Evernote not forever
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| AI generated image |
As a long term user of Evernote it is with some regret I now find myself copying and migrating all my accumulated notes, the digital brain, elsewhere.
When I wrote about the free account in 2016, I was just one of many who were delighted with the features offered. Special interest groups promoted its use for storing, notes, clippings, images and more. Templates were developed and ideas for indexing individual notebooks flourished. The ability to sync across all platforms was excellent. One cannot expect free software storage but as payment plans were introduced so too were limitations imposed. I removed the app from my phone but retained it on my iPad. On my computer a choice had to be made between the desktop or web version, in 2021 when I reviewed my usage, the cost was AU89.99.
Searching is powerful, tags, titles, and text within notes. Later iterations brought OCR and handwriting recognition. There is no doubt it is, and has been, a very a useful tool but I just don’t need to spend the AU309.99 per year to maintain my current level of usage. To reduce the amount of notes for the cheaper rate would defeat the purpose of maintaining a subscription as I would be unable to add any more.
The price rise takes effect for me on March 20th, 2026, just a few weeks away. The notification re this price rise arrived 2 days ago.
The export option is not friendly, exporting to .enex files.
I have cancelled that forthcoming payment.
The Exit Strategy
- Review Notebooks: currently General, Genealogy (3 notebooks in this stack), Receipts, Recipes, Sewing, Technology tips, Trips (4 notebooks in this stack) and Writing.
- Determine priority information
- Determine where to store saved information
- Delete outdated notes
- Download PDFs
- Copy text from any notes that were added by typing or speaking. These include some notes taken when talking with siblings.
Progress
Today I have managed to review the Sewing notebook and remove or delete all those files.
From the General notebook I’ve saved all the household manuals, coffee machine, new oven, washing machine, stick vacuum, microwave etc. These are now housed in one folder in Google Drive, easy to find there when needed.
I will need to review at least 50 notes each day between now and March 22nd.
So many software services now operate as subscriptions rather than outright purchases, that one needs evaluate usefulness within one’s discretionary spending.
Farewell Evernote.
