Alternatives · Note-Taking
UpNote alternatives
UpNote compared with 6 alternatives: Evernote, Bear, Apple Notes, Simplenote, Zoho Notebook and 1 more.
UpNote has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium). All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| UpNoteThis tool | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Evernote | Free plan · from $99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Bear | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Apple Notes | Free | Free | Web, macOS, iOS |
| Simplenote | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Zoho Notebook | Free plan · from $1.67/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Octarine | Free plan · from $79 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, Browser extension |
How each one differs from UpNote
- Free plan · from $99/yr
Evernote
Note-taking app with web clipping, tasks, calendar and AI search
- Evernote starts at $99 per year (about $8.25 a month), or $14.99 billed monthly. UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
- Only Evernote lists a web app.
- Only UpNote lists a Linux app.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Evernote also covers tasks and calendar.
Suits: People who save web pages, scans and documents and need to search across them
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Bear
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links
- Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
- Only UpNote lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- UpNote also covers templates.
Suits: Writers who want a focused Markdown editor on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free
Apple Notes
Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web
- Apple Notes is free. UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
- Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
- Only UpNote lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only UpNote lists a browser extension.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People who use only Apple devices
- Free
Simplenote
Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform
- Simplenote is free. UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
- Only Simplenote lists a web app.
- Only UpNote lists a browser extension.
- Simplenote is open source, according to its own site.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Plain-text notes synced across phone, desktop and browser at no cost
- Free plan · from $1.67/mo
Zoho Notebook
Card-based notes app with a web clipper, scanner and AI add-ons
- Zoho Notebook starts at $1.67 per month, billed annually at $19.99 (Pro). UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
- Only Zoho Notebook lists a web app.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Zoho Notebook also covers meeting notes, transcription and kanban boards.
- UpNote also covers Markdown, linked notes and templates.
Suits: Low-cost note-taking: Pro is $19.99 a year
- Free plan · from $79 one-time
Octarine
Local Markdown notes app with daily notes, views and optional AI
- Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase. UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
- Only UpNote lists iOS and Android apps.
- Octarine also covers daily notes.
- UpNote also covers web clipper and templates.
Suits: Writers who want Markdown notes kept as local files
Limits worth knowing in UpNote
- The free version is limited to 50 notes; attachments, tables, locks and export need Premium.
- There is no end-to-end encryption: notes sync through Firebase and are encrypted in transit and at rest.
- Premium cannot be bought in the Windows or Linux apps; it is purchased on Mac, iOS or Android and then syncs to your account.
- Attachments are limited to 20 MB, and image resolution is reduced automatically on upload.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to UpNote?
The alternatives to UpNote in this directory are Evernote, Bear, Apple Notes, Simplenote, Zoho Notebook and Octarine. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with UpNote.
Is there a free alternative to UpNote?
Yes. Apple Notes and Simplenote are free to use. Evernote, Bear, Zoho Notebook and Octarine have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to UpNote?
Simplenote is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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