The Best Free Evernote AlternativesTop Note-taking Tools & Todo List Managers like Evernote

The best free alternative to Evernote is Joplin, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Evernote and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Evernote are Microsoft OneNote, Standard Notes, Obsidian and Simplenote.

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Evernote alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Todo List Managers or Task Management Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Evernote.
Evernote iconEvernote
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Cross-platform app for creating and organizing notes from text, web pages, images, and voice memos. Offers security features and integrates with various tools.

More about Evernote
Evernote alternatives page was last updated Feb 8, 2025
  1. Joplin icon
     800 likes

    Joplin is a free, open-source alternative to Evernote, known for its Markdown support, encryption, and cross-platform compatibility. While Evernote offers seamless cloud syncing and text formatting, Joplin excels in privacy and customization. Choose Joplin for technical expertise and security.

    67 Joplin alternatives
    Desktop and mobile apps

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Termux
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Web Clipper
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Local Storage
    7.  Tagging
    8. Android icon  Android Sync
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  File Sync
    11.  Encrypted Notes
    12.  WebDAV Support
    Joplin iconEvernote Icon

    Joplin VS Evernote

    Is Joplin a good alternative to Evernote?
     
    Comments about Joplin as an Alternative to Evernote
     
       
    Comment summary: Joplin is often praised as a strong alternative to Evernote, particularly for its open-source nature, cross-platform support, and markdown capabilities. Users appreciate its effective import feature from Evernote, robust synchronization options, and encryption features. However, it lacks WYSIWYG editing and background sync capabilities on mobile devices. Learning Markdown may be necessary, and while it excels in privacy and customization, Evernote remains a more mature and collaborative product.
    Guest

    PRO:

    • markdown ?
    • let you encrypt your notes
    • save them on your computer(backup with thirdparty backupsoftware)
    • free, Open Source
    • crossplatform

    CON:

    • no OCR
    Top positive commentJul 29, 2018
    13
    mandrael

    Joplin is a quite okay alternative to Evernote, but it has its issues. 1) the mobile sync doesn't work in the background, so it doesn't work sufficiently. Issue on Android and iOS. It only syncs if you watch it. No background-sync (!!). 2) It's not WYSIWYG and you can't do several common things you can do with Evernote or Nimbus. Joplin has to improve in sync and user-friendlyness. Then it can really compete. But: it has the best Evernote import feature on the market. This worked flawlessly!

    Top negative commentMay 24, 2022
    4
    Eduardo3382

    There is a large community behind this app that can assist you if you find some problem.

    Positive commentMay 13, 2022
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 25 comments
    Evernote Icon
    Joplin icon
    • Most users think Joplin is a great Evernote alternative.

    • Joplin is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Evernote.

    • Joplin is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Evernote.

    • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceEvernote is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Joplin is Privacy focusedEvernote is not according to our users
  2. Microsoft OneNote icon
     1134 likes

    OneNote is one of the most ubiquitous note-taking apps out there, and with its notoriety comes widespread mainstream support and understanding. Like Evernote, it supports note-taking and to-do lists, and its interface can be considered much simpler and less cluttered than Evernote's as well. It isn't as cros...

    87 Microsoft OneNote alternatives
    Microsoft OneNote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Wear
    • Kindle Fire

    Top Microsoft OneNote Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Web Clipper
    3.  Visual Organization
    4.  Hierarchical Structure
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Insert images
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Cloud Sync
    9.  Support for styluses
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Pressure Sensitivity
    12.  Multiple Account support
    Microsoft OneNote iconEvernote Icon

    Microsoft OneNote VS Evernote

    Is Microsoft OneNote a good alternative to Evernote?
     
    Comments about Microsoft OneNote as an Alternative to Evernote
     
       
    Comment summary: Microsoft OneNote is praised for its affordability and integration with the Microsoft suite, offering a cleaner interface and additional features like drawing and to-do lists. Users highlight its cross-platform limitations and proprietary nature, contrasting with Evernote's superior browser extension and searching capabilities. Some users prefer OneNote for its functionality and ease of use, while others express concerns over its speed and flexibility.
    ugurozturk

    Can take notes, can draw, can make to-do lists, can add pictures, can add formulas! What more? Check it out it's also free.

    Top positive commentMar 10, 2017
    21
    Guest

    It is not real cross-platform (Linux is not compatible).

    Top negative commentAug 16, 2017
    31
    bishnusapkota

    Because it's free, free like air

    Positive commentOct 27, 2024
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 14 comments
    Evernote Icon
    Microsoft OneNote icon
    • Most users think Microsoft OneNote is a great Evernote alternative.

    • Microsoft OneNote is the most popular Web-based alternative to Evernote.

    • Microsoft OneNote is Freemium and ProprietaryEvernote is also Freemium and Proprietary
  3. Standard Notes icon
     642 likes

    Though Standard Notes only supports text entry out of the box, it has its own advantages compared to Evernote. Its features can also be expanded with extensions. It's end-to-end encrypted, open source (but freemium), and has no device limit. It can synchronize your notes to as many supported devices as you w...

    73 Standard Notes alternatives
    Standard Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Clean design
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  Encrypted Notes
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Encrypted Backup
    8.  AES Encryption
    9.  Sync on many devices
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Mobile friendly
    12.  Client side encryption
    Standard Notes iconEvernote Icon

    Standard Notes VS Evernote

    Is Standard Notes a good alternative to Evernote?
     
    Comments about Standard Notes as an Alternative to Evernote
     
       
    Comment summary: Standard Notes is praised for its security, privacy, and open-source nature. It offers end-to-end encryption, multiplatform support including Linux, and options to extend its functionality through plugins, such as Markdown. Users appreciate its reliable sync capabilities and active development, though some note the lack of multilingual support and limited handling of images or attachments. Considered a solid alternative to Evernote for users prioritizing privacy and simplicity.
    RemovedUser

    Standard Notes is the service that I can trust to not share and read my notes.

    Top positive commentAug 8, 2020
    2
    Guest

    Does not support images or attachments, only text.

    Top negative commentMay 5, 2018
    14
    a a

    Not good as joplin because almost all features are paid

    Positive commentMar 10, 2022
    2
    Show more comments
    3 of 12 comments
    Evernote Icon
    Standard Notes icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Standard Notes is a great Evernote alternative.

    • Standard Notes is Freemium and Open SourceEvernote is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Standard Notes is Privacy focused and Security-focusedEvernote is not according to our users
  4. Obsidian icon
     928 likes

    Obsidian is a note-taking app that lets you create a personal knowledge graph with ease. It is designed for non-linear thinking and allows you to easily link your notes together wiki-style.

    91 Obsidian alternatives
    Obsidian screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Safari
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Top Obsidian Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Local Storage
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Graph view
    5.  Bidirectional links
    6.  Mind Mapping
    7.  Personal Information Manager (PIM)
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Knowledge Management
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Backlink
    Obsidian iconEvernote Icon

    Obsidian VS Evernote

    Is Obsidian a good alternative to Evernote?
     
    Comments about Obsidian as an Alternative to Evernote
     
    Joshua Wagner

    ? Building an interface on top of a directory of Markdown files. Huge interoperability gains. ?? ? Amazing plugins (99% free) by a vibrant Forum/Discord community. ?? It's about making sense of information and utilizing it, not just collecting and archiving it. Obsidian and the community excel at that.

    Positive commentJan 20, 2022
    1
    Stefan Steinert

    Manages data (mostly markdown) in plain files. Has excellent inter-note linking and tagging capabilities. Syncs nicely between devices with a sync-tool of choice (icloud drive in my case). Offers extension through lots of clever plugins. Strikes an almost perfect balance between simplicity and usefulness (at least for me). Someone on the internet (tm) put it very appropriately: "It's an IDE for notes".

    Positive commentDec 9, 2021
    1
    jjhon314314

    Obsidian is an excellent note-taking app that allows you to write in markdown and use the zettelkasten system.

    Positive commentOct 9, 2020
    3
    Evernote Icon
    Obsidian icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Obsidian is a great Evernote alternative.

    • Obsidian is Free Personal and ProprietaryEvernote is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. Simplenote icon
     590 likes

    As its name suggests, Simplenote is a simplified note-taking app for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and the web. It only supports text-based entry and doesn't really support media clipping or any of the more advanced or elaborate features found in other Evernote alternatives. However, for text-based no...

    65 Simplenote alternatives
    Simplenote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Clean design
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Cross-device syncing
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Search by tags
    4.  Simple text editor
    5.  Protected by Password
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Text Based Format
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Portable
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Ad-free
    Simplenote iconEvernote Icon

    Simplenote VS Evernote

    Is Simplenote a good alternative to Evernote?
     
    Comments about Simplenote as an Alternative to Evernote
     
       
    Guest

    Very quick sync, responsive UI, works good across Windows, Linux and Android, although missing support for graphical notes and more text formatting options

    Top positive commentNov 13, 2016
    10
    Guest

    Not an archiver. Simplenote is for just that: simple markdown notes.

    Top negative commentJun 15, 2017
    22
    ghigotrieste

    Notes in Simplenote are just text, whereas with Evernote notes can also contain images

    Negative commentDec 11, 2024
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 11 comments
    Evernote Icon
    Simplenote icon
    • Most users think Simplenote is a great Evernote alternative.

    • Simplenote is Free and Open SourceEvernote is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Simplenote is LightweightEvernote is not according to our users
  6. NoteLedge icon
     195 likes

    NoteLedge has a friendly and accessible interface for note-taking, but it comes with some key caveats in comparison to other Evernote alternatives. On top of being paid software (with additional subscription based pro service options on top of that), it is not available on Linux. It features multilingual sup...

    38 NoteLedge alternatives
    NoteLedge screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet

    Top NoteLedge Features

    1.  Audio Recording
    2.  Drag and Drop
    3.  Web Clipper
    4.  Sync on many devices
    5.  Handwritten Notes
    6.  Multi-choice brushes
    7.  Portable
    8.  Video Import
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  Tag based
    11.  Better formatting
    12.  Stickers
    NoteLedge iconEvernote Icon

    NoteLedge VS Evernote

    Is NoteLedge a good alternative to Evernote?
     
    Comments about NoteLedge as an Alternative to Evernote
     
    Angelica Lloyd

    I like NoteLedge more because it has a simple and intuitive interface.

    Positive commentFeb 12, 2019
    19
    Evernote Icon
    NoteLedge icon
    • Almost everyone thinks NoteLedge is a great Evernote alternative.

    • NoteLedge is Freemium and ProprietaryEvernote is also Freemium and Proprietary
  7. FuseBase icon
     90 likes

    Nimbus Note features an interface that is incredibly similar to Evernote's, but it has a few limitations in comparison. For one, it's not available for Linux or as a Firefox browser plugin. It also has a 100 MB limit for synced data and is not updated as frequently due to the development team's smaller size....

    194 FuseBase alternatives
    FuseBase screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Google Chrome
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Top FuseBase Features

    1.  Cloud Sync
    2.  Goal Tracking
    3.  Reminders
    4.  Real time collaboration
    5.  Kanban Board
    6.  Task Time Tracking
    7.  No Coding Required
    8.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    9.  Support for @mentions
    10.  Calendar View
    11.  Data visualization
    12.  Progress tracking
    FuseBase iconEvernote Icon

    FuseBase VS Evernote

    Is FuseBase a good alternative to Evernote?
     
    Comments about FuseBase as an Alternative to Evernote
     
       
    jasoncomely

    Nimbus Note is practically an Evernote clone - and a great app too (I use it often).

    Top positive commentSep 15, 2015
    5
    John Fastman

    No Linux, no Mac client, no Firefox plugin. Your data rests unencrypted on US-based data centers in readable format. So all the privacy concerns of Evernote minus some of the convenience.

    Top negative commentJan 9, 2017
    12
    bicsparklighter

    because it is the closest in design. tags and folders. rich content

    Positive commentJul 22, 2022
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 9 comments
    Evernote Icon
    FuseBase icon
    • Most users think FuseBase is a great Evernote alternative.

    • FuseBase is the most popular SaaS alternative to Evernote.

    • FuseBase is Freemium and ProprietaryEvernote is also Freemium and Proprietary
7 of 46 Evernote alternatives