Note-Taking Face-Off: Google Keep vs. Evernote — Who Will Prevail
The ultimate smackdown.
Have you ever felt like a mortal in a world populated by super beings of productivity? Do you need to be more mindful and organized all the time?
Do not be alarmed; I have a story to tell.
There was a young professional by the name of Sarah. Sarah had a kind heart, an inventive intellect, and a hectic schedule. She attempted to use every possible productivity tool, from fancy calendars to post-it notes, but nothing seemed to work.
She came into an epic conflict between Google Keep and Evernote one day while browsing the depths of the internet. The two titans of productivity software fought for her attention; each presented the perfect answer to her issues.
Sarah decided to go more deeply into the realm of note-taking applications out of sheer curiosity. So she tested them both, assessed the pros and cons, and ultimately reached a startling conclusion.
Your perception of productivity will always be different after learning what she discovered.
So fasten your seatbelts, my friends, because we're about to embark on a wild adventure as we uncover the startling truth about Google Keep and Evernote.
Let's find out!
What Is Google Keep?
Google Keep is a note-taking app developed by Google. You can use it to take notes anywhere (whether online or offline) and at any time — no matter where you are.
You can also set reminders, communicate with team members, record voice memos, upload images, etc.
Besides, the app is excellent for recording and organizing data while on the go. And it can connect with the Google Suite.
Pros
- Free to use
- User-friendly interface
- Multi-format support
- Collaboration
- Cross-platform compatibility
Cons
- Limited formatting options
- Limited organizational options
- Limited search functionality
- Only integrates with other Google apps
- Privacy concerns
What Is Evernote?
Evernote, acquired by Bending Spoons in 2023, is a note-taking app that allows you to remember everything and store everything from meeting notes and to-do lists to web clippings and photos in one place.
You can connect the application to tools like Google Drive, Slack, and Wrike. It also comes with a Web Clipper, which you can use to save information from browsing websites.
Pros
- Versatile note-taking
- Advanced search capabilities
- Organization tools
- Integration with other apps
- Cross-platform compatibility
Cons
- Limited free version
- Learning curve
- Privacy concerns
- Paid plans are expensive compared to other note-taking apps
- Limited formatting options
Google Keep vs. Evernote
Both Google Keep and Evernote are some of the best note-taking apps on the market. But what sets them apart?
Note-taking Capabilities
Google Keep allows you to add images to your to-do list, record audio notes if you don't want to type, add custom tags to your notes, and achieve or delete previous notes.
However, you cannot format text on the app, so you might have to stick to basic fonts.
In contrast, Evernote offers more capabilities. For example, you can attach YouTube videos to your lists, use whichever text formats you like, and even annotate PDFs. Plus, all your notes are saved in one place so that you can access everything at a moment's notice.
Collaborative Features
You can share your notes with anyone by entering their email address on Google Keep. But they can edit or delete your notes. So, only share things you want to get deleted.
In comparison, Evernote allows you to give as much or as little access as you want. Yet, despite your provided level of access, your team will be able to see your notes. But they'll be unable to edit them if you do not want them to.
Integrations
You can integrate Google Keep with Google Drive, Calendar, Docs — the entire Google ecosystem. But you won't be able to integrate the note-taking app with any non-Google apps, such as Trello.
In contrast, you can integrate Evernote with your favorite third-party apps. This includes Google Drive, Slack, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams.
Cost
Google Keep is entirely free to use. However, you're 15GB of storage space. So, if you run out, you'll have to buy more or purge your notes.
And Evernote's free version isn't any better, with the 60MB/month limit on two devices.
Plus, the free plan has no custom template options or offline access. But you can get more bang for your buck by shelling out some cash.
Here's a run-down of your Evernote options:
Free
- 14-day trial
- Sync 2 devices
- 60 MB of monthly uploads
- Use various fonts, highlight colors, and formatting tools
- Attach PDFs, Google Docs, spreadsheets, and photos to your notes
- Record audio notes
- Clip web pages
Personal — $8.99/month or $80 year/year
- Everything in the Free plan
- 10 GB monthly uploads
- 200 MB max. file size
- Mark up PDFs and images
- Customize the Home dashboard
- Get offline access
Professional — $10.99/month or $10.99 year/year
- Everything in personal
- 20 GB monthly uploads
- Assign tasks to others
- Export notes as PDF files
- Integrate with Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and Slack
- Access to all widgets
Closing thoughts.
Google Keep and Evernote are the best note-taking applications on the market, but they come with their pros and cons.
If you're looking for an easy-to-use and user-friendly note-taking app that you can use on the go, Google Keep makes sense for you.
But if you want a note-taking powerhouse that leaves other apps in the dust, Evernote will give you access to all the features you’d ever need. However, you might have to spend some serious cash to get it.
What do you think? Which one Sarah should choose?