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Evernote alternatives: 11 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Evernote: free tier is restrictive, and frequent plan changes since the acquisition. We ranked 11 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Evernote, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Joplin currently ranks first.

Evernote has been acquired. Acquired by Bending Spoons; plans and free-tier limits have changed since.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Joplin logoJoplinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +31 of 376.8
2Notesnook logoNotesnookFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +45 of 540.0
  1. Joplin logo

    1. JoplinTop pick

    Best for: Leaving Evernote for an open-source app with encrypted sync

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    76.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Evernote

    Imports Evernote exports and is free and open source, with its own web clipper.

    Pros

    • Open source with end-to-end encryption
    • Sync with your own storage
    • Imports Evernote exports

    Cons

    • Interface is plainer than commercial apps
    • Collaboration features are basic
    Visit Joplin Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Joplin a good Evernote alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Not checked yetgithub.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026joplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Evernote import
    Yes (ENEX files)
    Not checked yetjoplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Notesnook logo

    2. Notesnook

    Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want an encrypted, Evernote-style notes app

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Evernote

    Similar notebooks and rich notes, end-to-end encrypted and open source.

    Pros

    • End-to-end encrypted by default
    • Apps and sync server are open source
    • Free plan with unlimited notes and devices
    • Rich editor with attachments

    Cons

    • Limited real-time collaboration
    • Storage and notebooks capped on lower plans
    • Fewer integrations than mainstream apps
    Visit Notesnook Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Notesnook a good Evernote alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Unlimited notes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notesnook.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days on paid plans
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notesnook.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notesnook.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open-source server
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notesnook.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Evernote alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Joplin logo

Best Evernote alternative for most people

Joplin

Imports Evernote exports and is free and open source, with its own web clipper.

Microsoft OneNote logo

Best Evernote alternative for a free option

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebook app with clipping and handwriting support.

Obsidian logo

Best Evernote alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Obsidian

Keep notes as local files and avoid subscription changes.

Notesnook logo

Best Evernote alternative for open source

Notesnook

Similar notebooks and rich notes, end-to-end encrypted and open source.

Joplin logo

Best Evernote alternative for self-hosting

Joplin

Imports Evernote exports and is free and open source, with its own web clipper.

Notion logo

Best Evernote alternative for Mac

Notion

Modern workspace with databases if you want more structure than notebooks.

UpNote logo

Best Evernote alternative for Windows

UpNote

A clean, cheaper Evernote-style app with a lifetime licence.

Joplin logo

Best Evernote alternative for Linux

Joplin

Imports Evernote exports and is free and open source, with its own web clipper.

Zoho Notebook logo

Best Evernote alternative for iPhone and Android

Zoho Notebook

Free notebooks with many note types and no ads.

Readwise Reader logo

Best Evernote alternative for working in the browser

Readwise Reader

Better for saving articles to read and highlight, with export to note apps.

Evernote alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Evernote?

Joplin ranks first right now. Imports Evernote exports and is free and open source, with its own web clipper. Microsoft OneNote and Obsidian follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Evernote?

Yes. Joplin (open source), Microsoft OneNote (free), Obsidian (free plan + paid) and Notion (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Evernote?

Yes: Joplin and Notesnook. Joplin and Notesnook can also be self-hosted.

Which Evernote alternatives work on Linux?

Joplin, Obsidian, UpNote and Notesnook run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Evernote?

The complaints we hear most: free tier is restrictive; frequent plan changes since the acquisition.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Evernote, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.