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

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Joplin	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +3	1 of 3	76.8
2	Microsoft OneNote	Free	No	Web, Windows, macOS +2	1 of 3	67.3
3	Obsidian	Free plan + paid	No	Windows, macOS, Linux +2	2 of 3	65.4
4	Notion	Free plan + paid	No	Web, Windows, macOS +2	1 of 3	64.3
5	Bear	Free plan + paid	No	macOS, iOS	2 of 3	63.5
6	UpNote	Free plan + paid	No	Web, macOS, Windows +3	4 of 4	40.0
7	Notesnook	Free plan + paid	Yes	Web, Windows, macOS +4	5 of 5	40.0
8	Zoho Notebook	Free plan + paid	No	Web, Windows, macOS +3	4 of 4	40.0
9	Readwise Reader	Paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +3	5 of 5	38.6
10	Raindrop.io	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +3	5 of 5	38.6

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. Microsoft OneNote
Best for: Handwritten and free-form notes inside the Microsoft ecosystem
FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
67.3
score / 100
Why switch from Evernote
Free notebook app with clipping and handwriting support.
Pros
Free with a Microsoft account
Great pen and handwriting support
Tight Microsoft 365 integration
Cons
Notebook structure can get messy
Exporting to other apps is awkward
Visit Microsoft OneNote Compare with Evernote Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
Freshness ×0.1553
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Microsoft OneNote a good Evernote alternative?
Verified facts
1 of 3 verified
Price
Free with a Microsoft account
Checked Oct 24, 2026onenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
Sync
Through OneDrive
Not checked yetonenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Not checked yetonenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
3. Obsidian
Best for: People who want to own their notes as local Markdown files
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
65.4
score / 100
Why switch from Evernote
Keep notes as local files and avoid subscription changes.
Pros
Notes are plain Markdown files you own
Works fully offline
Huge plugin ecosystem
Cons
Official sync is a paid add-on
Real-time collaboration is limited
Visit Obsidian Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
Freshness ×0.1577
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Obsidian a good Evernote alternative?
Verified facts
2 of 3 verified
Price
Free, no sign-up required
Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
Storage
Local Markdown files
Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
Sync
Paid add-on
Not checked yetobsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
4. Notion
Best for: Teams that want docs, wikis and simple databases in one place
Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
64.3
score / 100
Why switch from Evernote
Modern workspace with databases if you want more structure than notebooks.
Pros
Flexible blocks and databases
Large template gallery
Strong sharing and permissions
Cons
Needs an internet connection for most work
Large workspaces can feel slow
Visit Notion Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
Freshness ×0.1553
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Notion a good Evernote alternative?
Verified facts
1 of 3 verified
Free plan
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026notion.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Not checked yetnotion.com(opens source in a new tab)
Open source
No
Not checked yetnotion.com(opens source in a new tab)
5. Bear
Best for: Apple users who want a fast, beautiful Markdown writing app
Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS
63.5
score / 100
Why switch from Evernote
Clean Markdown notes for Apple users at a lower price.
Pros
Polished, distraction-free editor
Nested hashtags for organizing
Many export formats
Cons
Apple devices only
Sync requires Bear Pro
Visit Bear Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
Freshness ×0.1577
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Bear a good Evernote alternative?
Verified facts
2 of 3 verified
Platforms
macOS, iOS, iPadOS
Checked Oct 24, 2026bear.app(opens source in a new tab)
Sync
Bear Pro subscription
Not checked yetbear.app(opens source in a new tab)
Editor
Markdown
Checked Oct 24, 2026bear.app(opens source in a new tab)
6. UpNote
Best for: Former Evernote users who want simple, synced notes at a low one-off price
Free plan + paidWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
40.0
score / 100
Why switch from Evernote
A clean, cheaper Evernote-style app with a lifetime licence.
Pros
Clean, fast interface
Lifetime licence option
Apps on every major platform
Offline access with automatic sync
Cons
Free version stops at 50 notes
No end-to-end encryption
No real-time collaboration
Visit UpNote 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 UpNote a good Evernote alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Free plan
Up to 50 notes
Checked Oct 25, 2026getupnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
Premium price
$1.99/month or $39.99 lifetime
Checked Oct 25, 2026getupnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Checked Oct 25, 2026getupnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
Offline mode
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026getupnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
7. 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)
8. Zoho Notebook
Best for: People who want a free, attractive notebook app without ads
Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension
40.0
score / 100
Why switch from Evernote
Free notebooks with many note types and no ads.
Pros
Free with no ads
Many note types, including audio and file cards
Works offline
Apps for desktop, mobile and web
Cons
Basic formatting
No backlinks or knowledge-base features
No Linux app
Visit Zoho Notebook 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 Zoho Notebook a good Evernote alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Free plan
Yes, no ads
Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web
Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
Offline mode
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
Note types
Text, audio, photo, file
Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
9. Readwise Reader
Best for: Heavy readers and researchers who highlight a lot and want one inbox for every format
PaidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Browser extension
38.6
score / 100
Why switch from Evernote
Better for saving articles to read and highlight, with export to note apps.
Pros
One library for articles, PDFs, EPUBs, newsletters and RSS
Excellent highlighting with export to note-taking apps
Keyboard-driven, with AI summaries and text-to-speech
API, CLI and MCP server for automation
Cons
No free plan once the trial ends
So many features that the interface takes time to learn
Highlight review is a separate product unless you buy the bundle
Visit Readwise Reader Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.37
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 Readwise Reader a good Evernote alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Reader-only price
$7.99/month, billed yearly
Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
Full Readwise price
$9.99/month, billed yearly
Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
30 days, no credit card
Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
Supported formats
Articles, PDFs, EPUBs, email, YouTube, RSS
Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
10. Raindrop.io
Best for: People who collect lots of links and want tidy collections with a free plan that has no caps
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Browser extension
38.6
score / 100
Why switch from Evernote
For people who mainly used Evernote's web clipper, Raindrop.io saves and archives pages with a free plan.
Pros
Unlimited bookmarks, collections and devices for free
Nested collections, tags, highlights and reminders
Apps on every major platform plus an API
Can share collections publicly or with collaborators
Cons
Full-text search and permanent copies need Pro
Hosted only; no self-hosted version
Reading view is less focused than dedicated read-later apps
Visit Raindrop.io Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.37
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 Raindrop.io a good Evernote alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
Unlimited bookmarks and devices
Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)
Pro features
Full-text search, permanent copies, backups
Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)
Refunds
30-day money-back guarantee
Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)
Desktop apps
macOS and Windows
Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)
Open-source apps
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Evernote alternative for…

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

Best Evernote alternative for most people

Joplin

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

Best Evernote alternative for a free option

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebook app with clipping and handwriting support.

Best Evernote alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Obsidian

Keep notes as local files and avoid subscription changes.

Best Evernote alternative for open source

Notesnook

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

Best Evernote alternative for self-hosting

Joplin

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

Best Evernote alternative for Mac

Notion

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

Best Evernote alternative for Windows

UpNote

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

Best Evernote alternative for Linux

Joplin

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

Best Evernote alternative for iPhone and Android

Zoho Notebook

Free notebooks with many note types and no ads.

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.

Quick comparison

1. JoplinTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Microsoft OneNote

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. Obsidian

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Notion

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. Bear

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

6. UpNote

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

7. Notesnook

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

8. Zoho Notebook

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

9. Readwise Reader

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

10. Raindrop.io

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

The best Evernote alternative for…

Best Evernote alternative for most people

Best Evernote alternative for a free option

Best Evernote alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Best Evernote alternative for open source

Best Evernote alternative for self-hosting

Best Evernote alternative for Mac

Best Evernote alternative for Windows

Best Evernote alternative for Linux

Best Evernote alternative for iPhone and Android

Best Evernote alternative for working in the browser

Evernote alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Evernote?

Is there a free alternative to Evernote?

Is there an open-source alternative to Evernote?

Which Evernote alternatives work on Linux?

Why do people switch from Evernote?

How is this list ranked?