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Best Free Alternatives to Evernote
Stop paying $14.99/mo (Starter). Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: Note TakingVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
Joplin
FREEBest Direct Open Source Replacement
Why we like it
100% free; supports E2EE; flawless Evernote (.enex) import; handles attachments and web clips; totally privacy-focused.
Keep in mind
Sync setup (Dropbox/OneDrive) can be tricky for non-tech users; mobile UI is less polished than paid rivals.
UpNote
Best Value 'Evernote Clone'
Why we like it
The closest experience to 'Old Evernote'; beautiful, fast UI; supports nested notebooks; incredible one-time 'Lifetime' price.
Keep in mind
Not open-source; sync is managed by the developer (less control over data than Joplin/Obsidian).
Microsoft OneNote
FREEBest Free Feature Set for Power Users
Why we like it
Completely free (up to 5GB); 'infinite canvas' allows freeform layouts; excellent handwriting support; industry-standard OCR.
Keep in mind
Formatting can be erratic; sync can occasionally be slow; file structure is more rigid than tag-based systems.
Notesnook
FREEBest for Private Web-Clipping
Why we like it
Fully open-source and end-to-end encrypted; modern 'Reminders' and 'Vault' features; includes a robust web clipper that rivals Evernote.
Keep in mind
The free tier limits some advanced formatting; smaller community than Obsidian or Notion.
Obsidian
FREEBest for Building a Knowledge Base
Why we like it
Local-first (you own your files); bidirectional linking (Zettelkasten); massive community plugin store; zero loading times.
Keep in mind
Steep learning curve to master; doesn't handle images/PDFs as 'natively' as Evernote's filing cabinet style.
Zoho Notebook
FREEBest Visual 'Card' System
Why we like it
Beautiful 'sketchbook' aesthetic; 100% free for most users; excellent mobile experience; includes a capable web clipper.
Keep in mind
Lacks the deep organizational power (nested tags/notebooks) of a full filing cabinet tool.
Standard Notes
FREEBest for Extreme Security
Why we like it
Industrial-grade encryption; totally open-source; supports multiple note types (Markdown, Spreadsheets, Code).
Keep in mind
Rich features (images, folders) are locked behind the paid 'Productivity' plan.
Bear
Best for Apple Users
Why we like it
The most beautiful Markdown editor; incredible typography; tag-based organization is lightning fast.
Keep in mind
Exclusive to Mac/iOS; no web version or Android support.
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