Evernote vs Microsoft OneNote
Note-Taking Apps pricing comparison · 2026
Evernote pricing ranges from $0–$24.99/month, while Microsoft OneNote ranges from $0–$19.99/month. These products use different pricing models ( vs Per-seat subscription), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
Evernote and Microsoft OneNote are the two most established note-taking apps with very different pricing models. OneNote is free with any Microsoft account and included in all Microsoft 365 plans. Evernote's free plan has significant limitations (1 notebook, 50MB monthly uploads); paid plans start at $8.25/month for Personal. For most users who already have Microsoft 365, OneNote is free—making it the obvious budget choice.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Evernote | Microsoft OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free / | Free / |
| Starter | $8.25 / | $9.99 / |
| Advanced | $14.17 / | $12.99 / |
| Teams | $24.99 / | $19.99 / |
Market Intelligence
Evernote
- Median annual cost
- $250
- Based on
- 20 deals
Microsoft OneNote
- Median annual cost
- $809
- Based on
- 59 deals
Our Verdict
Choose Microsoft OneNote if you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365, Teams, SharePoint), need a free cross-platform note-taking app, or want seamless integration with Word, Excel, and Teams. OneNote's unlimited storage (backed by OneDrive) and free access make it excellent value.
Choose Evernote if you need powerful search across scanned documents and handwriting, require web clipping capabilities for research, or want a dedicated note-taking platform with third-party integrations beyond the Microsoft ecosystem. Evernote's PDF annotation and search within images remain industry-leading.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is OneNote free compared to Evernote?
Yes. OneNote is completely free for personal use and included in all Microsoft 365 subscriptions ($6.99–$12.99/month) that millions already pay. Evernote Free limits you to 1 notebook and 50MB/month uploads. For any meaningful note-taking, Evernote requires a $8.25–$14.17/month subscription.
02 Which has better search: Evernote or OneNote?
Evernote's search is generally more powerful, especially for searching within images, PDFs, and handwritten notes. Evernote's OCR for handwriting and scanned documents is more accurate. OneNote's search has improved but still lags in searching within PDFs and scanned content.
03 Can I migrate from Evernote to OneNote?
Yes. Microsoft offers an Evernote to OneNote importer that converts notebooks, notes, and tags. The migration preserves most content, though some formatting may change. Most users find migration straightforward for text notes; complex notes with embedded files may require manual cleanup.
04 Which syncs better across devices?
Both sync across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. OneNote's sync (via OneDrive) is generally more reliable and unlimited. Evernote Free limits sync to 2 devices, making it impractical for multi-device users without a paid plan.