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Free Alternative to Evernote
Save $15/mo with these 1 free and open source alternatives that work great on macOS.
Evernote ($15/mo)
FREE alternatives below
Our Top Pick
Quick Comparison
| App | Price | Open Source | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evernote | $15/mo | No | — |
| Joplin | Free | Yes | Productivity |
Best Free Alternatives to Evernote for Mac
Evernote dominated note-taking for years, but the Bending Spoons acquisition in November 2022 brought dramatic changes that alienated its core user base. The free tier now limits you to just 50 notes, one notebook, and a single device—rendering it essentially unusable for serious work. Paid plans jumped over 70% for some users, with the new Starter tier at $8.25/month and Advanced at $20.83/month, while storage limits were introduced for the first time in Evernote's history.
The backlash has been significant, with many longtime users questioning whether the value matches the cost and migrating to alternatives in droves. Fortunately, the note-taking landscape has evolved with excellent free alternatives that offer better features, true data ownership, and zero risk of surprise price increases. Whether you want local Markdown files, seamless Apple ecosystem integration, open-source privacy, or a flexible all-in-one workspace, there's a free option that might actually serve you better than Evernote ever did—and you'll never worry about losing access to your notes again.
Detailed Alternative Reviews
Obsidian
Your notes, your files, forever
brew install --cask obsidianObsidian stores your notes as plain Markdown files on your own computer. You truly own your data—no company can lock you out, increase prices, or shut down servers. The killer feature is bidirectional linking: connect ideas together and visualize your knowledge as an interactive graph with over 43,000 GitHub stars of community support.
It launches in about 3 seconds on Apple Silicon and handles massive note collections effortlessly. With 1,500+ community plugins, you can build your ideal thinking space. Canvas lets you map out ideas on an infinite board with cards, arrows, and colors.
Key Features:
- Notes stored as local Markdown files you own
- Bidirectional linking between notes
- Graph view to visualize connections
- 1,500+ community plugins for any workflow
- Canvas for visual brainstorming with infinite boards
- Daily notes and templates with hotkeys
- Full offline access always—no internet required
- Blazing fast on Apple Silicon (launches in 3 seconds)
Limitations:
- • Sync between devices costs $5/month (or use free cloud storage)
- • Learning curve for Markdown and advanced features
- • No built-in web clipper (community plugins available)
Best for: Writers, researchers, and knowledge workers who want complete data ownership and love connecting ideas together
Apple Notes
Already on your Mac, better than you think
Built into macOS—find it in your Applications folderApple Notes has evolved into a surprisingly powerful note-taking app. With macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, it gained audio recording with real-time transcription powered by Apple Intelligence, Math Notes that solve equations as you type, collapsible sections for long notes, and colored text for highlighting. Real-time collaboration lets multiple people edit the same note simultaneously. If you have a Mac and iPhone, it's already syncing through iCloud with zero setup. iOS 26 adds native Markdown import/export for the first time.
Key Features:
- Built into macOS and iOS with iCloud sync
- Audio recording with AI transcription (macOS Sequoia)
- Math Notes solve equations instantly
- Document scanning with OCR
- Real-time collaboration with live cursors
- Collapsible sections and colored text
- Tags and smart folders with powerful filtering
- Secure notes with Face ID/Touch ID
Limitations:
- • Apple devices only
- • Limited export options (Markdown coming in iOS 26)
- • No web clipper browser extension
Best for: Apple users who want frictionless note-taking with powerful features and zero setup
Microsoft OneNote
Truly free, unlimited, and cross-platform
brew install --cask microsoft-onenoteOneNote is completely free with no tiers, no limitations, and no subscription required—just sign up for a free Microsoft account. You get 5GB of OneDrive storage that's generous compared to Evernote's 60MB monthly upload on free. It works like a digital binder with notebooks, sections, and pages, but the canvas-style interface lets you click anywhere and start typing. OCR technology searches text within images and handwritten notes.
Real-time collaboration lets multiple people edit the same notebook simultaneously. It integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, Word, Teams, and Excel.
Key Features:
- Truly unlimited and completely free
- 5GB OneDrive storage included
- Flexible canvas-style pages—click anywhere to type
- Works on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, web
- OCR search in images and handwriting
- Real-time collaborative editing with presence
- Drawing and handwriting with ink-to-text
- Web clipper included for all browsers
Limitations:
- • Interface can feel cluttered
- • Syncs through OneDrive only
- • Mac version less polished than Windows
- • Copilot AI requires paid Microsoft 365
Best for: Users who want a powerful, completely free option that works everywhere and integrates with Microsoft 365
Joplin
Open-source Evernote with end-to-end encryption
brew install --cask joplinJoplin is the open-source answer to Evernote, named after ragtime composer Scott Joplin. It directly imports your Evernote ENEX files—notebooks, tags, attachments, and metadata all transfer. Notes are stored locally in Markdown format and sync via your choice of cloud service: Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, or Joplin Cloud.
The standout feature is optional end-to-end encryption—your notes stay private even if your cloud account is compromised. With 43,000+ GitHub stars and an active community, it supports images, videos, PDFs, audio files, math expressions, and diagrams. It works offline first, so your notes are always accessible.
Key Features:
- Direct Evernote ENEX import with full metadata
- End-to-end encryption (AES-256)
- Markdown and Rich Text editors
- Sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, or Joplin Cloud
- Web clipper for Firefox and Chrome
- Completely open-source (MIT license)
- Offline-first architecture—works without internet
- Note history and revisions
Limitations:
- • Interface less polished than commercial apps
- • Setup requires choosing sync method
- • Fewer third-party integrations
Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want to migrate from Evernote with minimal friction and full data ownership
Notion
More than notes—an everything workspace
brew install --cask notionNotion's free plan is genuinely generous: unlimited blocks and pages for individuals, 7-day page history, and up to 10 guests for collaboration. Unlike Slack's crippled free tier, Notion Free is fully functional for solo users. It's more than a note-taking app—you can build wikis, project trackers, databases, calendars, and custom workflows with templates for any use case.
The learning curve is steeper, but the flexibility is unmatched. File uploads are limited to 5MB per file on free, but storage itself is unlimited. If you outgrew Evernote's rigid structure, Notion's block-based approach might be the upgrade you need.
Key Features:
- Unlimited blocks and pages for individuals
- Powerful databases with table, board, gallery, timeline views
- 7-day page history
- Up to 10 guests for collaboration
- Notion Calendar built-in for scheduling
- Templates for any use case (over 10,000 community templates)
- Real-time collaboration with comments
- Web clipper included for Chrome, Firefox, Safari
Limitations:
- • 5MB per file upload limit on free tier
- • Requires internet for most functionality
- • Can be overwhelming at first
- • AI features limited to 20 free responses
Best for: Students, freelancers, and individuals who want notes plus project management plus databases in one flexible tool
Simplenote
Fast, lightweight, and completely free
brew install --cask simplenoteSimplenote by Automattic (the company behind WordPress) strips note-taking down to the essentials. It's blazingly fast, completely free, and syncs instantly across all your devices. No ads, no upsells, no premium tiers—just notes, tags, and search.
The interface is minimal by design, perfect for quick text capture and retrieval. Markdown support is built-in, and version history lets you restore any previous version of a note. Collaboration is simple: share a note and it updates in real-time.
It's open-source and works on Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and web. If Evernote felt bloated, Simplenote is the opposite—clean, fast, and distraction-free.
Key Features:
- Completely free forever with no premium tiers
- Instant sync across all devices (Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, web)
- Blazing fast search with instant results
- Markdown support built-in
- Version history for every note
- Simple tagging system
- Pin important notes to the top
- Publishing notes as web pages with unique URLs
Limitations:
- • No rich text formatting
- • No file attachments
- • No web clipper
- • Minimal organizational features
Best for: Minimalists who want lightning-fast text notes with zero friction and no feature bloat
Which Alternative is Right for You?
Personal Knowledge Base and Zettelkasten
→ Obsidian excels here with its bidirectional linking and graph view. You can build a personal wiki that reveals connections between ideas over time. Local Markdown files mean you own your data forever, and the 1,500+ plugins let you customize it for your exact workflow. The Canvas feature lets you map out complex ideas visually with cards, arrows, and colors on an infinite board.
Quick Daily Notes and Journaling
→ Apple Notes is fastest for this—it's already on your Mac, syncs instantly via iCloud, and opens in a split second with Quick Notes hotkey. Audio transcription powered by Apple Intelligence means you can speak your thoughts and have them converted to text automatically. Math Notes is perfect for financial journaling where you need quick calculations. Collapsible sections keep long journal entries organized.
Academic Research and Web Clipping
→ Joplin has a solid web clipper and directly imports your existing Evernote ENEX notebooks with tags and attachments intact. End-to-end encryption keeps research private, which is crucial for unpublished work or sensitive academic materials. The offline-first architecture means you can work in the library or on planes without internet. External editor support lets you use VS Code or Typora for longer writing sessions.
Team Knowledge Base and Project Management
→ Notion's collaboration features, database capabilities, and 10 free guests make it ideal for shared team documentation and project management. You can build wikis, roadmaps, task boards, and calendars all in one place. Real-time collaboration with comments and mentions keeps everyone on the same page. The 10,000+ community templates mean you can find starting points for any team workflow.
Cross-Platform Power User with Windows and Android
→ OneNote works seamlessly on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web with real-time collaboration. It's completely free with no limitations and integrates natively with Microsoft 365. The canvas-style interface lets you arrange content freely, and OCR search works across images and handwritten notes. If your team uses Microsoft Teams, OneNote integrates directly into meeting channels.
Privacy-First Note Taking for Sensitive Information
→ Joplin with end-to-end encryption ensures your notes stay private even if your cloud account is compromised. It's fully open-source so you can audit the code yourself or have security experts review it. You control where your encrypted notes are stored—Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, or Joplin Cloud. The MIT license means no company can ever restrict your access or change terms.
Minimalist Text Notes Without Distractions
→ Simplenote is perfect if Evernote felt bloated. It's blazingly fast, completely free, and strips note-taking down to essentials: notes, tags, and search. No rich text formatting means zero distraction from writing. Markdown support gives you basic formatting when needed. Version history for every note means you never lose content. Publishing notes as web pages with unique URLs is great for sharing drafts or documentation.
Migrating from Evernote with Minimal Disruption
→ Joplin offers the smoothest migration path with direct ENEX import that preserves notebooks, tags, attachments, and metadata. The web clipper works similarly to Evernote's, so your workflow barely changes. Notion also has a built-in Evernote importer, but you'll need to adapt to its block-based structure. For Obsidian, use third-party converters like Yarle to transform ENEX to Markdown, then spend time organizing your new vault.
Migration Tips
Exporting from Evernote in ENEX Format
Export your notebooks as ENEX files from Evernote by selecting File > Export in the desktop app. Choose individual notebooks or select all notes for a complete export. Joplin imports these directly with full metadata, tags, and attachments. Notion also has a built-in Evernote importer accessible from Settings > Import. For Obsidian, use third-party converters like Yarle or Evernote2MD to transform ENEX to Markdown format.
Handling Attachments and Images
Check that embedded images, PDFs, and attachments transfer correctly. Joplin handles this best with full attachment preservation in the import process. Obsidian may need manual file management for complex attachments—review your vault's attachments folder after import. OneNote can accept copy-pasted content but requires manual migration of attachments. Apple Notes lacks direct import, so you'll need to manually recreate notes with attachments.
Reorganizing Tags and Notebooks
Your Evernote tags may not transfer perfectly to all apps, especially if you used nested tags or complex tag hierarchies. Plan to spend time reorganizing in your new app—it's actually a good chance to clean up old notes and rethink your organization system. Joplin preserves tags in import. Obsidian uses hashtags in content or YAML frontmatter for tags. Notion uses databases with tag properties. Apple Notes has a simpler tag system introduced in recent versions.
Test with One Notebook First
Export one notebook first as a test run. Verify that formatting, images, links, and tags import correctly before migrating your entire library. This catches issues early and lets you choose the best alternative for your needs. Try importing the same test notebook into multiple apps to compare results. Pay special attention to how web clippings, PDFs, and rich formatting translate.
Set Up Sync Before Full Migration
Configure syncing in your new app before migrating all your notes. For Obsidian, set up Obsidian Sync ($5/month) or configure free cloud storage (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive) with third-party sync tools. For Joplin, choose your sync target (Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, or Joplin Cloud) and test it works. For Apple Notes, ensure iCloud is enabled. For OneNote, verify your Microsoft account has enough OneDrive storage.
Keep Evernote Active During Transition
Don't immediately delete your Evernote account. Keep it active for at least 1-2 months while you transition to verify everything migrated correctly and you're comfortable with the new workflow. This safety net costs nothing if you're on the free tier and prevents panic if you discover missing notes later. Once you're confident, you can downgrade or close your Evernote account.
Our Verdict
Top Pick:
Obsidian
Best for anyone who wants true ownership of their notes. Local Markdown files mean no vendor lock-in ever, no subscription required, and no company can change terms or raise prices on you. The bidirectional linking and graph view make it genuinely better for building a knowledge base than Evernote ever was. With 1,500+ community plugins, you can customize it for any workflow. The Canvas feature adds visual brainstorming capabilities Evernote never had.
Runner Up:
Joplin
Best for Evernote migrants—direct ENEX import with full metadata, familiar web clipper, and end-to-end encryption make switching painless. It's open-source with 43,000+ GitHub stars and an active community. You control where your encrypted notes are stored, and the MIT license means no company can ever restrict your access. The offline-first architecture means your notes are always accessible without internet.
Evernote's restrictive free tier (50 notes, 1 device, 250MB monthly upload) and dramatic price increases have pushed users away, but the alternatives are genuinely excellent and often superior. Obsidian gives you complete data ownership with local Markdown files and powerful bidirectional linking for building interconnected knowledge bases. Joplin offers the smoothest migration path with direct ENEX import, end-to-end encryption, and open-source transparency. Apple Notes is surprisingly capable and already on your Mac with zero setup. OneNote is completely free with no limitations and works everywhere. Notion provides more flexibility than Evernote ever did with databases and project management features. Simplenote strips it down to pure speed and simplicity. The irony? Many users report being happier after switching—with better features, true data ownership, and spending less money or nothing at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Joplin is the easiest option—it directly imports ENEX files with notebooks, tags, attachments, and metadata fully intact. Just export your notebooks from Evernote as ENEX format (File > Export), then import them into Joplin (File > Import > ENEX). Notion also has a built-in Evernote importer under Settings > Import. For Obsidian, use third-party converters like Yarle or Evernote2MD to transform ENEX to Markdown files, then organize your vault.
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About the Author
Productivity & Workflow Analyst
Productivity ApplicationsNote-Taking & Knowledge ManagementTask & Project Management
Jordan Kim focuses on productivity software, system utilities, and workflow optimization tools. With a background in operations management and process improvement, Jordan evaluates how well applications integrate into daily workflows and enhance overall productivity.
8+ years in operations management · PMP certified