Free Note-Taking Apps Compared 2026: What You Actually Get Without Paying

Introduction: Why 'Free' Needs Scrutiny

Every note-taking app on the market advertises a free plan. The word "free" appears in large type on pricing pages, in app store descriptions, and in comparison articles. But the gap between what users expect from a free plan and what they actually get has widened considerably over the past two years. Evernote, once the gold standard for free note-taking, now restricts its no-cost tier to 50 notes and a single device — a limit that makes the plan essentially unusable for anyone who takes more than a few notes per week. Notion offers unlimited blocks for solo users but caps file uploads at 5 MB and requires an internet connection for most operations. Google Keep is genuinely unlimited but functions as a digital sticky-note board rather than a structured note-taking system.

This article examines eight major note-taking apps — Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes, Google Keep, Notion, Obsidian, Joplin, Simplenote, and Evernote — and documents exactly what each one delivers at $0. The goal is not to declare a single winner but to help you match a free plan to your actual workflow, whether you are a student managing lecture notes, a knowledge worker capturing meeting minutes, or someone who simply wants a reliable place to jot down ideas without paying a monthly subscription.

How We Compared the Free Plans: Our Criteria

To evaluate each app's free tier fairly, we applied a consistent set of criteria that reflect the real-world needs of note-takers. These criteria go beyond what the marketing pages advertise and focus on the limitations that actually affect daily use.

• Storage limit: How much data can you store before hitting a wall? This includes cloud storage caps (e.g., 5 GB on OneDrive for OneNote) and per-file upload limits.
• Note or block limit: Some apps cap the total number of notes you can create (Evernote: 50) or the number of blocks per page (Notion: unlimited for solo use, but with caveats).
• Device restriction: Can you access your notes on your phone, tablet, and laptop simultaneously, or are you locked to a single device?
• Cross-platform sync: Does the app sync reliably across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the web?
• Offline access: Can you create, edit, and view notes without an internet connection?
• End-to-end encryption: Are your notes encrypted in transit and at rest in a way that prevents the service provider from reading them?
• File upload limit: What is the maximum size for individual file attachments, images, or PDFs?
• Template support: Does the free plan include pre-built templates or the ability to create your own?

These eight dimensions capture the most common pain points users encounter when they outgrow a free plan. An app that scores well on storage but lacks offline access may be fine for a student with reliable Wi-Fi but useless for a commuter who takes notes on a train.

Detailed Free-Plan Profiles: What You Actually Get at $0

Each profile below focuses on the concrete limits of the free tier. We have omitted features that are identical between free and paid plans — every app lets you type notes — and concentrated on the restrictions that define the free experience.

Microsoft OneNote

OneNote's free plan is widely considered the most generous among major note-taking apps. You get unlimited notes, unlimited notebooks, and full access to core features across all platforms — Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the web. Storage is capped at 5 GB via OneDrive, which is enough for thousands of text-heavy notes but fills quickly if you attach high-resolution images or PDFs. For heavier users, Microsoft offers 100 GB for $1.99 per month.

The most significant gap in OneNote's free plan is the absence of end-to-end encryption. Notes are encrypted in transit and at rest on Microsoft's servers, but Microsoft holds the decryption keys. For users who store sensitive personal or professional information, this is a meaningful privacy trade-off. OneNote also lacks a dedicated template gallery within the free tier, though you can create your own page templates manually.

Apple Notes

Apple Notes comes pre-installed on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and its free tier is generous within the Apple ecosystem. You get unlimited notes, rich formatting, image and document attachments, sketch support, and iCloud sync across your Apple devices. The catch is storage: your notes count against your 5 GB free iCloud allocation, which is shared with device backups, photos, and other app data. Upgrading to 50 GB costs $0.99 per month.

Apple Notes does not offer end-to-end encryption by default — notes are encrypted in transit but not end-to-end encrypted unless you enable the Advanced Data Protection feature (which applies to all iCloud data, not just notes). The app is also unavailable on Windows and Android, which makes it a poor choice for anyone who uses a non-Apple device for work or school.

Google Keep

Google Keep is genuinely free. There is no note limit, no device restriction, and no feature paywall. You can create text notes, checklists, voice memos, and drawings, and they sync instantly across the web, Android, and iOS. Notes count against your Google account's 15 GB storage pool, but plain text notes consume negligible space.

The trade-off is structural. Keep is a sticky-note tool, not a notebook. It has no folder hierarchy, no notebook organization, no rich text formatting (bold, italics, headings), and no proper export function. You cannot create templates, and there is no desktop app — the web interface is the primary non-mobile experience. Google also scans note content for advertising purposes, which may be a privacy concern for some users.

Notion

Notion's free plan is generous for solo users: unlimited pages and blocks, support for databases, kanban boards, calendars, and a rich template gallery. The plan includes 7-day page history and trial access to Notion AI. For an individual building a personal knowledge base or project tracker, the free tier is genuinely usable long-term.

The limitations become apparent in daily use. File uploads are capped at 5 MB per file, which makes attaching PDFs, high-resolution images, or audio recordings difficult. Notion is also heavily dependent on an internet connection — the mobile and desktop apps cache recently viewed pages for offline reading, but you cannot create or edit notes offline reliably. There is no end-to-end encryption, and the free plan is limited to a single user with no guest access or team collaboration features.

Obsidian

Obsidian takes a different approach: the core app is free forever for personal use, and your notes are stored as plain Markdown files on your local device. There are no note limits, no storage caps, and no feature restrictions in the editor. You get full offline access, backlinks, graph view, and the ability to install community plugins — all at no cost.

The catch is that sync is not included. To sync notes across devices, you must either use a third-party service (iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or a Git repository) or pay for Obsidian Sync at $4 per month. Templates are available through community plugins but require manual setup — there is no built-in template gallery in the free tier. For users comfortable with Markdown and local file management, Obsidian's free plan is the most powerful option available. For users who want a turnkey sync-and-go experience, it requires additional effort.

Joplin

Joplin is a free, open-source note-taking app that stores notes locally as Markdown files. The free tier includes unlimited notes, notebooks, tags, a Markdown editor, support for attachments and images, and end-to-end encryption — a rare combination at $0. It also supports importing from Evernote, which makes it a popular destination for users leaving Evernote's restrictive free plan.

The main friction point is sync. Joplin does not include built-in cloud sync in the free tier. You must configure your own sync target — Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, or a WebDAV server — which requires a moderate level of technical comfort. Joplin Cloud, the paid option at approximately €2.99 per month, adds hosted sync and 2 GB of storage. The app's interface is functional rather than polished, and there is no template system comparable to Notion's gallery.

Simplenote

Simplenote is completely free — no paid plans exist. It offers unlimited notes, tags, cross-platform sync (including Linux), Markdown support, version history, and collaboration features. The app is fast, minimal, and syncs reliably across devices.

The limitation is fundamental: Simplenote is text-only. You cannot attach images, PDFs, or any other file type. There is no rich text formatting, no templates, no notebooks or folders (only tags for organization), and no encryption beyond standard HTTPS. For users who need a fast, distraction-free place to write and sync plain text, Simplenote is excellent. For anyone who needs to include screenshots, PDFs, or formatted documents, it is not a viable option.

Evernote

Evernote's free plan has been reduced to the point where it functions primarily as a trial. The limits are severe: 50 notes total, 1 notebook, and 1 device. Monthly uploads are capped at 60 MB. For context, a single PDF textbook chapter or a week's worth of meeting notes with screenshots can consume that allowance quickly.

Multiple sources, including PCMag and Zapier, describe the free plan as "not really worth using." Evernote's paid plans start at approximately $14.99 per month for the Personal tier, which unlocks unlimited devices, 150,000 notes, 2,000 notebooks, and 10 GB of monthly uploads. For users who are still on Evernote's free plan and hitting these limits, the most practical path is to migrate to a different app rather than pay for a plan that costs more than most competitors' premium tiers.

Quick-Reference Decision Table

The table below summarizes the free-plan limits for all eight apps. Use it to quickly narrow your options before reading the detailed profiles.

Use-Case Recommendations: Which Free App Fits Your Needs?

The table above gives you the raw data. The recommendations below translate that data into decisions for specific reader profiles.

For students managing lecture notes and assignments

Microsoft OneNote is the strongest free option for students. It supports handwritten notes on tablets, typed notes, audio recording, and PDF annotation — all within the free tier. The 5 GB storage limit is sufficient for a semester of notes unless you attach large video files. Apple Notes is a close second if you are fully within the Apple ecosystem and do not need Windows access. For a broader comparison of apps by use case, see our note-taking app comparison by use case.

For knowledge workers building a personal knowledge base

Notion's free plan is ideal for solo knowledge workers who want databases, linked pages, and a structured workspace. The 5 MB file upload limit is the main constraint — if your work involves attaching research PDFs or design files, you will hit this ceiling quickly. Obsidian is a strong alternative if you prefer local Markdown files and are willing to set up your own sync solution. For a broader decision framework, see our PKM app decision guide for knowledge workers.

For quick-capture and checklist users

Google Keep is the best free option for users who primarily create short notes, shopping lists, to-do checklists, and voice memos. Its simplicity is its strength — you open the app, type or speak, and the note is available everywhere instantly. The lack of organization and export is a feature, not a bug, for this use case. If you need a text-only, distraction-free alternative, Simplenote serves the same purpose with better version history and cross-platform support.

For privacy-focused users

Obsidian and Joplin are the clear leaders for privacy. Both store notes locally as Markdown files, both offer end-to-end encryption (Joplin natively, Obsidian through third-party sync), and neither scans your content for advertising or AI training. Obsidian has a more polished interface and a larger plugin ecosystem. Joplin offers built-in encryption and a simpler sync setup for users who want to avoid vendor lock-in entirely.

For legacy Evernote users

If you are still on Evernote's free plan and hitting the 50-note or 1-device limit, the most practical path is to migrate. Joplin offers a direct Evernote import feature and a similar notebook/tag structure. OneNote provides a comparable feature set with a much more generous free tier. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our Evernote migration guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Note-Taking Apps

Can I use Notion offline?

Notion's desktop and mobile apps cache recently viewed pages for offline reading, but you cannot create new pages, edit existing ones, or access pages that have not been loaded before going offline. For reliable offline use, OneNote, Apple Notes, Obsidian, Joplin, and Simplenote all offer full offline access.

Is Google Keep really free?

Yes. Google Keep has no paid tier and no feature restrictions. The only cost is that your notes count against your Google account's 15 GB storage pool, and Google scans note content for advertising purposes. For most users, the storage impact is negligible because plain text notes consume almost no space.

What happens when I hit Evernote's 50-note limit?

You cannot create new notes until you delete existing ones to stay under the cap. Evernote does not delete your existing notes — it simply blocks new note creation. The 1-device limit means you can only access your account from one phone, tablet, or computer at a time. Switching devices requires logging out and logging back in on the new device.

Which free app has the best encryption?

Joplin offers built-in end-to-end encryption on its free tier. Obsidian's local files are not encrypted by default, but you can encrypt them using your sync provider (e.g., Cryptomator with Dropbox) or by enabling Obsidian Sync's encryption option ($4/month). OneNote, Apple Notes, Google Keep, Notion, Simplenote, and Evernote do not offer end-to-end encryption on their free plans.

Can I sync Obsidian for free?

Yes, but not through Obsidian's built-in sync service. You can place your Obsidian vault folder inside a cloud storage folder (iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive) and open the same folder on each device. This works reliably for text-based notes but can cause sync conflicts if you edit the same note on two devices simultaneously. For a friction-free sync experience, Obsidian Sync costs $4 per month.

Which free app is best for handwritten notes?

Microsoft OneNote is the best free option for handwritten notes. It supports stylus input on Windows and iPad, offers palm rejection, and converts handwriting to text. Apple Notes also supports handwriting on iPad but is limited to Apple devices. Google Keep supports basic drawing but is not designed for extensive handwritten note-taking.