Evernote vs. Notion: Choosing the Right App for Notes and Tasks

Staying organized is something everyone agrees upon, but what tool should be used is an entirely different matter. Two very popular choices in taking notes and such purposes are Notion and Evernote. Among these, Evernote focuses on quick notetaking and document storage, while the other provides a more flexible workspace for databases and collaboration. Both tools serve different needs, making it essential to understand them fully.

This comparison will guide you when you need a simple place to store ideas or a powerful system to manage multiple projects. It will deeply explore how Evernote vs. Notion stack up against each other when it comes to comparing productivity.

Part 1. What Is Evernote?

Keeping track of notes and tasks becomes easier with a secure and reliable digital tool. Evernote simplifies this process by letting users create, store, and organize content. With support for data from text and images to voice recordings and attachments, it is the centralized hub for your thoughts. Moreover, its powerful search function makes retrieving information quick and effortless.

Evernote's approach to organizing your content involves using notebooks and tags. Not to mention that its clean design helps streamline the process when jotting down quick thoughts or managing long projects.

Also Read: Best Evernote Alternatives >>

Part 2. What Is Notion?

Being able to manage your notes and projects efficiently means getting a tool that is adaptable to different workflows. Notion offers a flexible workspace to combine taking notes with managing databases and collaboration. Unlike traditional apps, it provides a highly customizable environment where users can create things from tables to wikis.

With native templates and an easy drag-and-drop function, this tool in Notion vs. Evernote comparison simplifies content creation and structuring.

Also Read: Notion to PDF >>

Part 3. Should I Use Evernote or Notion?

Choosing between two tools is kind of depends on one's needs and how one prefers to take notes. Evernote and Notion both offer very good features, but they are aimed at different workflows. While the first focuses on a fast and structured approach, the latter provides a more flexible and customizable workspace. To make the right decision, it's essential to go through the following Evernote vs. Notion comparison of their capabilities:

Hands-On Test: Comparing Evernote and Notion for Notetaking

To truly understand how these two tools perform, you will need to use them and check their features. That's what we did, so you can make a choice based on our experience and recreate it if you wish to do so. Below is a breakdown of our tests with each, followed by a direct Notion vs. Evernote comparison of their usage:

Using Evernote for Notetaking

Starting with Evernote, you go through the hassle of logging in and accessing the actual dashboard to take the first step. Creating a new note was straightforward using the "Create a note" button, which opened a blank page equipped with a rich text editor. Here, you will get the essential formatting tools such as bold, italics, bullet points, and tables.

One thing you can do before starting is to use its standout feature on web clipping. Installing the Evernote Web Clipper extension allows you to save entire articles from web pages.

Then, you can proceed to start taking notes by defining the structure on your own or using a template. Evernote offers many such pre-made structures for use in school, work, or life. Uploading a handwritten meeting note via "Insert" as an image allowed the tool to make the text searchable.

However, embedding videos was limited; Evernote provided only links instead of playing them within the note. While it supports audio notes, recordings had to be manually attached rather than recorded directly inside the note.

Using Notion for Notetaking

Switching to Notion, you first go through the normal routine of accessing the tool and logging in. Within this tool, you will find a bit different approach to adding or organizing content. Instead of a standard text editor, the program uses a block-based system where every piece of content is a block.

Here, you can begin by creating a new page from the top left corner. Then, typing "/" in the given field opens a menu to add different elements instantly. Adding media was effortless. You can further use the "Database" option from the bottom toolbar to create a new notes database from scratch or use one of the available templates. It even lets you build a database with AI if you want.

From letting you embed YouTube videos directly into the note to attaching PDFs, everything works smoothly. The database feature enables the creation of tables for project notes. In these, each row acts as an individual note containing tags and priority labels. This facilitated organizing large amounts of information more effectively than traditional folders.

However, the flexibility came with a learning curve. Formatting and arranging content required multiple steps, making the initial setup time-consuming. Additionally, while Notion's web clipper saved pages, the formatting wasn't as clean as Evernote's.

Which Was Easier to Use?

Both tools excel in different areas during our Evernote vs. Notion usage comparison:

• Evernote offers a faster setup for simple note-taking thanks to its clean design and efficient web clipper. When quick organization and OCR for handwritten notes are your priorities, Evernote is a suitable choice.
• Notion provides greater flexibility and advanced features, such as embedding media and using databases. More importantly, it caters to users seeking a customizable workspace. However, that comes with increased complexity and a steeper learning curve.

For those needing quick, straightforward notetaking, Evernote is preferable. But if deep customization and advanced organization are desired, Notion justifies the extra effort.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Evernote

Advantages and Disadvantages of Notion

In our Notion vs. Evernote comparison, both of these options offer powerful capabilities but cater to different needs. When looking for a simple tool to capture and organize notes efficiently, go for Evernote. However, Notion is worth mastering if you want a more comprehensive platform. In the end, the best choice depends on your workflow and personal preferences.

Conclusion

In summary, Evernote and Notion both excel in notetaking but serve different needs. One is ideal for quick organization and OCR-based search, while the other offers deep customization and collaboration. Choosing between them depends on your workflow and preference. This Evernote vs. Notion comparison has highlighted all that can help you make a choice.

In contrast, UPDF turns out to be the best choice if you need to take notes directly on PDF files or summarize content efficiently. With AI-powered analysis and effortless annotation, it makes studying and reviewing PDFs effortless. So, users who frequently work with PDF files can directly click the button below and try it for free.