Cancel Evernote 2026: The Note App That Got Worse While Charging More
Updated 2026-03-02 • 6 min read
📝 The decline: Evernote was the gold standard for note-taking. Then they limited free accounts to 50 notes, raised prices from $5 to $15/month, sold to Bending Spoons, laid off most staff, and removed features. Apple Notes, Notion (free), and Obsidian all do more for less.
How to Cancel Evernote
- First: Export your notes (see below — do this BEFORE canceling)
- Go to evernote.com/Settings
- Click Manage Subscription
- Click Cancel Subscription or Downgrade to Free
- Navigate through retention offers
- Free Evernote now limits you to 50 notes and 1 notebook — essentially unusable if you have years of notes
Export Your Notes First
Don't cancel without your data:
- Desktop app: File → Export All Notes → choose ENEX format
- Web: Settings → Export all of your data
- ENEX files can be imported into Apple Notes, Notion, Obsidian, Joplin, and most alternatives
- For large libraries: Export may take hours — start it before bed
Where to Migrate
- Apple Notes (free): Built into every Apple device, supports folders, tags, scanning, drawing, collaboration. Can import ENEX files. Surprisingly powerful
- Notion (free): Unlimited notes for personal use, databases, kanban boards, wikis. Has an official Evernote importer
- Obsidian (free): Local-first, Markdown files you own, massive plugin ecosystem. Best for power users. Sync is $4/mo if needed
- Google Keep (free): Simple, fast, great for quick notes and lists. Less organizational depth
- Microsoft OneNote (free): Included with Microsoft account, good for handwriting and freeform notes
- Joplin (free, open source): Most similar to old Evernote, imports ENEX directly, end-to-end encryption
The Evernote Price History
- 2012: Free tier was generous, Premium $5/month
- 2016: Free limited to 2 devices
- 2020: Price increased to $7.99/month
- 2023: Acquired by Bending Spoons, free limited to 50 notes
- 2024: Personal plan increased to $14.99/month
- Price increase: 200% over 4 years while competitors got better and stayed free
✅ The lesson: Don't build your digital life on a single company's platform. Use open formats (Markdown), keep local copies, and choose apps that let you export easily. Your notes are your thoughts — they shouldn't be held hostage by a subscription.
🗒️ Evernote + Notion + Bear + Todoist + other note apps — productivity tool subscriptions creep up to $30-50/month. Most people actively use one app. Upload your bank statement to find every productivity subscription.
Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions
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