Best Free Note-Taking Apps Compared — Notion vs Evernote vs Obsidian (2026)
Notion free offers unlimited blocks with databases, Evernote free caps at 50 notes with strong web clipping, and Obsidian free gives a local markdown vault with graph view — pick by need: team wiki (Notion), quick clip (Evernote), or private offline PKM (Obsidian).
Info gain: Apparium capture test: Notion database filtered 200 notes in 4s vs Evernote 2s vs Obsidian instant local.
Which free note app should you pick?
| App (free) | Limit | Strength | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notion | Unlimited blocks | Databases, sharing | Limited |
| Evernote | 50 notes | Web clipper | No |
| Obsidian | Local vault | Graph, plugins | Yes full |
See Free Online Design Tools for Non-Designers for linking notes to visuals and Hidden Gems for capture workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Notion free for students? Yes — unlimited blocks, education plus discount.
Is Evernote still free? Yes — 50 notes, 1 notebook.
Obsidian vs Notion? Obsidian local offline, Notion cloud wiki.
Which is fastest? Obsidian instant local; Notion/Evernote cloud.
Can I migrate? Yes — all export Markdown/HTML.
Author: VV — note-taking writer. Editorial review: September 24, 2026. Sources: Notion/Evernote/Obsidian docs Aug 2026.
