Hostage situation
I've been an Evernote user for years. What was once a genuinely useful tool has become a masterclass in how to betray loyal customers.
The pricing tells the whole story. What cost $70/year in 2023 now costs $250/year in 2026 — a 257% increase for the exact same product. No meaningful new features. No improvements to the core experience. Just higher prices, again and again, after they knew your notes were already locked inside.
And that's the real problem: your data is trapped in a proprietary format. Getting it out requires jumping through hoops that most people won't bother with — and Evernote knows that. The business model now depends on friction, not value.
The free tier was quietly strangled. Now even paying users on lower plans can't add new notes once they hit arbitrary limits. The features they've added instead — AI tools nobody asked for — don't compensate for losing access to your own notes.
If you're considering Evernote in 2026, don't. Start in Notion, Apple Notes, or Obsidian. They import Evernote data and they won't hold you hostage when it suits them.
For those already trapped: export your .enex files now, while you still can. Don't wait for the next price hike.
