Evernote vs OneNote 2026: Which Note-Taking App Should You Choose?
Since Bending Spoons took over Evernote, prices have jumped and the free plan is barely usable; OneNote stays completely free and deeply tied to Microsoft 365. The wrong pick costs you real money or locks your notes into Microsoft's ecosystem. Here's how they actually differ.
Side-by-side Comparison
| Dimension | Evernote | OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Core positioning | Database-style notes, strong search | Free-form digital notebook |
| Pricing | Limited free, ~US$130/yr Personal | Completely free ★ |
| Search & organize | Tags + best-in-class OCR search ★ | Decent search, manual sections |
| Input flexibility | Structured, mostly linear | Type/draw anywhere on page ★ |
| Key weakness | Steep price, 1-notebook free tier | Sync conflicts, cluttered UI |
| Ecosystem | Standalone, consistent cross-OS | Deep Microsoft 365 / Teams ties ★ |
| Learning curve | Quick to learn ★ | Simple idea, messy hierarchy |
| Best for | Heavy clippers needing search | Microsoft users & handwriters |
★ = Winner
Verdict
Choose Evernote if: you clip the web heavily, scan documents, and lean on best-in-class full-text and in-image search, and you'll pay the subscription for unmatched recall. Choose OneNote if: you already use Microsoft 365, want it free, and like paper-style free-form layout and handwriting. For most casual users, OneNote's free-and-good-enough beats Evernote's now-overpriced plans; only true note-as-database users should pay for Evernote.
Master it faster with our 50-tip guidebook: Evernote 50 Digital Note-Taking Tips (US$5)
Master it faster with our 50-tip guidebook: OneNote 50 Essential Note-Taking Tips (US$5)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Evernote's free plan still usable?
Barely. The free tier caps you at 1 notebook and 50 notes, which is too tight for any serious user and effectively pushes you to pay.
Is OneNote really completely free?
Yes. The OneNote app is free and notes live in OneDrive's free 5GB. You only pay for Microsoft 365 if you need more cloud storage.
Is migrating from Evernote to OneNote easy?
Microsoft's official importer has wound down, so it's now mostly manual or third-party. Tags and some formatting are lost, so export an ENEX backup first.
Reviewed and verified by FeiYueh · Last verified 2026-05-20. Independently maintained — not AI-generated boilerplate.
← All Guidebooks