Evernote Review 2025: Is the Classic Note App Still Worth It?

Introduction: The Veteran of Digital Note-Taking

Evernote has been around since 2008 — long before note-taking became cool or crowded. For many, it was the first app that truly replaced paper notebooks. But with fierce competition from apps like Notion, Obsidian, and Apple Notes, is Evernote still worth using in 2025?

We tested Evernote’s latest version extensively to see whether it’s still relevant for modern users. Here’s what we found.

Interface and Ease of Use

Evernote’s interface remains one of its biggest strengths. It’s clean, intuitive, and ideal for users who value simplicity. You can quickly create notes, organize them into notebooks, and tag them for easy searching. The sidebar now includes widgets for tasks, calendars, and reminders — all synced in real time.

Key Features

• Note Organization: Notes are grouped into notebooks and tagged for advanced filtering.
• Web Clipper: Save articles, screenshots, and PDFs directly from your browser.
• Cross-Platform Sync: Works on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web.
• Task Management: Integrated to-do lists and due dates inside notes.
• Document Scanning: Use your phone’s camera to digitize paper notes.

New Additions for 2025

Evernote’s recent updates focus on AI and performance. Its new AI Note Cleanup feature can summarize long notes, detect duplicates, and even extract action points from meeting summaries. The revamped search algorithm now finds text inside images and handwritten notes faster than before.

Performance and Reliability

One of the biggest complaints in earlier versions was lag, especially with large notebooks. The 2025 update fixes that — the app feels faster and smoother, particularly on mobile. Syncing is also more reliable, with real-time updates across devices using the new Evernote Cloud 2.0 backend.

How It Compares to Rivals

• Notion: Offers more flexibility and databases but has a steeper learning curve.
• Obsidian: Local-first and great for privacy, but lacks easy sync and collaboration.
• Apple Notes: Seamless for Apple users but too basic for heavy note-takers.

Evernote still hits the sweet spot between simplicity and depth, making it ideal for users who want power without complexity.

Pricing in 2025

• Free Plan: Up to 60 MB monthly upload, 2 devices.
• Personal Plan: $11/month — unlimited devices, 10 GB uploads.
• Professional Plan: $15/month — collaboration, AI summaries, and advanced search.

While slightly more expensive than Notion or Obsidian, Evernote’s AI upgrades justify the cost for users who rely on structured note-taking.

Pros and Cons

• Pros:
  • Intuitive and familiar interface
  • Excellent search and OCR capabilities
  • Strong AI summarization tools
  • Reliable cross-platform sync
• Cons:
  • Free plan feels limited
  • Some AI features behind paywall
  • Not as flexible as Notion

Verdict: Still a Great Choice — for the Right User

Evernote may no longer be the trendiest app in the productivity space, but it remains one of the most polished and dependable. It’s perfect for users who want powerful organization tools without the complexity of building custom systems.

For writers, students, and professionals who just want to take, search, and sync notes easily — Evernote in 2025 is still absolutely worth it.

Have you switched from Evernote to another app? Tell us your experience below — your insights might help others choose their perfect note-taking companion.