Do not index
Do not index
Evernote has long been a leader in the note-taking and productivity space, but in recent years, many users have started looking for alternatives.
Whether it's due to Evernote's rising subscription costs, concerns about privacy and data security, or a desire for different features and workflows, there are now many compelling options to replace or complement Evernote.
One of the most exciting new alternatives is Voicenotes, an innovative app that focuses on capturing ideas through voice recordings and then leveraging
AI to make those notes searchable, actionable, and transformative.
We'll dive into what makes Voicenotes special and explore some of the other top Evernote alternatives to consider in 2024.
Why Look for an Evernote Alternative?
Before we get into the options, it's worth examining why one might want to look beyond Evernote in the first place. For many years, Evernote was the go-to app for collecting all kinds of notes, web clippings, images, and more.
It syncs across devices, offers powerful search and tagging, and has a wide range of integrations and import/export options.
However, Evernote's free plan has become more limited over time, and its paid plans have gotten increasingly expensive. Users have also expressed frustration with interface changes, glitches, and a lack of certain features like markdown support and offline access.
And for those concerned about privacy, Evernote's cloud-based storage and unclear data policies can be a dealbreaker.
Luckily, there are now many feature-rich, affordable, and secure alternatives that cater to different note-taking preferences and use cases. Let's start with one of the most innovative options.
Voicenotes: The AI-Powered Voice Notes App
Voicenotes is a relatively new app that takes a unique approach to note-taking. Rather than typing or writing, you simply hit record and speak your thoughts out loud.
Voicenotes then automatically transcribes the audio into searchable text, while still keeping the original recording.
This alone is handy for quickly capturing ideas on the go. But where Voicenotes really shines is in what you can do with those voice notes after the fact. Using advanced AI and natural language processing, Voicenotes allows you to interact with your notes almost like a personal assistant.
For example, you can ask questions about your notes and get instant answers, even if the information is spread across multiple recordings. You can also give commands to generate summaries, to-do lists, blog post drafts, and more based on the content of your notes.
And Voicenotes can surface relevant past notes based on your current location or calendar events.
This AI-driven approach helps you get more value out of the ideas you've captured, without manual tagging or organizing. It's a great fit for anyone who prefers to brainstorm out loud, struggles to keep their notes organized, or wants to repurpose their ideas into different formats.
Other key features of Voicenotes include:
✅ Automatic transcription with speaker detection;
✅ Ability to edit and format transcripts;
✅ Folders and labels for organization;
✅ Share notes as text or audio;
✅ Web app, iOS, and Android apps with offline mode;
✅ Built-in AI tools for summarization, ideation, task extraction, and more
Voicenotes offers a free plan with core features, as well as affordable monthly and annual subscriptions for more advanced functionality.
It's a compelling option for anyone who wants to capture and leverage their ideas more efficiently.
Other Top Evernote Alternatives
In addition to Voicenotes, there are several other note-taking apps worth considering as Evernote alternatives, each with their own strengths and ideal use cases.
Microsoft OneNote
OneNote is perhaps the most established Evernote competitor, and it's a particularly good option for those already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
It has a similar structure of notebooks, sections, and pages, plus web clipping, rich media embedding, and optical character recognition. OneNote is completely free and offers a large amount of storage via OneDrive.
It doesn't have quite as many features as Evernote, but its interface is more flexible and it integrates nicely with other Microsoft Office apps. For Windows users, the UWP app also supports advanced inking and stylus features.
Notion
Notion has gained popularity in recent years as an all-in-one workspace for notes, wikis, tasks, and databases. It's incredibly flexible, allowing you to create your own structures and views based on your needs.
Notion pages can include text, images, embeds, code snippets, and more, with powerful linking and relation features.While it can be used for simple note-taking, Notion really shines for project management, knowledge bases, and collaboration.
It may have a steeper learning curve than Evernote, but its customization options are unparalleled. Notion offers a free plan for individuals, with paid plans for extra features and team use.
Bear
For a more minimalist option, Bear is a beautifully-designed notes app for Apple devices. It supports markdown formatting, inline images and code snippets, and hashtag organization rather than notebooks.
Bear also offers handy features likecross-note links, rich previews, export options, and themes. While not as full-featured as Evernote, Bear is fast, lightweight, and a joy to use for focused writing. It's a great option for shorter notes and personal knowledge management.
Bear offers a free plan with most features, and a low-cost Pro subscription for syncing, themes, and exporting.
Joplin
For those who prioritize open source and data portability, Joplin is worth a look. It's a free app that supports markdown notes, to-do lists, and web clipping, with organizational notebooks and tags similar to Evernote.
Joplin can sync via various third-party cloud services and offers strong encryption options. While its interface may not be as polished as some alternatives, Joplin is regularly updated and its commitment to user privacy and control is commendable.
It's available on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, making it a good cross-platform option.
Choosing the Right Evernote Alternative
With so many great options available, which Evernote alternative is right for you?
It ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences.
If you want to capture ideas quickly and then leverage them in powerful ways, Voicenotes' unique voice-first, AI-driven approach is hard to beat. Its ability to generate notes, summaries, and content from your recordings can be a huge productivity boost, and its affordable pricing is attractive.
If you're looking for a more traditional notes app with cross-platform support and strong organization options, Microsoft OneNote and Joplin are both robust free options. For a more opinionated, design-forward app for Apple devices, Bear is an excellent choice. And if you want maximum flexibility for building your own productivity system, Notion is extremely powerful.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try a few options and see what clicks for your workflow. All of the apps mentioned here offer free plans or trials, so you can experiment without commitment. You may even find that a combination of apps works best, rather than a single Evernote replacement.
The good news is that in 2024, you have more great choices than ever for collecting and organizing your ideas. Whether you opt for the innovative AI of Voicenotes, the established power of OneNote, or the customizable workspaces of Notion, you can find an app that fits your needs and helps you be more productive.
So if you're feeling constrained by Evernote's limitations or just curious about what else is out there, give one of these alternatives a try.
You might just discover a new favorite way to capture your thoughts and get things done.
