Evernote
Cloud note-taking app for capturing web clips, scanned documents and meeting notes, with AI search built in.
Founded 2008
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Evernote is a cloud note-taking app built around capturing and finding information: typed notes, web pages saved with the Web Clipper, scanned documents, PDFs and recorded meetings. Notes are organized with notebooks, tags and spaces, and advanced search supports Boolean and filtered queries. Every plan, including Free, lists the AI Assistant, semantic search, AI Transcribe, AI Edit and offline notes. Starter and higher plans add in-note encryption on Mac and Windows and an MCP connection, now in beta, that lets AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT read and create notes. Backlinks show which notes link to the one you are viewing, and any note can be shared through a public link for viewing or editing. The Free plan is small: 50 notes, one notebook and one device. Evernote launched in 2008 and is owned by Bending Spoons.
Best for
People who already keep years of notes in Evernote, or anyone who mainly captures, clips and searches information and wants AI search on every plan.
Pros
- AI Assistant, semantic search, AI Transcribe and AI Edit are listed on every plan, including Free
- Offline notes on every plan
- Web Clipper, document scanning and PDF annotation for capturing material
- MCP connection (in beta) lets Claude, ChatGPT and other MCP tools read and create notes (Starter and up)
- Any note can be shared by public link with view or edit access, even with people who have no Evernote account
Cons
- Free plan is limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook and 1 device
- Starter caps you at 1,000 notes, 20 notebooks and 3 devices
- Monthly billing costs more: Starter is $14.99 a month, or $99 for a year paid upfront
- Notes live in Evernote's cloud; exports (ENEX or HTML) run only in the desktop app, up to 100 notes or whole notebooks at a time
- In-note encryption works only on Mac and Windows and is not on the Free plan
From our tests
Screenshots of Evernote from our hands-on tests. Each links to the full-size image; the test name leads to the task, how we judged it and the other tool's result.
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (12-month total) |
|---|---|---|
| Free50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 device, 1 GB storage | Free Free plan | |
| StarterPer month; $99 billed yearly (about $8.25/month), $14.99 billed monthly; 1,000 notes, 20 notebooks, 3 devices, 5 GB storage | $14.99/mo | $99/yr ($8.25/mo) |
| AdvancedPer month; $249.99 billed yearly (about $20.83/month), $24.99 billed monthly; unlimited notes, notebooks and devices | $24.99/mo | $249.99/yr ($20.83/mo) |
| EnterpriseTalk to sales; for organizations with 10+ seats; SSO and SCIM | Custom | |
Prices checked on .
Features
In Notes and knowledge
| Feature | Evernote |
|---|---|
| Offline use | Yes · Offline notes on all plans, incl. Free |
| Local-first files | No · Cloud sync; export to ENEX or HTML (desktop app) |
| Databases | No · In-note tables sort and filter rows (no formulas or nested tables); tasks can be viewed by note, assignment or due date, with filters; no database or table views listed |
| Backlinks | Yes · Lists notes that link to the open note |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes · Team members can edit notes simultaneously; invite with Can edit access or share an "anyone with the link can edit" link (no account needed); which plans get live editing is not stated |
| API | Partial · MCP server in beta (Starter and up); legacy API deprecated |
| Publish to web | Partial · Public note links, view or edit |
| Encryption | Partial · In-note encryption (Mac & Windows), Starter and up |
| AI features | Yes · AI Assistant, semantic search, AI Transcribe, AI Edit on all plans |