Author Topic: Alternative to Evernote?  (Read 7488 times)

centwise

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Alternative to Evernote?
« on: July 11, 2016, 03:20:51 PM »
Hello friends,

I have been using (free) Evernote for years, but they are changing their pricing structure in a few weeks. It will still be free to use on a maximum of two devices, but I need to use it on THREE devices, which would require an upgrade to "Evernote Plus" at $47/year. Can anyone recommend an alternative?

If you have a favourite app to recommend, I would be very grateful if you could tell me what the app does and how you use it, and why you like it, and maybe any pros/cons that come to mind. Thank you so much in advance!

Here a few further details on what I'm looking for:

  • I do NOT organize my entire life around Evernote so I don't need something super powerful
  • I use it mainly for list-making, but occasionally need to upload a screen-shot or pdf, so a purely text-based list-making app wouldn't work
  • I don't mind paying for an app, but I don't want to pay for a yearly subscription
  • I'm a mac user (computers at home and at work, plus iphone) but I don't use iCloud
  • I need my lists to quickly and reliably sync between my computers and iphone
  • I don't like Google docs


« Last Edit: July 11, 2016, 05:18:24 PM by centwise »

IBelieveICan

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2016, 03:36:26 PM »
I use Cozi app. It syncs between all our iPhones and DH and I can instantly see the updates.

Very very good for list making, appointments tracking and notes and reminders.

And FREE!! :) Unless you want the fancy features.







Lake161

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2016, 03:41:04 PM »
I've used Evernote since the beginning, and paid for premium for years (or rather, my employer paid). I had downgraded to Plus post-FIRE, but now with the increase in pricing for Plus, I'm thinking it might be time to jump ship.

I operate almost exclusively from my iPad/iPhone. I used to use Evernote for everything, but I'm starting to redirect things that are just records I need to keep but will rarely access to Google Drive. For example, I used to send bank records from FileThis to Evernote, but now have that pointed to Google Drive instead.

I've just starting to experiment with OneNote as a replacement for my other uses of Evernote.

First reactions to OneNote:
-I really like the interface, with notebooks and the tabbed headers
-formatting text is much easier than in Evernote, more like a word processor
-links between notes are difficult to create on iPad
-tagging is not very functional on iPad
-Unlike Evernote, I haven't been able to find good online ebooks/tutorials/blogs t get me up to speed. It seems like OneNote doesn't have such a strong community online as Evernote, or maybe I just haven't found it yet.
-when copying in content from web sites, margins/fonts/images are more likely to get messed up in OneNote. I'm guessing if I was on a Mac/PC with a web clipper extension on my browser, this might work better than cut/paste on an iPad
-list functionality seems similar to Evernote.

Centwise: I think I've read some comments about OneNote limitations on Mac vs PC. Y might want to look at those. But the fact that I find it reasonably functional on the iPad is a good sign.


centwise

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2016, 05:39:08 PM »
I use Cozi app. It syncs between all our iPhones and DH and I can instantly see the updates.

Very very good for list making, appointments tracking and notes and reminders.

And FREE!! :) Unless you want the fancy features.

Thanks for the suggestion! I am looking into it. The most recent reviews/comments say that the latest "upgrades" have been disappointing in some way. Have you noticed any new issues with it this week?

I think I would not use its main feature -- the shared calendar -- but the shared lists feature sounds great! I would love to be able to share my Master Costco Shopping List with my spouse.

Quick question: How does the sharing work? When you make a list, I assume you can choose to keep it private, or select the users/ family members you want to share it with?

centwise

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2016, 05:49:53 PM »
I've just starting to experiment with OneNote as a replacement for my other uses of Evernote.

First reactions to OneNote:
-I really like the interface, with notebooks and the tabbed headers
-formatting text is much easier than in Evernote, more like a word processor
-links between notes are difficult to create on iPad
-tagging is not very functional on iPad
-Unlike Evernote, I haven't been able to find good online ebooks/tutorials/blogs t get me up to speed. It seems like OneNote doesn't have such a strong community online as Evernote, or maybe I just haven't found it yet.
-when copying in content from web sites, margins/fonts/images are more likely to get messed up in OneNote. I'm guessing if I was on a Mac/PC with a web clipper extension on my browser, this might work better than cut/paste on an iPad
-list functionality seems similar to Evernote.

Centwise: I think I've read some comments about OneNote limitations on Mac vs PC. Y might want to look at those. But the fact that I find it reasonably functional on the iPad is a good sign.

Thank you, Lake 161. I will check out OneNote. I usually use my iPhone to access pre-existing documents and make minor edits, but I do the bulk of the "work" from my computers. So it's possible that the iPad compatibility issues that you describe might not affect me as much. Thank you so much for the details. OneNote is definitely worth a look!

If anyone else has another app to recommend, or relevant experience with Cozi or OneNote, I would love to hear from you.

rpr

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2016, 05:55:34 PM »
I've switched everything to the Google system. I just use Google Docs. Works great and is so easy to share.

lbmustache

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2016, 06:10:24 PM »
How fancy/elaborate are your lists? I just use the standard Notes app that comes with the iPhone/Macs.

Pros:
-Free
-Syncs automatically
-Easy to use
-Can insert photos (press down as if you were copying/pasting, and it will give you the ability to insert screenshots and photos)

Cons:
-No fancy organization or customization - it's very very basic
-Not that aesthetically pleasing
-Can't insert PDFs - but can take screenshots and insert that way (assuming this is not a 50 page pdf, etc)

Overall Notes works for my needs. Hope this helps a bit.

gooki

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2016, 07:22:56 PM »
Trello looks like it matches all your requirements.
https://trello.com/

csprof

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2016, 07:54:12 PM »
Google Keep might be a useful one to compare against:  https://keep.google.com/

But I'm not a power user -- I just throw the occasional picture or list in there.  I also use the free version of Evernote, with approximately no rhyme or reason between the two, except that I started out putting recipes in Evernote and have stuck with it.  I'm not very organized with this stuff;  my work life all goes in a separate set of repositories and trackers.

I tend to organize all of my personal "permanent" stuff (scans of documents, PDF bills, etc.) in Google Drive.

The one cool feature I do use about it is the 'reminder' integration with calendar & inbox -- those two services run my entire life.

A recent review of it:  http://www.computerworld.com/article/3026239/android/google-keep-3-years.html

(disclaimer:  I'm employed by Google this year, but they're not paying me to blab about their stuff.  This is purely my opinion.)

WSUCoug1994

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2016, 08:44:39 PM »
Although I am a hard core Evernote user and I am happy to pay for it I have heard good things about Google Keep and Dropbox Paper.  OneNote is supposed to be the biggest threat to Evernote but I am such a fanboy I won't even explore it.

centwise

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2016, 09:08:09 PM »
Hmm, thanks for suggesting Google keep. I'd been staying away from goog for various reasons, but I think I should revisit those reasons and check it out. Anyone else have any insights to add about Google keep?

I'm not familiar with Trello but I will have a look at it too.

FSL

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2016, 09:29:51 PM »
I use Google keep. I'm a light user, but such a simple interface!

slowsynapse

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2016, 10:01:42 PM »
I love the book and methodology of David Allen's Getting Things Done.  I have seen a lot forums with users who use all sorts of note products.  One app that is more of a list maker is called Remember the Milk and is supposed to work good with G Mail.

A lot of GTD people use Omnifocus and I also heard a podcast from GTD where someone loved an app called Things.  I find committing to learning the apps and using them for as much as possible helps.  I was hopelessly overwhelmed with tasks and these apps can help.  I also love One Note but admittedly only use it for research on a PC.

Apocalyptica602

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2016, 06:48:29 AM »
I use Google Tasks on my smartphone:

Super simple, free (they just started popping up an ad now and then).

I pretty much only use my smartphone for this stuff so I keep the widget on a separate screen and with a few taps can add very basic checkbox items like "Milk, Eggs, Bread" or "Call Mortgage Guy by 7/16".

Once they're done you can tap the little empty box next to the item to 'check it off'.

biglawinvestor

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2016, 09:50:44 AM »
A lot of people have been saying the new Apple Notes app is actually pretty fantastic. I've poked around and I think it's worth considering.

TheStachery

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #15 on: July 12, 2016, 09:53:24 AM »
I think one work around is to create another evernote account and share notebooks with the new account.  I do this.

centwise

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #16 on: July 12, 2016, 09:59:33 AM »
I have been trying to avoid iCloud in general, because I did not want to become dependent on it and then have to pay for it. But I made that decision quite a few years ago and things have changed a lot. Apple Notes might be just the thing for me as an Apple user.

centwise

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #17 on: July 12, 2016, 10:00:21 AM »
I think one work around is to create another evernote account and share notebooks with the new account.  I do this.

Ooh... great idea! I had not thought of that.

GrumpyPenguin

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #18 on: July 12, 2016, 11:59:01 AM »
Another vote for Onenote here.

Using microsoft's Lens app to scan stuff into Onenote with your phone is great too. I do this with receipts and it automatically with OCR the stuff and make it easy to search for past purchases.

Fig

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #19 on: July 12, 2016, 03:11:08 PM »
Another vote for Trello... I manage much of my life on it. It's colourful and visual and syncs reliably, plus you can add attachments as needed and it's free :)

nalor511

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #20 on: July 12, 2016, 03:13:22 PM »
You can create a second evernote user for your 3rd device and "share" the notebook (or note), which is working well over here. 2 users across 4 devices. That way we didn't have to migrate all the notes to a new service

FeelTheRain

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #21 on: July 16, 2016, 04:32:25 PM »
Another vote for Google Keep.

I use Google Keep quite heavily and it satisfies most of the features that I need form a note taking app. I can easily add any text, image or voice memo. The voice memo currently only works from a smartphone though. I also like is the reminder feature, where you can add a place or a time to setup a reminder. And as with everything else with Google, the notes can be easily shared between google accounts.

arebelspy

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #22 on: July 17, 2016, 02:10:54 AM »
I personally won't touch Google Keep, because of Google's propensity to shut down services.

In fact, Google literally had a notebook service a few years ago, called Google Notebook, which they shut down!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Notebook

So when they open another notebook product under the name Keep a few years later?  Sorry, fool me once...

(I wouldn't use an RSS reader from Google, either, after what they did with Reader.  Etc. etc.  I use Google for lots of major stuff, like Maps and Email.. but I wouldn't use them for a niche product.)

I still use Evernote for the moment, but if I were to switch, it'd be to OneNote.

After Evernote's recent change, Lifehacker posted about how to export your Evernote notes to OneNote: http://lifehacker.com/transfer-your-evernote-notes-into-microsoft-onenote-wit-1782763196

And here's an article on using OneNote:
http://lifehacker.com/how-to-master-microsoft-office-onenote-1768471983
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Steve Ainslie

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #23 on: July 17, 2016, 05:10:55 AM »
I'm a longtime evernote user but in the last 2 years with my recent job, my work has changed so that all I need is basic lists. I decided to look at alternatives a few minths ago. 

I tried workflowy based on another MMM reader's suggestion and it does 85% of what I need.  I have not tried embedding pictures but for simple lists and crossing things off, the free version has worked fine for a  major project (long distance relo) as well as keeping track of daily items ranging from agendas to grocery lists to reminders. 

A missing item for me is "email to a note" functionality. Workflowy support said they are working on it. In the meantime, I just cut and paste.

Ladychips

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #24 on: July 17, 2016, 05:40:02 AM »
I use OneNote and love, love, love it.  It keeps track of my whole life.  I'm not sure you would love it as much being an i-stuff user. 

+1 to what ARS said re. Google products.


dess1313

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Re: Alternative to Evernote?
« Reply #25 on: July 17, 2016, 08:00:14 AM »
Never heard of google keep but i use their google drive to store word and excel type sheets that i want to acess from multi devices.  Just have the google app for sheets or docs and it all syncs in the cloud