Evernote Problems & Issues
Real user-reported problems, complaints, and limitations for Evernote. Based on analysis of 12 signals.
Overall score: 40/100
Issues by Category
Why is Evernote so expensive? Repeated price increases since 2023
Bending Spoons has raised prices several times: renewal notices in 2024 jumped some yearly plans from about $64 to $114, Personal accounts in Europe were moved to Advanced at EUR 18.99/month in September 2025, and in 2026 users were emailed that Personal/Professional were being replaced by Starter ($99/yr) and Advanced ($249.99/yr). Long-time users report their bill roughly doubling.
Evernote free plan limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook and 1 device
The free plan caps you at 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 synced device (Evernote Web counts as that device) and 1 GB of storage. Once you go over, you can still view, edit and export notes but cannot create new ones, and notes in the trash still count toward the limit.
Unauthorized charges and billing issues
Users report being charged without authorization and facing difficulties canceling subscriptions. One long-time user had their 13-year subscription cancelled due to a credit card glitch, then was charged twice ($62 and $309.99) before access was restored. Account deletion requests are ignored.
Paying more for AI features many users don't want
The 2026 plans bundle AI Assistant, Semantic Search, AI Transcribe and AI Edit into both Starter and Advanced. Several long-time users say they only need notes and clipping and resent paying a higher price for AI tools they never use, and that the main difference between tiers is storage.
V10 redesign broke workflows and removed features
The Version 10 redesign introduced GUI changes nobody asked for, added functions that ruined workflows, and in some cases the app doesn't start after updates. Users describe V10 as making once-simple things now take more steps. The forced migration from Legacy was costly in workflow disruption.
Aggressive upgrade pop-ups and UX traps
The free version prompts users to buy the paid version every time they open it, with intrusive pop-ups that require navigating through UX traps to close. Users find this experience hostile and indicative of a product prioritizing revenue extraction over user experience.
Cluttered interface and poor search functionality
The interface can be cluttered and overwhelming, making navigation difficult. The search functionality barely works, and it's not obvious when search is within a note versus across all notes. Customization options are limited compared to competitors.
Evernote not syncing between devices
Users regularly report notes that do not appear on other devices, 'Syncing temporarily paused' messages and single notes that refuse to sync and block the rest. Causes range from server-side incidents to device-limit overruns and corrupted individual notes; the fixes are mostly manual (recreate the note, sign out and back in).
Free plan device limit locks users out after downgrading
Users who let a subscription lapse or downgrade to Free report suddenly being unable to sync or edit until they unsync all but one device. Free and Starter users can only unsync up to 2 devices per month, which makes switching phones or computers painful.
Unresponsive customer support after layoffs
After Bending Spoons laid off nearly all US employees in 2023, customer support has deteriorated significantly. Users report accounts cancelled without reimbursement, being charged while locked out, and receiving only automated replies. Some cannot even contact support because their accounts were cancelled.
Slow performance and frequent crashes
The app suffers from slow loading and lag, particularly on mobile. The web app takes 30 seconds to a minute to load before you can do anything, with upgrade pop-ups appearing every time. Users report V10 getting slower on loading notes and searching, with frequent crashes especially when handling large amounts of data.
Hard to export Evernote notes (desktop only, batch limits)
Export only works in the Mac or Windows desktop app, not on web or mobile, and is limited to batches of selected notes (users report 50-100 at a time) or whole notebooks. ENEX is the only full-fidelity format, so most people moving thousands of notes rely on notebook-by-notebook exports or third-party tools like evernote-backup.
Regret Patterns
Common reasons users regret choosing Evernote.
Discovered data is effectively locked in after years of use
Long-time users realize their years of notes are difficult to export. The export feature crashes, only works from desktop, and exports in proprietary format. By the time they want to leave, migration is a massive undertaking.
Hit the 50-note wall on free tier mid-workflow
Users trying Evernote hit the 50-note limit quickly, often while organizing existing notes or in the middle of an important project. The aggressive upgrade prompts create immediate pressure to pay.
Annual renewal at dramatically higher price
Users who auto-renew are shocked to see prices 2-3x higher than previous years. Some report charges of $309.99 after previously paying ~$70. The lack of grandfathering or gradual increases feels like betrayal.
Invested in Premium before Bending Spoons acquisition
Users who bought lifetime or multi-year plans before the acquisition feel their investment was wasted. The product has changed dramatically under new ownership, but they're locked into a service that no longer matches what they bought.
Downgraded to Free and lost access on other devices
Users who cancel expecting a free fallback find they are over the note or device limit, can't create notes, and must unsync devices (max 2 per month) before Evernote works normally again.
When Evernote Breaks Down
Specific scenarios where Evernote fails or underperforms.
Need reliable multi-device sync
Free users are limited to 1 device. Even paid users experience sync conflicts, duplicate notes, and delays. When you need the same note across phone, tablet, and computer, Evernote's sync issues become a daily frustration.
Want to migrate away from Evernote
Export is limited to 100 notes at a time from desktop only. Large collections crash the export. The ENEX format requires conversion. Users report spending days or weeks migrating their notes, if they can export at all.
Need customer support for account issues
After laying off most staff, support is unreliable. Users report being charged while locked out of accounts, cancelled subscriptions without refunds, and automated responses with no human follow-up. BBB complaints have increased.
Exceed free tier limits
At 50 notes and 1 device, the free tier is barely functional. Most serious users hit these limits within weeks. The jump to $99+/year is steep compared to free alternatives like Notion or OneNote.
Switching phones or computers on Free/Starter
Each new device counts against the limit, and Free/Starter users can only unsync 2 devices per month, so frequent device changes leave you locked out of syncing.
Exporting thousands of notes to leave
Export is desktop-only and batched; large ENEX files sometimes fail to import elsewhere due to malformed content, so a full migration usually means notebook-by-notebook exports or a third-party tool.