Written by: Shauli Zacks
Last updated on February 01, 2024

To simply call Evernote one of the best note-taking apps doesn’t do it justice. While it’s true, it can do so much more, making it a must-have software for anyone who wants to get organized. With Evernote, I can clip web pages and articles and upload them to my notes, add tags to notebooks that make them easier to find, set up multiple to-do lists, and it has a well-designed dashboard to help keep you focused.

While there is a free version, I’ll show you how to download the premium version and get a 7-day free trial. This way, you can test all the premium features, and you can judge for yourself whether you need the premium features or if the free option is good enough for your needs.

Download Evernote for Free!

How to Download Evernote on PC for Free

  1. Go directly to the official Evernote website.
  2. Press the Get Started button.
    Get started with Evernote
  3. If you already have an account, you can sign in. Otherwise, create an account by connecting to your Google account or adding an email address and password, and pressing the Continue button.
    Create Evernote account
  4. You will need to enter your credit card or PayPal account to activate the free trial, but your account will not be charged until the trial period is over.
    7 day free trial Evernote
  5. A free trial confirmation page will appear. Click the Get Started button and your Evernote dashboard will open.
  6. A guided tutorial will help you set up your account. You can now access Evernote from any browser.
  7. To download the desktop app, press the Get Started button in the bottom left corner of your Evernote dashboard, and a checklist will open. Press the Download Desktop App, and a pop-up window will open. Click the Install Evernote on Windows and the setup file will download to your computer.
    Download the Evernote Desktop App
  8. Open the file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the desktop app. This will give you access to your Notebooks even when you’re offline.

Evernote Overview

Since it first launched in 2008, Evernote has maintained its position as one of the best note-taking apps. There are many different ways to create notes. You can use a blank template, clip text or images from the web and add your comments, scan documents, upload PDFs, and more. Evernote uses a rich formatting style, which allows you to fully customize how each note looks. You can change the font, text size, colors, alignment, and more.

The app can also function as a task management app. You can create notes or tasks and tag other users. It’s a convenient and easy way for teams and families to stay organized.

Evernote has several different subscription options and a completely free version. Over the years, many of the features have been removed from the free version, although it is still a highly functional note-taking app. If you’re not sure which option is best for you, I recommend taking advantage of the 7-day free trial and seeing how powerful the premium features are and whether they are necessary for your needs.

Download Evernote for Free!

Evernote Features

Evernote has plenty of advanced features that you won’t see with other note-taking software. In addition to taking notes, it also works as a to-do list and task management tool. All updates and changes to the notes are automatically saved in the cloud and synced to the connected devices. This way, you don’t have to worry about losing any crucial data or tasks, and everyone on the team can log in and view the notes.

Multiple Kinds of Notes

There are many different kinds of ways to create a note. Click on the Plus (+) button on the side menu of the dashboard to get started. You will have the option to write a note, create a task, upload an attachment, or sketch.

Notes: The note interface starts with the Title. It should be something that describes the note, so you can find it when you need it. You can also choose from a list of suggested templates that include a to-do list, reading list, daily reflection, or browse the gallery where you’ll find hundreds of templates.

Write Notes with Evernote
Create a Note and choose a template

Task: I was surprised at how basic the Task section is. I named the task, gave it a due date, set a few reminders, and flagged it as a priority. However, there isn’t much space to add details or upload attachments. You can create different task sections, which allows you to separate work and personal tasks.

Create a task Evernote
Create and organize your tasks

Attachments: You can upload an attachment to your notebook, give it a title, and share it with other users with a shareable link or invite someone via email to view the file.

Sketch: The sketchboard lets you create a note freehand. I found it helpful as a whiteboard for brainstorming, but it can also be used to sketch designs, create flow charts, organization structure, and more.

Sketch whiteboard idea evernote
Starting a brainstorming session with the Sketch feature

Web Clipper

The Web Clipper represents a browser add-on that simplifies the process of saving articles, websites, images, PDFs, and screenshots directly to your notes. It will even capture that text from a page, remove ads, unnecessary images, and menus so you can view the content you want without distractions.

If you use the Web Clipper for taking screenshots, you can highlight sections of the page, add comments and annotations, and add your own text, so you don’t forget why you took the screenshot when you look at the image in a few weeks or months.

You can then tag the pictures and add a title, so it will be easy to find when you need it.

A Well Designed Dashboard

All four kinds of notes are adding a different section on the dashboard. I found it incredibly easy to organize my dashboard, so my important notes appear on the top. Under the notes section is where you will see your upcoming tasks. Then there is a scratch pad, which is similar to a sticky note where you can jot down a quick note or a thought.

You can connect your Google calendar to Evernote and not only stay on top of your schedule but upload notes and files from your Evernote account to the calendar, so you’ll be prepared for the meeting.

Download Evernote for Free!

How to Uninstall Evernote

If you don’t want Evernote on your computer, you can remove it in a few simple steps.

Important: This will not cancel your account or delete your notes, just remove the app from your computer. You can still log in to the mobile apps or through the browser web interface.

  1. Type Add or Remove Programs in the Windows search bar and press the Enter key.
    Add or Remove Program
  2. Locate Evernote with the installed programs and press the Uninstall button.
    Uninstall Evernote
  3. Confirm that you want to delete the app, and Windows will remove it from your computer.

If you decide that Evernote is not the right note-taking, task management software for you, check out the free alternatives below.

How to Cancel your Evernote Account From a PC

If you decide that Evernote isn’t the right note-taking app for your needs, you can cancel your account in a few easy steps.

  1. Log in to your Evernote account.
  2. Click on the account name at the top right corner of the page, and a window will open. Press the Account Info button.
    first step cancel account
  3.  On the account page, press the Billing tab on the sidebar.
  4. Press on the link at the bottom of the page that says Cancel Your Evernote Subscription.
    Cancel Evernote account
  5. A confirmation page will open, showing the features and benefits of maintaining your account. If you still want to cancel the account, press the Continue Cancel button.

continue to cancel EvernoteYou will still have access to all the premium features until the current billing cycle ends.

Free Alternatives to Evernote

  • Microsoft OneNote: A feature-rich note-taking program, OneNote comes with every free Microsoft account. Organize your thoughts by creating notes, and enhance them with audio recordings, images, attachments, and more to your notes. It includes a web-clipper tool that allows you to insert screenshots or save websites to your notebook quickly.
  • Todoist: An excellent organizational tool that can be used to organize your projects and create to-do lists. With a free Todoist account, you can create multiple lists and notes and sync them across all your devices, and assign due dates and priorities to ensure that your tasks don’t get lost. With each task you complete on time, you will earn Karma points that can be used to compete against other people in your family or organization.

FAQ

Is Evernote free?

While there is a completely free version of Evernote, you won’t have access to some of the advanced features, and it only syncs two devices. I recommend getting a 7-day free trial and testing out the premium version to get the full Evernote experience.

Is Evernote safe?

I tested the Evernote app for viruses, malware, ransomware, and Trojans and the file was 100% clean. All data is stored on the Google Cloud and protected with 256-bit AES encryption. While data is in transit, it has a TLS encryption, which is the same level of protection used by banks and credit cards when transferring money. For your protection, it’s important to download the latest official version of Evernote and avoid trying to download a “cracked” or pirated version, as these could have serious security flaws.

Is Evernote a good app for teams?

Yes, Evernote is a powerful collaboration tool for teams. The manager can create tasks, assign them to different users, set due dates, set priority levels, and track the progress. There is also a sketch feature for illustrating notes. You can annotate PDFs and create custom templates for notes and tasks.

Three are two subscription options for teams, Personal and Professional. They both sync with unlimited devices, but the Professional version gives you twice the upload space, with 20 GBs, and integrations with apps like Slack, Salesforce, Teams, Asana, and more.

Download Evernote now!