In the world of note-taking applications, Evernote and Simplenote have long been at the foreground of digital organization tools. Both tools offer users the ability to efficiently store and access their notes, but they differ in terms of functionality and versatility. Choosing between these two popular note-taking applications can be a daunting task for those seeking a system that best meets their needs and preferences.
Evernote is a comprehensive web service that provides extensive features for organization and note synchronization across multiple platforms. With its rich formatting options, task management capabilities, and multimedia support, Evernote caters to users who require a more robust note-taking experience. On the other hand, Simplenote focuses on a minimalist approach, offering a clean and user-friendly interface for those who prefer a more straightforward and clutter-free working space. Its lightweight design makes it fast, efficient, and easily accessible.
As you decide which application better suits your requirements, it is essential to consider factors such as cross-platform availability, collaboration options, and overall functionality. By comparing the strengths and limitations of Evernote and Simplenote, you can make an informed choice for your note-taking and organizational needs.
Overview of Evernote and Simplenote
Evernote and Simplenote are two popular note-taking apps, catering to different user preferences and requirements. This section compares the two apps in terms of their features, usability, and pricing.
Evernote is a feature-rich app, allowing users to create text, audio, and image notes. It also offers web clipping capabilities, advanced search functionalities, and collaboration tools. With its versatile software suite, Evernote supports various formats such as PDF, DOC, and PPT. Moreover, it can be used on multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops, ensuring seamless synchronization. Evernote has a free version with basic features, while its premium plans offer more storage, offline access, and other advanced features.
Simplenote, as the name suggests, is a text-oriented app that focuses on providing a clean and straightforward note-taking experience. It lacks the multimedia features of Evernote but compensates with its simplicity and ease of use. Simplenote supports plain text and Markdown, making it an excellent choice for users who prefer uncluttered note-taking. The app supports cross-platform synchronization and is available on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktops. The best part about Simplenote is that it’s completely free.
Comparing the two apps in terms of features, pricing, and usability, we get the following overview:
| Feature | Evernote | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| Note Formats | Text, audio, images, web clips | Plain text, Markdown |
| Storage | Limited free, more in premium | Unlimited, free |
| Pricing | Free, premium plans available | Free |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
| Collaboration | Yes | No |
While Evernote offers more advanced features and multimedia capabilities, Simplenote is perfect for users looking for a minimalist and uncluttered note-taking experience. It’s essential to identify your specific requirements and preferences to select the most suitable app among alternatives to Evernote, such as Simplenote.
User Interface and Design
Evernote and Simplenote are both popular note-taking applications available on multiple platforms such as iOS, Windows, Mac, and Android. Each app has its distinct user interface and design features that cater to different user preferences.
Evernote offers a more feature-rich interface compared to Simplenote. With its focus on functionality, Evernote allows users to create notebooks for categorizing notes, include rich text formatting, as well as add images, attachments, and voice memos to notes. The app also has built-in tools for annotating images and PDFs, making it ideal for users seeking versatile note-taking options. However, this extensive feature set may come across as overwhelming for some users, especially those who prefer minimalistic note-taking apps.
On the other hand, Simplenote prides itself on its simplicity and straightforward design. As the name suggests, it is tailored for users who require a clutter-free and easy-to-use interface for primarily text-based notes. Simplenote does not support rich text formatting or any multimedia attachments, making it perfect for users who just want a clean, intuitive space to jot down textual information. The minimal design allows users to focus solely on their note content without being bogged down with extra features.
One aspect that both apps share is cross-platform synchronization. This means users can access, edit, and create notes on any device with the respective apps installed. This feature ensures that notes stay up-to-date, regardless of where they are created or accessed from.
Evernote and Simplenote differ in their approach to user interface and design. While Evernote provides an extensive suite of features and a robust workspace for multimedia note-taking, Simplenote offers a simpler and clean interface for individuals who prefer a minimalistic note-taking experience. Both options cater to varying user preferences and requirements, making them popular choices in the note-taking application market.
| Feature | Evernote | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Windows, Mac, Android | iOS, Windows, Mac, Android |
| Rich text | Yes | No |
| Multimedia | Yes (images, attachments, voice memos) | No |
| Note organization | Notebooks | Tags |
| Cross-platform | Synchronization across all devices | Synchronization across all devices |
| Interface Style | Feature-rich, robust workspace | Simple, minimalistic |
Note-Taking Features
Text and Formatting
Evernote offers a robust set of text and formatting features allowing users to create richly formatted notes. Users can choose from various fonts, sizes, and colors, as well as apply formatting such as bold, italics, and underlines. Additionally, Evernote supports tables and bullet points, making it easy to organize and structure your notes. On the other hand, Simplenote is designed to be a minimalist note-taking app, focusing primarily on plain text input. While it lacks advanced formatting options, its simplicity ensures a clean and clutter-free writing environment.
Lists and To-Do Tasks
Both Evernote and Simplenote allow users to create lists and to-do tasks within their notes. In Evernote, users can create checklists with checkboxes and even set reminders for individual tasks. Evernote also supports nested and indented lists for better organization. Simplenote supports basic list and to-do task creation with the option to use Markdown syntax for creating tasks. However, Simplenote does not have built-in reminders or advanced list features.
| Lists and To-Do Tasks | Evernote | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| Checklists | Yes | Yes |
| Reminders | Yes | No |
| Nested/Indented Lists | Yes | No |
Image, Audio, and Video Support
When it comes to multimedia support, Evernote is the clear winner. It allows users to insert images, audio, and video files directly into their notes. This can be especially useful for capturing ideas, documenting processes, or saving references within your notes. Evernote also supports handwriting recognition, enabling users to search for text within handwritten notes and images. In contrast, Simplenote is limited to text input and does not support multimedia content or handwriting recognition.
Markdown Support
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that enables users to format text easily using plain text syntax. Simplenote provides native Markdown support, allowing users to create formatted notes without needing to learn or use complicated formatting options. Users can simply write in Markdown syntax, and Simplenote will render the formatted text accordingly. Evernote, however, does not have built-in Markdown support. Users can still write in Markdown, but they would need to convert it using an external tool or rely on third-party integrations to render the formatted text within the app.
Organization and Management
Tags and Folders
Both Evernote and Simplenote provide options for organizing your notes using tags and folders. In Evernote, you can create multiple tags for each note, allowing for a flexible and versatile organization system. You can also group these tags into hierarchical structures to further categorize and filter your notes. Simplenote, on the other hand, offers a simpler tagging system. Although you can assign multiple tags to your notes, Simplenote does not have the option for hierarchical tag structures, making it a more straightforward solution for those who prefer simplicity over advanced organization methods.
Notebooks
Evernote uses notebooks as the primary method of organizing notes. Each note can be placed in a notebook and further organized using the aforementioned tags and folders. Notebooks can also be grouped into stacks to create a hierarchical organization structure. This feature allows you to keep your notes organized at multiple levels, making it easy to manage a large number of notes. Simplenote does not use notebooks, instead relying solely on tags to categorize notes. This simplifies the structure and overall management of your notes but may require a more streamlined approach for users who prefer a traditional, hierarchical organization system.
| Feature | Evernote | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| Tags | Advanced, with hierarchy | Simple, no hierarchy |
| Folders | Yes | No |
| Notebooks | Yes, with stacks | No |
With these organization and management features in mind, choosing between Evernote and Simplenote largely depends on your personal preference and the complexity of your note-taking needs. If you require a more detailed, hierarchical organization system, Evernote may be the better option. However, if you prefer a simpler note management solution with a clean interface and straightforward tagging system, Simplenote could be the ideal choice.
Collaboration and Sharing
Evernote and SimpleNote are both note-taking applications that cater to different needs when it comes to collaboration and sharing features.
In Evernote, users can collaborate and share notes seamlessly as it offers real-time collaboration. It allows multiple users to edit a single note, making it perfect for team projects or group brainstorming. Evernote also integrates with various third-party applications like Google Keep, which further enhances its collaborative capabilities. Moreover, sharing notes in Evernote is simple, as users can create a shareable link, or share directly through email or other supported apps.
| Feature | Evernote | SimpleNote |
|-------------------|----------|------------|
| Real-time Editing | Yes | No |
| Shareable Links | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Yes | Limited |
On the other hand, SimpleNote focuses on simplicity and doesn’t offer many advanced collaboration features. However, it does support sharing of notes through a shareable link. Users can collaborate in real-time by editing documents simultaneously, but overall, SimpleNote’s collaboration and sharing features are more limited compared to Evernote’s. SimpleNote does not have any integration with Google Keep or other third-party apps.
To sum up, Evernote is more suited for users who require extensive collaboration and sharing tools, as it provides real-time editing, a wider range of integrations, and easier sharing options. SimpleNote, while limited in its collaboration features, caters to users who prefer a minimalist and straightforward note-taking experience.
Synchronization and Cross-Platform Compatibility
When comparing Evernote and Simplenote, one of the primary factors to consider is their synchronization capabilities and cross-platform compatibility. Both Evernote and Simplenote offer syncing features to ensure seamless access to your notes across multiple devices.
Evernote allows users to sync their notes across various platforms, including macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Additionally, its powerful built-in search capabilities ensure fast and easy access to notes, even when there are thousands of them stored in the app source. On the other hand, Simplenote also supports note synchronization, and it runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android devices source.
Here is a table comparing the compatibility of both applications:
| Platform | Evernote | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | No | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
Both applications offer real-time synchronization, allowing users to access updated notes from any device instantly. Users can also work offline with both Evernote and Simplenote, and any changes made are synced once the device connects to the internet again.
In terms of compatibility, Simplenote stands out, offering support for Linux users, which is not available in Evernote. This makes Simplenote an excellent choice for those who require a note-taking application that works across all major operating systems.
In summary, both Evernote and Simplenote provide robust synchronization capabilities and cross-platform compatibility, with Simplenote having a slight edge due to its Linux support. These features ensure seamless access to notes and a consistent user experience across multiple devices and platforms.
Search Functionality
When comparing Evernote and Simplenote, one crucial aspect to consider is their search functionality. Evernote has a powerful search function that allows users to search for keywords, tags, and even text within images and PDF files, thanks to its Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capability source. This advanced feature is beneficial for individuals who extensively rely on digital note-taking and organizing their content effectively.
On the other hand, Simplenote offers a more basic search function. It focuses on simplicity and helps users to easily find their notes by searching for keywords source. However, it lacks advanced features like OCR or tagging, which may be a limitation for users who require a more comprehensive search capability.
As a reference, let’s include Microsoft OneNote in this discussion. OneNote provides a search function that is comparable to Evernote’s. It enables users to search through text, tags, and even handwritten notes source. This makes OneNote a strong contender for users who need an efficient search function to manage extensive note collections.
| Application | Search Features |
|---|---|
| Evernote | Keywords, tags, OCR |
| Simplenote | Keywords |
| Microsoft OneNote | Keywords, tags, handwritten notes |
In conclusion, the choice between Evernote and Simplenote for their search functionality depends on the user’s needs. If advanced features like OCR and tagging are essential, Evernote is a better choice. However, for users who prefer a simple and straightforward search experience, Simplenote might be more suitable. Microsoft OneNote stands as another option for those who require a feature-rich search function but are not satisfied with Evernote.
Pricing and Plans
When comparing Evernote and Simplenote, it’s essential to look at their pricing and plans to determine which option works best for you. This section will explore the free features, paid features, and the costs associated with each app.
Free Features
Evernote offers a basic plan that includes:
- Create notes, to-do lists and checklists
- Sync across two devices
- Basic search
- 60 MB of new data upload per month
Simplenote offers a completely free service with no limitations on the number of devices you can sync. The app is an excellent choice for users seeking a minimalist design and a straightforward note-taking application. Features include:
- Create notes, to-do lists and checklists
- Sync across unlimited devices
- Search and tagging
- Version history of notes
Paid Features
Evernote has two paid options: the Premium plan and the Business plan. The Premium plan comes with a monthly fee of $7.99 and offers the following features:
- Sync across unlimited devices
- 10 GB of new data upload per month
- Access notes offline
- PDF and Word document search
- Version history of notes
The Business plan is priced at $14.99 per user per month and offers additional team collaboration features, such as business content spaces and team collaboration with document sharing.
Simplenote does not currently offer a paid plan or additional features. Users can access all of the app’s features for free. Simplenote’s business model revolves around providing a streamlined and lightweight note-taking experience.
| Plan | Monthly cost | Storage (new data upload/total) | Devices | Search | Offline access | Collaboration | Version history |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evernote Basic | Free | 60 MB/month | 2 | Basic | No | No | No |
| Evernote Premium | $7.99 | 10 GB/month | Unlimited | Advanced | Yes | No | Yes |
| Evernote Business | $14.99/user | 20 GB + 2 GB/user | Unlimited | Advanced | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Simplenote | Free | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Yes (only on desktop) | No | Yes |
Attachments and File Support
When comparing Evernote and Simplenote, it’s important to consider their features regarding attachments and file support. This can greatly impact users, particularly if they wish to include various formats in their notes, such as images, PDFs, or documents.
Evernote offers robust support for a wide range of file formats, including images, documents, videos, and audio files. Users can easily add attachments to their notes, making it a convenient tool for collecting and organizing multimedia content alongside text information. Additionally, PDFs can be attached and viewed within the Evernote platform, providing an efficient way to manage and reference documents source.
Simplenote, on the other hand, focuses primarily on text, with limited support for file attachments. The platform does allow you to add attachment files to your resources, which can be useful for organizing information source. The attachment function, however, is not as seamless and comprehensive as Evernote, leading to a more straightforward and text-based note-taking experience.
In summary, Evernote provides users with versatile attachment and file support, including options for:
- Images
- Documents
- Videos
- Audio files
- PDFs
While Simplenote’s attachment features are more limited and focus on:
- Attachment files for resources
When selecting a note-taking tool, consider your specific attachment and file support needs, as Evernote offers a more comprehensive solution, whereas Simplenote’s primary focus is on text-based notes.
Security and Privacy
Evernote and Simplenote are popular note-taking apps, and the security and privacy of users’ data are crucial aspects in choosing between them. In this section, we will discuss the security features and privacy policies of both apps.
Evernote has implemented various security measures to protect its users’ data. It uses industry-standard encryption methods, such as SSL/TLS for data transmission and at-rest AES-256 encryption for stored data. Evernote also offers two-factor authentication (2FA) to provide an additional layer of protection for user accounts. Additionally, the company has a comprehensive privacy policy that explains how users’ data is collected, used, and protected.
On the other hand, Simplenote employs a more minimalistic approach to its security features. The app also uses SSL/TLS for data transmission but does not provide encryption for data stored on its servers. However, Simplenote does offer 2FA to secure user accounts, similar to Evernote. Simplenote’s privacy policy is straightforward and demonstrates their commitment to user privacy.
It is essential to consider how both apps handle sensitive information either in the form of text, audio, or images. Evernote shines in this area, as it allows users to encrypt selected text within notes, helping protect sensitive information. However, Simplenote currently does not offer any built-in encryption options for specific parts of a note.
In conclusion, when evaluating the security and privacy aspects of Evernote and Simplenote, it is evident that Evernote has more robust security features and better protection for sensitive information. However, both apps are committed to user privacy, and Simplenote’s minimalistic approach may be sufficient for users who do not require advanced security options.
Integrations and APIs
Evernote and Simplenote offer different integrations and APIs that cater to diverse user needs. In terms of supported platforms, both note-taking applications provide access through web browsers, desktop applications, and mobile apps. However, Evernote provides a broader range of integrations compared to Simplenote.
Evernote seamlessly integrates with popular services like Dropbox, OneNote, Google Drive, and Microsoft Outlook. This enables users to import content from these platforms and create a centralized repository for their notes. Besides, Evernote’s API is available for developers to build custom applications and automate various tasks in the note-taking process. You can learn more about Evernote’s API here.
Simplenote, on the other hand, focuses on providing a straightforward note-taking experience without additional integrations. Although Simplenote doesn’t offer direct integration with services like Dropbox, OneNote, or Microsoft Outlook, it does support data export in different formats such as plain text, Markdown, and JSON. Simplenote’s API, while not as robust as Evernote’s, still allows developers to create applications that work with the Simplenote service. Check out Simplenote’s API documentation here.
Both Evernote and Simplenote can be integrated with third-party services using IFTTT (If This Then That), a powerful tool for automating tasks across multiple platforms. For example, users can configure IFTTT to automatically save their starred Gmail messages to Evernote or create a new note in Simplenote when they publish a WordPress post.
When it comes to data export, Evernote supports exporting notes in its native ENEX format, which retains note formatting, attachments, and tags. Users can also convert ENEX files to HTML or other formats with third-party tools. Simplenote does not have an equivalent format, but it allows exporting notes as plain text files with hyperlinks preserved.
| Feature | Evernote | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| API | Yes, Evernote API | Yes, Simplenote API |
| Dropbox | Integration available | No direct integration |
| OneNote | Integration available | No direct integration |
| Microsoft Outlook | Integration available | No direct integration |
| WordPress | IFTTT integration possible | IFTTT integration possible |
| Data Export | ENEX format, convertible to HTML and other formats | Plain text, Markdown, and JSON |
Additional Features and Tools
In this section, we’ll compare the additional features and tools Evernote and Simplenote offer, considering offline access, dark mode, and undo support.
Offline Access
Evernote provides robust offline access across different platforms, including desktop, Android, and iOS devices. This feature allows users to view, edit, and create notes even without an internet connection. Additionally, Evernote supports multimedia elements such as images, audio, and PDFs. However, note that offline access is available for free only on desktop devices – for mobile users, this feature is available only within Evernote Premium subscription.
Simplenote, on the other hand, offers seamless offline access for all users across all platforms, including mobile, desktop, and web without any additional cost. Simplenote focuses mainly on text-based notes, so its offline functionality is understandably more limited compared to Evernote’s multimedia features.
Dark Mode
Both Evernote and Simplenote support dark mode. Evernote’s dark mode can be enabled on the desktop app, mobile app, and web interface. This addition provides readability and improved user experience, especially during the night or in low-light environments.
Simplenote’s dark mode is also available on its desktop, mobile, and web apps. With theme selection options, Simplenote allows users to choose between light, dark, and a variety of additional themes to suit their preferences.
Undo Support
Undo support is an essential feature when working with notes. Evernote offers an undo feature that allows users to revert changes, both on their desktop and mobile apps. Additionally, Evernote provides automatic version history for Premium subscribers, enabling them to access past versions of a note without any data loss.
Simplenote also offers undo functionality on all platforms – desktop, mobile, and web. Users can undo their recent changes by using keyboard shortcuts or through the app’s Edit menu. Simplenote’s undo feature focuses on simplicity and ease of use, consistent with the overall app’s user-friendly approach.
| Feature | Evernote | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| Offline Access | Desktop (Free), Mobile (Premium) | Free (All platforms) |
| Dark Mode | Available | Available |
| Undo Support | Available | Available |
In conclusion, although Evernote and Simplenote differ in terms of multimedia support and offline access availability, both note-taking apps offer valuable features such as dark mode and undo support. Users should consider their personal preferences and requirements when choosing between these productivity tools.