Evernote vs Barside
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Barside is completely free, while Evernote is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Notebooks and tags
- AI search
- Web clipper
- Audio transcription
- Document scanning
- Linked notes and note map
- AI assistant and agents
- AI search with sources
- Call transcription
- Screen recording and clips
- Reading inbox
| Feature | Evernote | Barside |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Long-running notes app with AI search, cleanup and transcription | Free local-first desktop app for notes, tasks, meetings and AI agents |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | See pricing page | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Bending Spoons | Barside |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Pricing compared
Barside is completely free, while Evernote is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- 1 device sync
- 5 spaces, 200 attachments
- 1GB storage
Starter
$99/yr
- 3 devices sync
- 10 spaces, 1,000 attachments
- 5GB storage
Advanced
$249.99/yr
- Unlimited devices
- Unlimited spaces and storage
- AI Assistant
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Per seat
- Single sign-on
- 14-day trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Evernote
- Mature web clipper
- Searches text in images
- Works on every platform
- Free plan is very limited
- Prices have risen over time
Barside
- Free with many tools in one app
- Data stays on your computer
- Agents need approval before acting
- Mac version is still in beta
- Desktop only, no web app shown
- Wide scope means a learning curve
Which one should you choose?
Choose Evernote if you want:
- Mature web clipper
- Searches text in images
- Works on every platform
Watch out: free plan is very limited.
Choose Barside if you want:
- Free with many tools in one app
- Data stays on your computer
- Agents need approval before acting
Watch out: mac version is still in beta.
Evernote vs Barside FAQ
What is the difference between Evernote and Barside?
Evernote: Long-running notes app with AI search, cleanup and transcription. Barside: Free local-first desktop app for notes, tasks, meetings and AI agents. Both are productivity tools.
Is Evernote or Barside cheaper?
Barside is completely free, while Evernote is freemium.
Do Evernote and Barside have free plans?
Evernote: Yes. Barside: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Evernote?
Evernote is made by Bending Spoons.
Who makes Barside?
Barside is made by Barside.
Which should I choose, Evernote or Barside?
Choose Evernote if you value mature web clipper and searches text in images. Choose Barside if you value free with many tools in one app and data stays on your computer.