According to XDA-Developers, after switching from Evernote’s nearly $130 annual subscription to Microsoft’s free OneNote, the author discovered UpNote as a superior alternative. UpNote offers native apps for Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux with instant startup times and seamless syncing. The service provides subscription pricing at only $2 per month or a lifetime plan for $40, making it significantly more affordable than competitors. Unlike bloated alternatives, UpNote focuses on core note-taking with robust organization through nested notebooks, tags, and favorites. The app includes practical features like password protection, templates, and web sharing without complex enterprise features. After testing multiple solutions, the author found UpNote delivers the perfect balance of speed, functionality, and affordability for personal note-taking needs.
Native speed matters
Here’s the thing about “cross-platform” apps these days – most companies just wrap a website in a desktop container and call it native. But UpNote actually built proper native applications for every major platform. The difference is night and day. We’re talking instant startup times, no loading spinners, and animations that actually feel responsive. When you type a note on your phone, it’s already on your computer by the time you look up. That’s the kind of seamless experience that makes you actually want to use a note-taking app instead of dreading it.
Organization that makes sense
OneNote’s infinite canvas always felt overwhelming to me, while minimalist tools often lack basic structure. UpNote strikes this perfect middle ground with nested notebooks that go as deep as you need, combined with color-coded tags that cut across your entire system. So you can have proper folder hierarchy for projects while still being able to pull up every note tagged #Todo regardless of where it lives. And the favorites section? Genius. When you’re deep in a writing project, just star it and it stays pinned at the top of your sidebar. No more hunting through folders.
Pricing that doesn’t hurt
Remember when Evernote was reasonably priced? Yeah, me neither. That $130 annual “tax” just kept creeping up. UpNote’s approach is refreshingly simple: $2 monthly or $40 lifetime. For context, that’s less than what many people spend on coffee in a week. The lifetime option is particularly appealing in today’s subscription-saturated world. You pay once and you’re done. No worrying about price hikes or whether you’ll still need the service next year.
Not perfect but close
Now, UpNote isn’t trying to be everything to everyone – and that’s probably why it works so well. There’s no AI integration like NotebookLM yet, and drawing tools are missing if you need that functionality. But honestly? Most people just need a fast, reliable place to write and organize thoughts. The formatting toolbar is always visible (no slash commands required), templates are simple but effective, and the theming engine actually works. It’s the kind of tool that gets out of your way while still being powerful enough for complex documents. If you’re tired of fighting with bloated note-taking apps, this might be worth a look.
