Since its introduction in 2008, Evernote has been the default digital file cabinet for the majority out there. The times have changed, though. Newbies like Notion, Coda, Milanote, and Airtable have adopted a modular approach, and they are racing towards to become the default productive tool for the next generation.
The modular approach means the user is in full control over how he wants to organize the different elements in the software. Often referred as Blocks — a perfect replica of the digital file cabinet concept. In recent years, Milanote has emerged as the modern alternative to Evernote. It’s relying heavily on the whiteboard concept where the user can perform drag and drop to arrange text, media, weblinks, and more. In this post, we are going to compare Milanote to Evernote and conclude if you need to switch, or is it just better to stick with true and trusted ways to get things done. The comparison will be based on interface, features, price, cross-platform availability, search, and more. Let’s jump in.
Cross-Platform Availability
Unsurprisingly, Evernote wins this round. The app is available on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Web, and even Apple Watch. Milanote is only accessible on Mac, iOS, and Web. Visit Milanote on Web Visit Evernote on Web Note:
User Interface and Note Organization
Log into Evernote Web and the interface treats you with the design similar to desktop apps. From the left panel, you can access your notebooks, tags, trash, starred notes, and even search within written notes. The UI is fairly simple and easy to navigate. In a bid to bring consistent experience across all platforms, Evernote has been working on a brand-new web editor (more on that later). The note organization hasn’t changed much. Users can create a notebook, add notes in it, and even imply relevant tags for better structuring. Milanote’s UI is completely different from a tradition note-taking app. It looks and feels similar to design apps such as Figma and Adobe XD. On the right side, there is a giant canvas, and the left panel consists of all the editing and formatting options. The search, share, and settings are on the upper right corner. The user can create a board and pages on the canvas. It’s straight-forward, and you won’t have a hard time organizing everything within the home screen.
Features
Evernote is marching ahead in terms of features. But Milanote also has some cool tricks up its sleeve to attract users. Starting with Evernote, you have a feature-rich editor with the ability to change fonts, colors, and more. One can also integrate tables, web-links, and write code in Evernote. One of the best features of Evernote is the search. It’s powerful, works accurately, and the user can even search within documents and uploaded images. Evernote has extension support for all the major browsers, which lets you bookmark website and clip a web content directly to the software. One can use a built-in scanner to save documents and visiting cards (only works on mobile apps). Evernote also provides the basic reminder function for task management. Milanote’s prime selling point is the way it let the user design the space. The user is in complete charge of how he wants to map out the entire project, idea, and thoughts. You can drag and drop elements such as images, text, web-links, videos, to-do lists, and more. Milanote also allows you to use arrows for better representation. The search isn’t as effective as Evernote, but it gets the hot done with basic queries.
Templates
A blank white canvas can be boring for newbies. And that’s why Milanote offers built-in templates when you create a board. They are divided into categories design, students, startups, project management, and more. You can drag and drop the ready-to-go designs and start editing. Evernote also provides templates such as calendar, habit tracker, project planner, and more. However, the overall experience isn’t as good as Milanote.
Sharing
Milanote’s sharing options are limited. You can invite others to edit, or give comments only or view-only permission. One can export the board as pdf, PNG image, Word file, or plain text. Evernote allows you to send the note link or email the current note in pdf form. There is no way to send the note in the plain text.
Price
Evernote Basic is free and allows syncing data between two devices. To get more storage and advanced functions, you will need to purchase Evernote Premium at $70/year. Visit the Evernote pricing page for more details. Milanote is free to one project and up to 100 blocks. After that, you will need to pay $10/month. A Word on Mobile Apps:
Organize the Digital File Cabinet
Milanote provides better organization and templates support out of the box. Evernote fights back with advanced search, more features, and better cross-platform availability. I’m sticking with Evernote for now. The extension support is a must-have in my daily routine. Next up: Notion is also a capable modular platform to organize things. Read the post below for its comparison to Milanote.
