Standard Notes vs Evernote
Is switching from Evernote to Standard Notesworth it? Here's a detailed comparison of pricing, features, and ownership.
Standard Notes and Evernote both serve note-taking and web clipping, but they differ fundamentally in pricing and ownership. Evernote costs $20.83/month ($249.96/year), while Standard Notes is available for Free basic, $90/year extended. As an open-source tool, Standard Notes's code is publicly auditable and community-driven. This comparison breaks down exactly what you gain, what you lose, and whether switching makes sense for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Switching to Standard Notes saves you $249.96/year — $749.88 over 3 years
Evernote costs
$249.96/yr
3-year cost
$749.88
Standard Notes costs
Free basic, $90/year extended
Best for
- +Privacy advocates
- +Minimalists
- +Long-term note keepers
Not ideal for
- −Users needing rich formatting
- −Users needing web clipping
Feature Comparison
| Feature | EvernoteSubscription | Standard NotesAlternative |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $20.83/mo $249.95999999999998/year | Freemium· Free basic, $90/year extended |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop (typical) | WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidWeb |
| Offline Support | Limited (typical) | ✓Full offline |
| Open Source | No | ✓Open source |
| Ownership | Renting | Full ownership |
| Cloud Dependency | High (typical) | Mostly offline |
| Migration | — | Medium |
Pricing
Evernote
$20.83/mo
$249.95999999999998/year
Standard Notes
Freemium· Free basic, $90/year extendedPlatforms
Evernote
Web, Desktop (typical)Standard Notes
Offline Support
Evernote
Limited (typical)Standard Notes
✓Full offlineOpen Source
Evernote
NoStandard Notes
✓Open sourceOwnership
Evernote
RentingStandard Notes
Full ownershipCloud Dependency
Evernote
High (typical)Standard Notes
Mostly offlineMigration
Evernote
—Standard Notes
MediumSwitching Analysis
+What you gain with Standard Notes
- +End-to-end encrypted
- +Open source
- +100-year durability goal
−What you lose
- −Rich formatting
- −Web clipping
- −Document scanning
Who Should Switch?
✓Good candidates for Standard Notes
- +Privacy advocates
- +Minimalists
- +Long-term note keepers
✗Should keep using Evernote
- −Users needing rich formatting
- −Users needing web clipping
Migration Guide
Switching from Evernote to Standard Notes is rated as medium. Here's how to make the move:
Export your data
Go to Evernote's settings and export your data in CSV, PDF, or native format. Most tools support bulk export.
Install Standard Notes
Download Standard Notes from the official website. It costs Free basic, $90/year extended — a one-time purchase.
Import and configure
Import your exported data into Standard Notes. Set up your preferences, shortcuts, and workflows to match your existing setup.
Run in parallel
Use both tools side-by-side for a week or two. This lets you verify everything works before fully switching.
Cancel subscription
Once you're confident Standard Notes meets your needs, cancel your Evernote subscription. You've escaped the subscription!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Standard Notes a good alternative to Evernote?
Yes, Standard Notes is a solid alternative to Evernote. It offers a free tier with open source code, making it a great choice for users looking to escape subscriptions. Standard Notes handles the core functionality that most Evernote users rely on daily.
How much can I save by switching from Evernote to Standard Notes?
Switching from Evernote ($249.96/year) to Standard Notes (Free basic, $90/year extended) can save you approximately $249.96 per year, or $749.88 over three years. The savings start immediately with zero upfront cost.
What do I lose by switching from Evernote to Standard Notes?
The main trade-offs include: Rich formatting, Web clipping, Document scanning. However, Standard Notes still covers the core functionality most users need. The gaps are typically in advanced features and ecosystem integrations, not daily-use capabilities.
Can I migrate my data from Evernote to Standard Notes?
Yes. Most Evernote data can be exported in standard formats (CSV, PDF, or native format) and imported into Standard Notes. The migration difficulty is rated as medium, so it may take some effort.
Is Standard Notes a one-time purchase?
Yes, Standard Notes costs Free basic, $90/year extended. You pay once and own it forever — no monthly or annual subscription fees.
Does Standard Notes work on the same platforms as Evernote?
Standard Notes is available on windows, macos, linux, ios, android, web. This covers all major platforms, so you can use it on all your devices.
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Ready to stop renting Evernote?
Standard Notes is a free to start alternative that lets you own your tools.