Evernote costs $14.99/mo.
These cost $0.
3 free alternatives to Evernote, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Evernote vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $14.99/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 56k | Evernote vs Joplin → |
| SiYuan | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 46k | Evernote vs SiYuan → |
| Notesnook | open source | GPL-3.0 (client); AGPL-3.0 (sync server) | Local or hosted | ★ 14k | Evernote vs Notesnook → |
The picks
3 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Joplin
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted56kjul 2026Evernote after removing the rent, the lock-in and some polish.
The catch vs EvernoteJoplin is less polished at document scanning, OCR, web clipping, email capture, and search across messy attachments than Evernote.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilecliextensionone-click install
- install
- Official desktop, mobile, or terminal package; optional Joplin Server via Docker
- setup
- Local use installs cleanly; dependable multi-device use means choosing and configuring a sync target, then correctly enabling and preserving end-to-end-encryption keys
- your data
- The app keeps notes and metadata in its local profile database, with Markdown bodies and resource attachments; JEX/raw exports are available, and optional sync copies encrypted items to Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, S3, or Joplin Server
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
SiYuan
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted46kaug 2026Capture, search, tasks and databases; free sync means bringing your own server.
The catch vs EvernoteSiYuan is stronger at structured knowledge than frictionless capture, and its mobile scanning, web clipping, OCR, and turnkey sync are weaker than Evernote's.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobileself-hostedextensionone-click install
- install
- Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting
- setup
- The desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
- engines
- Built-in AI features connect to OpenAI-compatible APIs using a configured endpoint and key
- your data
- A workspace stores block documents as structured .sy JSON files plus assets on disk; SQLite files hold indexes and auxiliary state; documents can export to Markdown, HTML, PDF, and Word
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Notesnook
open sourceGPL-3.0 (client); AGPL-3.0 (sync server)Local or hosted14kaug 2026Evernote with the server blindfolded and the free tier still usable.
The catch vs EvernoteNotesnook prioritizes encrypted notes but has a less mature task, calendar, scanning, web-clipping, and integration ecosystem than Evernote.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilewebextensionthey host it
- install
- Hosted web/desktop/mobile app, or an experimental Docker self-hosted sync stack
- setup
- Hosted use installs cleanly; self-hosting is explicitly experimental and requires Docker plus MongoDB, MinIO/S3-compatible storage, secrets, backups, and client endpoint configuration
- your data
- Notes are encrypted on the device and the hosted or self-hosted sync service stores encrypted per-item data; local app data remains on-device and encrypted .nnbackupz backups can be exported
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Evernote open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Evernote?+
The top free alternative to Evernote is Joplin (open source, AGPL-3.0+). Evernote after removing the rent, the lock-in and some polish. Other popular Evernote replacements include SiYuan, Notesnook.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Evernote?+
Yes. Of the 3 free alternatives to Evernote, 3 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Joplin (AGPL-3.0+), SiYuan (AGPL-3.0), Notesnook (GPL-3.0 (client); AGPL-3.0 (sync server)).
How much does switching from Evernote to a free alternative save?+
Evernote starts at $14.99/month per seat ($180/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Joplin saves $899 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Evernote clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Evernote is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). A personal notes app with OCR/search/import is reachable, but the hard parts are migration, sync reliability, clipper UX, OCR quality, and years of user data.
What is the catch when switching from Evernote to Joplin?+
Joplin is less polished at document scanning, OCR, web clipping, email capture, and search across messy attachments than Evernote.
