Notion suits people who want notes, docs, wikis and simple databases in one workspace, and its free plan is unlimited for one person. Evernote suits people who want a fast capture-everything notebook with strong search, but its free plan stops at 50 notes and syncs to 1 device. If you take a lot of notes and use more than one device, that limit decides it.
Evernote and Notion are the two names most people weigh up when they want one home for their notes, and they do different things well. Evernote is a capture tool: clip it, scan it, search it later. Notion is a building tool: notes become pages, pages become wikis and databases. I read both companies' plan pages, so the limits here are theirs.
The Notion and Evernote free plans
| Notion | Evernote | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, Free for individuals | Yes, Free |
| How many notes | Pages and blocks unlimited for individuals | 50 notes |
| Notebooks or structure | Unlimited pages and databases | 1 notebook, 20 tags, 5 spaces |
| Devices | Not limited on the plans page | Sync across 1 device |
| Storage and files | Uploads up to 5 MB each | 1GB storage, 200 attachments |
| Version history | 7 days | Not listed |
| Offline | Choose pages to download on desktop and mobile | Offline notes listed as a core feature |
| Built-in AI | A trial of Notion AI | Assistant, semantic search, Transcribe and Edit tools listed |
| Calendar | Notion Calendar | Evernote Calendar, 1 external calendar on Free |
| Connecting AI tools | Not covered on the plans page | MCP connection for Claude, ChatGPT and others |
Why people pick Notion
Every note in Notion is a page you can build on. A page can hold text, to-dos, images and databases with subtasks, dependencies and custom properties. On the free plan you get unlimited pages and blocks as long as you're working alone, Notion Calendar, basic forms, simple web publishing and a trial of Notion AI.
- Uploads are capped at 5 MB each on Free and unlimited on Plus.
- Page history is 7 days on Free and 30 days on Plus.
- Invite a second member and the free workspace's block allowance becomes limited.
Why people stay with Evernote
Catching things quickly and finding them again is what Evernote is built for. Its plans page lists tasks with dates and reminders, Evernote Calendar, advanced search with Boolean and location filters, offline notes, emailing content straight into your account and exporting notebooks as PDFs. The AI side has grown too: an AI Assistant, semantic search for related notes, AI Transcribe for meetings and AI Edit for tidying and translating notes, plus a way to connect your notes to tools like Claude and ChatGPT.
The 50-note limit
This is the line to read before you choose. Evernote's own comparison table gives the Free plan 50 notes, 1 notebook and sync across 1 device. Starter lifts that to 1,000 notes, 20 notebooks and 3 devices, and Advanced to unlimited. Notion's free plan has no note limit for a single person. If you're an everyday note taker with a phone and a laptop, Evernote's free plan will feel tight within weeks, while Notion's will keep going.
Evernote's upgrade tiers fix that, and its capture and search tools are the reason so many people stay. It's a fair choice once you're happy to upgrade.
Which one fits you
Pick Notion if you want your notes to turn into plans, wikis and trackers, or you're setting up a shared space for a small team. Learn the layout basics with how to make columns in Notion.
Pick Evernote if your notes are mostly captured: web clippings, scanned receipts, meeting recordings and quick thoughts you'll search for later. For other options, see my list of productivity tools and apps for small business.
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My advice: test it with a week of real notes
Put one week of real notes into each, from your phone and your computer. If you find yourself organising and linking pages, you're a Notion person. If you mostly capture and search, Evernote fits, and you'll want Starter or Advanced to get past the free limits. Either way, check the export options before you commit, so your notes can move if you change your mind.
Do you make a notes or knowledge app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Evernote free?
Yes. Evernote's Free plan includes 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1GB of storage and sync across 1 device.
Is Notion free?
Yes. Notion's Free plan is unlimited for individuals, with uploads up to 5 MB each and 7 days of page history.
How many devices can I use Evernote on for free?
Evernote's Free plan syncs across 1 device. Starter allows 3 devices and Advanced allows unlimited devices.
Does Evernote have AI?
Yes. Evernote lists an AI Assistant, semantic search, AI Transcribe and AI Edit, plus a way to connect notes to AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT.
