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Obsidian is our best overall pick for people who want flexible notes without a required subscription: its Markdown vault is free, though synced convenience costs extra. Joplin is a strong lower-cost alternative, while Evernote suits people who want notes and tasks together. The rest of the list is more specialized, from visual research in Heptabase to dated project notes in Agenda. We ranked each tool for broad usefulness, but free-tier limits, paid-plan costs and platform fit can change which one makes sense for you.
Quick picksThe shortlist
ObsidianObsidianBest overall · $4/mo
JoplinJoplinBest low-cost open source · €2.40/mo
EvernoteEvernoteBest all-in-one notebook · $8.25/mo
AgendaAgendaBest dated project notes · $2.92/mo
WorkFlowyWorkFlowyBest simple outliner · $6.99/mo
AmplenoteAmplenoteBest notes and tasks · $5.84/mo
NotePlanNotePlanBest for Apple planning · $8.33/mo
SupernotesSupernotesBest linked notecards · Free
HeptabaseHeptabaseBest visual research · $8.99/mo
TheBrainTheBrainBest visual knowledge map · $15/mo
AFFiNEAFFiNEBest notes and planning · $6.75/mo
Standard NotesStandard NotesBest encrypted notes · $7.50/mo
DynalistDynalistBest free documents · $7.99/mo
WallingWallingBest visual project walls · $6/mo
Roam ResearchRoam ResearchBest networked research · $8.33/mo
MemMemBest AI note search · $9/mo
TanaTanaBest AI meeting workspace · $15/mo
AppFlowyAppFlowyBest self-hosted workspace · $12/mo
xTilesxTilesBest visual daily planning · $12.42/mo
DEVONthinkDEVONthinkBest Mac file library · Custom
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ObsidianObsidian | 8.0 | $4/mo | Yes | — |
| JoplinJoplin | 7.8 | €2.40/mo | No | 14 days |
| EvernoteEvernote | 6.0 | $8.25/mo | Yes | 7 days |
| AgendaAgenda | 7.4 | $2.92/mo | Yes | 7 days |
| WorkFlowyWorkFlowy | 7.3 | $6.99/mo | Yes | 7 days |
| AmplenoteAmplenote | 6.8 | $5.84/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| NotePlanNotePlan | 7.2 | $8.33/mo | No | 7 days |
| SupernotesSupernotes | 6.8 | Free | Yes | — |
| HeptabaseHeptabase | 7.6 | $8.99/mo | No | — |
| TheBrainTheBrain | 7.3 | $15/mo | Yes | — |
| AFFiNEAFFiNE | 7.0 | $6.75/mo | Yes | — |
| Standard NotesStandard Notes | 6.4 | $7.50/mo | Yes | — |
| DynalistDynalist | 6.6 | $7.99/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| WallingWalling | 7.2 | $6/mo | Yes | — |
| Roam ResearchRoam Research | 6.4 | $8.33/mo | No | 31 days |
| MemMem | 6.0 | $9/mo | Yes | — |
| TanaTana | 7.0 | $15/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| AppFlowyAppFlowy | 6.0 | $12/mo | Yes | — |
| xTilesxTiles | 6.2 | $12.42/mo | Yes | — |
| DEVONthinkDEVONthink | 7.0 | Custom | No | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallObsidianObsidian
Obsidian earns the top spot for its free Markdown vault and fit for personal knowledge management, research and connected notes. It works well for people who want local files and control over their note system. The catch is worth spelling out: synced convenience is a separate subscription, listed from $4, so factor that in if you need notes across devices.
What works
- Free personal note-taking, with no sign-up required
- Notes stay as local plain-text Markdown files
- Links and graph view connect related notes
What doesn't
- Obsidian Sync costs extra per user
- Web publishing requires a separate paid plan
- Sync and Publish use different billing units
- Best low-cost open sourceJoplinJoplin
Joplin is a capable open-source option for Markdown users who want customization and notes synced across many devices. Its listed starting price is $2.40, and the Basic plan’s 2 GB cap matters if you’re bringing a large archive. We rank it just behind Obsidian because the source describes the storage limit, but not a free plan.
What works
- Open-source app with plugins, themes, and custom scripts
- Supports images, videos, PDFs, audio, math, and diagrams
- Browser clipper saves pages or screenshots as notes
What doesn't
- Basic includes 2 GB of storage
- Basic limits each note or attachment to 10 MB
- Pricing details list no free plan
- Best all-in-one notebookEvernoteEvernote
Evernote makes sense if you want project and reference notes alongside tasks, or need to share notes and assign tasks with a team. That wider scope helps it serve more workflows than a focused writing app. The free tier is tight, though, and our comparison flags paid value as hard to justify for basic note-taking; plans start at $8.25.
What works
- Notes, notebooks, tasks and calendars share one workspace
- Web Clipper saves online content
- Search helps find notes and other content
What doesn't
- Free plan allows just 50 notes and one notebook
- Free plan syncs to one device
- Starter costs $99 per year, billed annually
- Best dated project notesAgendaAgenda
Agenda is built for keeping project notes in date order and linking them with calendar events, with a free notes tier and paid plans listed from $2.92. That makes it a practical fit if you want a record of work over time. It is less suited to people looking for one app to manage every task as well as their notes.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited notes with no time limit
- Connects dated notes with calendar events
- Supports formatted notes, tags, links, and tables
What doesn't
- No monthly Premium price is published
- Premium requires annual billing at $34.99
- Lifetime purchase costs $119.99–$179.00
- Best simple outlinerWorkFlowyWorkFlowy
WorkFlowy is a straightforward choice for people who organize ideas and tasks in nested lists. The free plan’s 100-node limit can make regular use a paid decision; Pro is listed from $6.99. We place it high because its focused outliner approach can suit everyday note-taking, but it is not the pick for people who need a broad notebook or database.
What works
- One nested list keeps notes and tasks together
- Bullets can be indented to organize ideas
- Syncs across web, desktop, and mobile
What doesn't
- Basic is capped at 100 nodes per month
- Basic file uploads are capped at 100 MB
- Pro costs $8.99 monthly without annual billing
- Best notes and tasksAmplenoteAmplenote
Amplenote combines notes, tasks, calendar planning and linked Markdown notes, which makes it a useful fit for people who want those pieces together. Plans start at $5.84, but our comparison flags a steep learning curve and annual-only published paid prices. Choose it for an integrated planning setup, not if you want the simplest place to jot things down.
What works
- Free Personal tier includes non-commercial use and uploads up to 5 MB.
- Tasks can live inside notes and appear in separate task views.
- Task Score and an Eisenhower matrix support task prioritization.
What doesn't
- Free use is non-commercial, with file uploads capped at 5 MB.
- Paid monthly prices are not published; listed rates are annual equivalents.
- Reddit users describe a steep learning curve and an overwhelming interface.
- Best for Apple planningNotePlanNotePlan
NotePlan suits Apple users who plan from daily notes and want offline Markdown files, with project notes linked to tasks. Its listed starting price is $8.33. The trade-off is scope: our comparison recommends it for calendar-led planning, not deeper task management. It is a better fit for a daily planning habit than for a general-purpose team notebook.
What works
- Daily notes keep priorities, tasks, and meeting notes together
- Apple Calendar and Reminders appear alongside notes
- Checked-off reminders sync back to Apple Reminders
What doesn't
- Annual billing requires $99 paid upfront
- Monthly plan costs $12, with a three-day trial
- No free plan is listed
- Best linked notecardsSupernotesSupernotes
Supernotes turns linked notes into shareable cards, making it appealing for people who think in small, connected pieces or want to edit cards with a team. Its free tier gives you a starting point, but it is capped at 100 cards. Our comparison lists no starting paid price, so check current pricing before building a larger card library.
What works
- Free Starter plan includes 100 cards
- Cards support tables, images, checklists and equations
- Notes can be linked and viewed in graphs
What doesn't
- Starter is capped at 100 cards
- Unlimited costs £6 monthly or £72 annually
- USD pricing is not shown on the vendor's site
- Best visual researchHeptabaseHeptabase
Heptabase is aimed at researchers and learners organizing complex topics visually, with PDF annotation and linked notes among its listed strengths. Plans start at $8.99. That focus is useful if a visual research workflow is the point; it is a poor fit if you mainly need an inexpensive, database-heavy notes app.
What works
- Whiteboards organize ideas using reusable cards
- Sources, notes, highlights and discussions stay together
- PDF annotation supports research workflows
What doesn't
- No free plan is listed
- Pro AI is limited to Gemini and 100 monthly credits
- Unlimited PDF uploads and parsing start at Premium
- Best visual knowledge mapTheBrainTheBrain
TheBrain is worth considering if you organize connected ideas visually and need to manage files and research or share structured knowledge with a team. A free plan is listed, with paid plans from $15. Our comparison cautions that it is not the cheapest sync option and export is not its strength, so weigh those trade-offs before moving a large library.
What works
- Connects notes, files, links and projects in one visual network
- Free plan allows unlimited thoughts, links and brains
- Offers Card View, Mind Map and Tree View
What doesn't
- Free private sync is capped at 1,000 thoughts
- Free synced attachment storage is limited to 100 MB
- Paid private sync starts at $15 per user/month annually
- Best notes and planningAFFiNEAFFiNE
AFFiNE combines notes with visual planning and shared workspaces, making it a possible fit for small teams as well as individual users. The listed starting price is $6.75, and a free plan is available. Our comparison specifically advises checking software licenses, so do that before relying on it for a project that depends on particular FOSS terms.
What works
- Documents, whiteboards, and databases share one workspace
- Free plan is available
- Free plan includes 10 GB cloud storage
What doesn't
- Free plan caps files at 10 MB
- Free plan allows up to three workspace members
- Team is billed per seat
- Best encrypted notesStandard NotesStandard Notes
Standard Notes is the focused choice here for people who prioritize encrypted notes and offline access. Its free tier is described as good for encrypted notes, while paid plans start at $7.50; the comparison notes that the price may exceed what some users consider worthwhile for the feature set. Team sharing is listed for up to five accounts.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited notes
- Syncs across unlimited devices
- End-to-end encryption for notes and files
What doesn't
- Monthly billing prices are not published
- Productivity costs $90 per year
- Professional costs $120 per year
- Best free documentsDynalistDynalist
Dynalist suits people who organize notes in nested lists and want unlimited free documents. Its paid plan starts at $7.99, and our comparison describes it as good value for structured notes. The concern is upkeep: the comparison flags reports of slow or paused development. That is worth considering before making it the home for important long-term notes.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited items and documents
- Free plan supports sharing and collaboration
- Outlining is the product’s clear focus
What doesn't
- Free plan limits users to five bookmarks
- Unlimited bookmarks require the paid Pro plan
- Monthly Pro billing costs $9.99
- Best visual project wallsWallingWalling
Walling gives teams a visual place to plan projects and collect notes and reference files. A free plan is available, with paid plans starting at $6. Our comparison describes the free limits as modest and raises questions about upkeep. It is a useful candidate for visual project material, but we would check both limits and current product status before moving a team.
What works
- Combines notes, files, links, tables and calendars
- AI can generate ideas and project content
- Tasks support assignees, due dates and reminders
What doesn't
- Free plan caps walls at 10
- Free plan includes just 20 AI credits
- Free uploads are capped at 5 MB
- Best networked researchRoam ResearchRoam Research
Roam Research is designed for long-term research notes linked into a network, and its our comparison lists unlimited collaborators. Plans start at $8.33. The distinct approach can suit people who want connected research rather than conventional notebooks, but pricing and long-term commitment deserve consideration before you move an established archive.
What works
- Designed to connect ideas across notes
- Combines document writing with graph-database capabilities
- Built for organizing research over time
What doesn't
- Pro costs $15 monthly or $165 annually
- The $8.33 monthly equivalent requires $500 upfront
- No free plan is listed
- Best AI note searchMemMem
Mem connects notes with AI search and supports capturing notes across several channels; teams can also link notes to calendar events. A free plan is listed, with paid plans from $9. Our comparison flags usage caps and rising plan costs, so check what the limits cover before treating it as an affordable long-term home for a growing archive.
What works
- Free plan includes Deep Search and templates
- Semantic search finds notes by meaning
- Voice Mode records and transcribes spoken thoughts
What doesn't
- Free plan allows only 25 messages
- Free plan caps new notes at 25 monthly
- Plus costs $9/month and still has no routines
- Best AI meeting workspaceTanaTana
Tana is a fit for teams that want meeting agents and links between meetings and company records; individuals can test meeting AI for free. The listed starting price is $15. Our comparison says to check the annual per-seat cost and keep Tana separate from Tana Outliner, so confirm which product and billing terms you are evaluating.
What works
- Live transcript and shared-screen context for agents
- Local desktop capture; no meeting bot
- Suggestions to update linked docs and records
What doesn't
- Pro costs $15 per member/month on annual billing
- Business costs $35 per member/month, billed yearly only
- Paid monthly prices are not published
- Best self-hosted workspaceAppFlowyAppFlowy
AppFlowy brings documents and projects together, with listed options for air-gapped deployment and unlimited storage on Pro. A free plan is available, and paid plans start at $12. Its workspace scope could suit teams consolidating tools, but our comparison advises checking per-member pricing and self-hosting terms before switching.
What works
- Projects, docs, wikis, and team workflows in one workspace
- AI search answers grounded in your sources
- Self-hosting supports on-premises and air-gapped environments
What doesn't
- Pro is $16 monthly or $12 with annual billing, per member per workspace
- Personal limits storage to 100 MB and version history to seven days
- Reddit users report member limits on self-hosted deployments
- Best visual daily planningxTilesxTiles
xTiles is worth a look if you plan visually, want ready-made templates or need shared AI workspaces with a team. A free plan is listed, with paid plans from $12.42. Our comparison is less positive about its value as a cheap, clearly explained note app, so check the plan details if your main need is simple note storage.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited pages and projects
- Daily planning sits alongside projects and tasks
- AI workflows cover planning, reflection, and triage
What doesn't
- Free plan limits personal spaces to three
- Free uploads are capped at 5 MB
- Plus AI Integrations cost extra; price not published
- Best Mac file libraryDEVONthinkDEVONthink
DEVONthink is aimed at Mac users managing mixed file libraries, searching research documents and accessing material on iOS. Our comparison calls it a strong research library, but also expensive and more involved than basic archiving requires. No starting price is listed, so check current costs before choosing it over a simpler tool for ordinary notes.
What works
- Standard includes two Mac seats and one year of updates
- Pro includes five mobile seats for DEVONthink To Go
- XRay previews folders in list or grid view
What doesn't
- Standard costs $99 upfront; Pro costs $199
- Update extensions are separately priced after the included year
- Reddit users report setup and automation can feel complicated
03How we chose
We weigh published pricing and plan limits alongside the note-taking workflows each product is meant to support: capturing information, organizing it, finding it later, and sharing it. We also review official documentation for details such as export options and platform support, and treat Reddit comments as user reports rather than verified product facts. If pricing, a limit, or a capability is not stated in the sources, we mark it as not published instead of filling the gap. We do not claim hands-on testing.
04Choose for the way you work
Start with the job your notes need to do. If you mainly capture quick thoughts, prioritize a low-friction way to create and retrieve them. If notes need to support research or ongoing projects, look closely at how each product organizes information and connects it to your workflow. For shared work, check who can access or edit notes and what the documentation says about collaboration.
Then compare the practical constraints: price, plan limits, supported platforms, and what happens when you want to export your notes. Don’t assume that a tool’s format or workflow will suit you just because its feature list sounds broad. Pick two or three priorities, verify them in the product’s pricing page and docs, and treat anything not documented as unknown. A focused fit is more useful than a long feature checklist.
05Plan the switch before moving your notes
Before changing tools, decide what needs to come with you: active notes, archived material, attachments, links, and any structure you rely on. Check the source product’s export options and the destination product’s import documentation. If either side does not explain what transfers, don’t assume formatting, links, or attachments will survive intact.
Try a small, representative set of notes first, including material you use often and any unusually structured pages. Compare the result with the originals, then decide whether to migrate everything or keep an archive. Check pricing and plan limits before committing, especially if your note volume or sharing needs could affect the plan you require. Keep a copy of the original export until you have confirmed that the notes you depend on are accessible in the new setup.
Questions people ask
What is the best note-taking software?
There is no single best choice for every workflow. Compare how each option handles the work you actually do—capturing, organizing, retrieving, and sharing notes—then check published pricing, plan limits, platform support, and export documentation before deciding.
What should I look for in note-taking software?
Start with your main use case and the devices or people involved. Then verify the organization and sharing options you need, what the pricing page says about limits, and how the docs describe export. Treat undocumented capabilities as unknown, not guaranteed.
Can I move my notes to another app?
That depends on the export options in the app you use and the import options in the one you choose. Check both products’ documentation, especially for attachments, links, and formatting. Test a small sample before relying on a full migration.
Should I choose a free or paid note-taking plan?
Compare the published price and limits with your expected use, including storage, note volume, and sharing if those limits are listed. If a plan does not publish a limit or price, treat it as unknown and confirm it with the vendor before switching.