Yes, Evernote has a free plan, but it's small. Evernote's help centre says Free allows up to 50 notes, 1 notebook and 1 connected device at a time, with a 250 MB monthly upload limit and 1 GB of total storage.
Evernote is one of the original note-taking apps, and if you've used it for years, your account may hold a lot of notes. The free plan has changed a lot since its early days, and the limits now decide whether it's usable for you. If you're setting up a new account or wondering what happens to an old one, here are the current limits, what happens when you reach them, and how to work within them.
Evernote Free vs Starter at a glance
| Limit | Free | Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | Up to 50 | Up to 1,000 |
| Notebooks | 1 | 20 |
| Connected devices at a time | 1 | 3 |
| Monthly upload limit | 250 MB | 10 GB |
| Total storage | 1 GB | 5 GB |
Evernote's Advanced plan lists unlimited uploads and storage, with what Evernote calls safeguard limits to protect performance and prevent abuse.
The device limit is the one you'll notice first
Evernote says the Free plan allows you to connect only one device at a time. If you use it on your laptop and then open it on your phone, you'll see a pop-up that reads Upgrade to continue using Evernote on this device.
You don't have to upgrade to get past it. Evernote's fix is to choose Unsync a device in the pop-up, review your connected devices and unsync one or more until you're within the limit. So a free account can move between devices, just not stay signed in on two at once.
What happens when you hit 50 notes
This is the most useful thing to know. Evernote says that if you have more notes or notebooks than your plan allows, you can still view, edit, share and export your existing notes. What you can't do is create new notes or notebooks until your account is back within the limits.
There's a trap here. Evernote says notes in the trash still count toward your plan's note limit. Deleting a note isn't enough. You need to empty the trash too, or you'll stay over the limit.
- Export any notes you want to keep elsewhere.
- Delete the notes you don't need.
- Empty the trash, because trashed notes still count.
- Check you're at 50 notes or fewer and in a single notebook.
- Create new notes again.
Upload limit vs storage limit
Evernote has two limits that are easy to mix up. The monthly upload limit controls how much new content you can add each month and resets monthly, so once you hit 250 MB on Free, you can't upload more until the reset. The storage limit is the total your account can hold, 1 GB on Free, and it doesn't reset. Evernote says your existing content stays fully accessible either way.
To check, log in to Evernote Web, open the old Settings page and go to Account Summary, where the Monthly usage section shows what you've used.
If you move down to Free later
Evernote says cancelling won't make you lose your notes. Your data stays in your account, and you can still view, edit, export and delete existing notes and notebooks on Free. But you'll be limited to one device at a time, and you won't be able to create new notes if you have more than 50 notes or more than one notebook. Evernote stresses this is an overall limit, not a monthly one.
Is Evernote Free worth using?
For a handful of reference notes on one device, yes. For a working notebook where you capture ideas daily, 50 notes goes fast. If you're starting from scratch, it's worth looking at other apps first. My guide to OneNote alternatives and my roundup of the best note-taking apps for iPad both include tools with roomier free plans.
Shared notes when you're at the limit
Evernote's limits article says that even if you're at your plan's limit, you can still receive shared notes from other people. So if a colleague shares a notebook with you, being over 50 notes won't stop you seeing it. What you can't do is create new notes of your own until you're back within the limit.
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Checking your device list
If you're not sure which devices are connected, Evernote's help centre explains two ways to remove one. Unsyncing frees up the slot so you can use Evernote elsewhere. Revoking access disconnects a device from your account completely, which Evernote suggests for lost devices or when you've moved to a new one. On desktop or web, you'll find this under Devices in your account settings.
My verdict: Evernote is free, but the free plan is a sampler: 50 notes, one notebook and one device at a time. It's fine for keeping an old archive readable and exporting it. For daily note-taking, either move up to Starter or choose a tool with a bigger free plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Evernote still free?
Yes. Evernote has a Free plan with up to 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 connected device at a time, a 250 MB monthly upload limit and 1 GB of storage.
What happens over 50 notes on Evernote Free?
Evernote says you can still view, edit, share and export your existing notes, but you can't create new notes or notebooks until you're back within the limit.
Do notes in the trash count on Evernote Free?
Yes. Evernote says notes in the trash still count toward your plan's note limit, so empty the trash after deleting notes.
Can I use Evernote Free on my phone and laptop?
Not at the same time. Evernote says the Free plan connects one device at a time, and you can unsync a device to switch to another.
Will I lose my notes if I downgrade Evernote?
No. Evernote says your notes stay in your account and you can view, edit, export and delete them on Free.
Can I receive shared notes on Evernote Free when I'm at the limit?
Yes. Evernote says you can still receive shared notes even if you're at your plan's limit.
Does Evernote Free reset each month?
Only the upload limit. Evernote says the 250 MB monthly upload limit resets monthly, while the 1 GB storage limit and the 50 note limit are overall caps.
