the tools to migrate seamlessly. Read more . For Evernote to Apple Notes, we have this guide to help you switch Thinking about switching from Evernote to Apple Notes? How to think about switching from Evernote to Apple Notes? Here's how Apple has a free Notes app, and it received a pretty substantial overhaul with iOS 9 and El Capitan. But should you get rid of Evernote because of it? It depends. Read more . Since rival apps want to make it as easy as possible for you to make the switch, each should provide a relatively simple way to do it in the relevant documentation.
If I haven't convinced you that grass is greener, that's great. You clearly value some of the features that I never look twice at. Maybe you're happy to pay a small amount each month because you prefer the Evernote way of doing things. More power to you.
But simply using a service because you're used to it, missing out on better functionality, is doing you a disservice as a result. It's always a good idea to reevaluate your tools and habits in the name of increased productivity. A no-excuses guide to productivity for unproductive people. A no-excuses guide to productivity for unproductive people. All of us underestimate our productivity from time to time. These apps will help you overcome mental roadblocks and achieve your optimal productivity. Read more . And if Evernote isn't any good, why not try Google Keep Google Keep vs. Evernote:Which Note-Keeping App Is Best For You? Google Keep vs. Evernote:Which Note-Keeping App Is Best For You? Confused between Google Keep and Evernote? We compare the two to help you decide which one is best for you. Read more ?
