Category · 20 tools · 14 comparisons
Note-taking software
Capture, organize, and share notes across teams and workflows.
At a glance
- Tools tracked
- 20
- Entry plans
- $2.92–$15/mo
- Typical entry plan
- $8.25/mo
- Free plan
- 15 of 20
- Cheapest paid
- Agenda, $2.92/mo
- Best value score
- Obsidian, 9/10
Every tool we cover
Price tracker →| Tool | Score | From | Top listed plan | Free plan | Trial | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ObsidianObsidian | 8.0 | $4/mo | $8/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 JoplinJoplin | 7.8 | €2.40/mo* | €2.40/mo | No | 14 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 HeptabaseHeptabase | 7.6 | $8.99/mo* | $53.99/mo | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AgendaAgenda | 7.4 | $2.92/mo* | $2.92/mo | Yes | 7 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 TheBrainTheBrain | 7.3 | $15/mo* | $40/mo | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 WorkFlowyWorkFlowy | 7.3 | $6.99/mo | $6.99/mo | Yes | 7 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 WallingWalling | 7.2 | $6/mo* | $6/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 NotePlanNotePlan | 7.2 | $8.33/mo | $12/mo | No | 7 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AFFiNEAFFiNE | 7.0 | $6.75/mo | $10/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 DEVONthinkDEVONthink | 7.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 TanaTana | 7.0 | $15/mo | $35/mo | Yes | 14 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 SupernotesSupernotes | 6.8 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AmplenoteAmplenote | 6.8 | $5.84/mo* | $20/mo | Yes | 14 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 DynalistDynalist | 6.6 | $7.99/mo | $7.99/mo | Yes | 14 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 Standard NotesStandard Notes | 6.4 | $7.50/mo | $10/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
 Roam ResearchRoam Research | 6.4 | $8.33/mo* | $13.75/mo | No | 31 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 xTilesxTiles | 6.2 | $12.42/mo | $24.92/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 EvernoteEvernote | 6.0 | $8.25/mo | $20.83/mo | Yes | 7 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 MemMem | 6.0 | $9/mo* | $199/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AppFlowyAppFlowy | 6.0 | $12/mo | $12/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
* Lower confidence: the vendor's pricing page couldn't be read directly or didn't list every price, so the figure was compiled from other public sources and may be incomplete. Check the vendor's page before you buy.
Head-to-head
JoplinvsObsidianJoplin vs Obsidian
ObsidianvsEvernoteObsidian vs Evernote
AFFiNEvsObsidianAFFiNE vs Obsidian
AFFiNEvsAppFlowyAFFiNE vs AppFlowy
JoplinvsStandard NotesJoplin vs Standard Notes
DEVONthinkvsObsidianDEVONthink vs Obsidian
HeptabasevsObsidianHeptabase vs Obsidian
DynalistvsWorkFlowyDynalist vs WorkFlowy
AppFlowyvsObsidianAppFlowy vs Obsidian
DynalistvsObsidianDynalist vs Obsidian
WorkFlowyvsObsidianWorkFlowy vs Obsidian
ObsidianvsMemObsidian vs Mem
EvernotevsMemEvernote vs Mem
EvernotevsSupernotesEvernote vs Supernotes
Highest scored
ObsidianObsidian
A standout free Markdown vault, but synced convenience is a separate subscription.
JoplinJoplin
Joplin is a capable, customizable notes app; check the 2 GB Basic cap before moving a large archive.
HeptabaseHeptabase
Choose Heptabase for visual research; skip it if you need a cheap, database-heavy notes app.
Note-taking software: quick answers
How much does note-taking software cost?
Paid plans for the 20 note-taking tools we track start between $2.92 and $15 a month, and the typical entry plan is about $8.25 a month. 15 of them have a free plan. DEVONthink doesn't publish a starting price. Prices are the vendors' own, checked Nov 7, 2026; most quote the per-month price when billed annually.
Which note-taking tool is the cheapest?
Which note-taking tools have a free plan?
Obsidian, Agenda, TheBrain, WorkFlowy, Walling, AFFiNE, Tana, Supernotes, Amplenote, Dynalist, Standard Notes, xTiles, Evernote, Mem and AppFlowy have a free plan. Joplin, NotePlan and Roam Research offer a free trial instead. Free plans are usually capped on usage, seats or features; each review lists the limits.
Which note-taking tool scores highest in our reviews?
Obsidian scores highest at 8.0/10. A standout free Markdown vault, but synced convenience is a separate subscription.