Top 10 Free Alternatives to Evernote AI in 2025: A Comprehensive Comparison

As Evernote continues to serve as a popular note-taking app, 2025 has seen a surge in sophisticated alternatives that bring unique features and AI capabilities to the table. Whether you're focused on AI-driven functionalities, better organization, or superior integration, this article delves into the top 10 free alternatives to Evernote AI, comparing their key features, strengths, and pricing structures.

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1. ClickUp

Description: ClickUp is a versatile project management and note-taking tool that also features AI capabilities. It is designed to help teams manage tasks, collaborate on projects, and organize notes all in one platform.
AI Features: Offers AI-powered summarization and analysis of notes, along with the generation of action items. It also includes voice and video transcription using ClickUp Clips.
Organization: Features folders, tags, and search functionality to categorize and easily retrieve notes.
Integration: Integrates with other tools like calendar apps and collaboration platforms.
Collaboration: Supports real-time collaboration and allows sharing notes with team members.
Pricing: Offers a free plan with limited features, as well as paid plans. Learn more about ClickUp

2. Notion

Description: Notion is a highly customizable workspace that combines note-taking, project management, and wiki capabilities. It is also expanding its AI capabilities, focusing on helping users manage and understand their notes.
AI Features: Includes Notion AI for chatting with your documents, answering questions, and generating content from the notes you have.
Customization: Highly customizable workspaces with a wide range of templates and options for notes, docs, and wikis.
Collaboration: Enables collaboration with team members on notes, projects, and tasks.
Integration: Integrates with other apps and offers rich customization options.
Pricing: Offers a free plan with limitations, and paid plans for more advanced features and collaboration.
Explore Notion

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3. Microsoft OneNote

Description: OneNote is a free-form note-taking application that allows you to store text, drawings, web clips, and audio. It is designed for multi-device syncing and collaboration.
AI Features: While not a primary AI-focused tool, it leverages Microsoft's AI to improve search and organization.
Flexibility: Offers a free-form canvas where you can add text and multimedia anywhere.
Integration: Integrates with the Microsoft Office Suite.
Accessibility: Available across multiple devices, including Windows, Android, and iOS.
Pricing: It is free to use with free cloud storage. Learn more about Microsoft OneNote

4. Google Keep

Description: Google Keep is a simple note-taking service that focuses on quick capture and reminders. It is perfect for personal use and small to-do lists.
AI Features: Limited AI features, but leverages Google’s AI in search and organization.
Simplicity: Offers a user-friendly interface for quick note-taking and creating reminders.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Google services.
Accessibility: Accessible on the web and via mobile apps.
Pricing: It's completely free to use. Learn more about Google Keep

5. Obsidian

Description: Obsidian is designed for advanced note-takers, offering advanced linking capabilities and interlinked notes. It is favored by those who prefer local storage.
AI Features: Primarily focused on knowledge management and linking rather than AI-driven content creation.
Linking: Focuses on interlinking notes for a deeper understanding of ideas and content.
Customization: Offers customizable plugins to enhance the note-taking experience.
Privacy: Notes are stored locally on your device.
Pricing: Free for personal use; commercial use requires a license. Explore Obsidian

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6. Joplin

Description: Joplin is an open-source note-taking application, that focuses on privacy. It is a suitable replacement for users seeking more control over their data.
AI Features: Does not offer AI-powered tools out of the box.
Privacy: Open-source and focuses on privacy with a strong privacy focus.
Customization: Highly customizable and allows for syncing with different services.
Format: Supports markdown format and the option to customize with code.
Pricing: Completely free and open-source. Learn more about Joplin

7. Simplenote

Description: Simplenote is a minimalist note-taking application that is designed for distraction-free plain text note-taking.
AI Features: Lacks AI features, focusing on core note-taking functionality.
Simplicity: Offers a straightforward user interface, focused on plain text notes.
Collaboration: Allows for sharing and collaborating on notes.
Accessibility: Available on various platforms.
Pricing: Free with an optional premium tier. Explore Simplenote

8. Apple Notes

Description: Apple Notes is a simple and clean note-taking application with seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.
AI Features: Leverages Apple's AI features to improve search, image recognition, and text recognition.
Integration: Deeply integrated with Apple devices.
Simplicity: Simple user interface for quick note-taking.
Accessibility: Available on all Apple devices with syncing enabled through iCloud.
Pricing: Free for all Apple device users.

9. Bear

Description: Bear is a note-taking application that focuses on a beautiful and minimalistic user interface, primarily for Apple users.
AI Features: Does not offer AI-powered tools.
Interface: Known for its beautiful, minimalistic user interface.
Format: Uses markdown for text formatting.
Accessibility: Primarily designed for Apple users, on macOS and iOS.
Pricing: Has a free plan and a paid subscription for advanced features. Explore Bear

10. Capacities

Description: Capacities is a note-taking app with a strong focus on object-based note-taking and AI-powered interactions.
AI Features: Features an AI chat function that interacts with saved notes, as well as a transcription feature.
Organization: Organizes notes using objects and has a calendar home view.
Interaction: Allows users to converse with the content of their notes.
Integration: Integrates with other apps and services.
Pricing: Offers a free plan with limitations and paid plans for more functionality. Learn more about Capacities

These are some of the top free alternatives to Evernote AI in 2025. Each offers a unique set of features and functionalities, so the best choice depends on individual needs and preferences.

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FAQ

1. What is a versatile project management tool that can serve as a free alternative to Evernote AI?

ClickUp is a versatile project management and note-taking tool that offers a range of features, including AI-powered summarization and analysis, voice and video transcription, and integration with other tools. Learn more about ClickUp

2. What tool combines project management and note-taking with customizable workspaces?

Notion is highly customizable and combines note-taking, project management, and wiki capabilities. It also includes AI features to assist with content generation and understanding. Discover Notion

3. Which free-form note-taking app integrates with Microsoft Office Suite?

Microsoft OneNote is a free-form note-taking application offering flexibility, multi-device syncing, and integration with the Microsoft Office Suite. Explore Microsoft OneNote

4. What note-taking service is perfect for quick capture and reminders?

Google Keep is a simple, user-friendly note-taking service designed for quick captures and reminders, seamlessly integrated with other Google services. Check out Google Keep

5. Which note-taking application is known for advanced linking capabilities and local storage?

Obsidian is favored for its interlinked notes and local storage, making it an excellent choice for advanced note-takers looking for a deeper understanding of ideas. Learn more about Obsidian

6. Which open-source note-taking app focuses on user privacy and control over data?

Joplin is an open-source application that focuses on privacy and data control, supporting markdown format and highly customizable options. Explore Joplin

7. What minimalist note-taking app is designed for distraction-free plain text note-taking?

Simplenote offers a straightforward user interface for plain text notes and allows sharing and collaboration, making it ideal for minimalist note-takers. Discover Simplenote

8. Which note-taking app is pre-installed on Apple devices and is deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem?

Apple Notes is a simple, clean note-taking app with seamless integration across all Apple devices and iCloud synchronization.

9. What note-taking application is praised for its beautiful, minimalistic user interface?

Bear is known for its aesthetic and minimalistic design, using markdown for text formatting, and is primarily designed for Apple users. Learn more about Bear

10. Which note-taking app emphasizes object-based note-taking and AI-powered interactions?

Capacities focuses on organizing notes using objects and features AI-powered interactions, including transcription and note-based conversations. Explore Capacities

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.