TaskNote vs. Evernote: why it is time to leave the digital attic

In short:

Evernote was great in 2010. Today it is slow, expensive, and technically able to read your notes. TaskNote is what Evernote used to be: fast and simple, with modern encryption that puts you in control.

Evernote, the bloated giant, next to TaskNote, the fast and secure alternative

Performance: the bloat problem

Evernote tries to do everything: tasks, calendars, scanning, chat, dashboard widgets.

The result: it feels heavy. Opening the app can take seconds, and searching thousands of notes feels sluggish.
The feeling: a cluttered attic where everything gets dumped and nothing is easy to find.

TaskNote focuses on one thing: text.

Instant: a lightweight architecture means the app opens at once and search answers immediately.
Offline first: no loading spinners, because your data is already on your machine.

Privacy: the 2016 incident

In 2016 Evernote proposed a policy change that would let employees read your notes to train their machine learning. They backed down after the outcry, but the architecture that made it possible never changed.

Evernote

Server-side encryption: they hold the keys. If the servers are breached, or an employee decides to look, your notes are readable.
No end-to-end encryption for the body of a note.

TaskNote

Client-side encryption in the web app: the note is locked before it leaves your device.
No training on your content. We cannot read your notes, so they cannot become training data.

Cost and limits

Evernote free plan: sharply limited. Two devices, 60 MB of uploads a month, and a steady stream of prompts to upgrade.

TaskNote: no device limit and no cap on how much you write. You pay to remove limits, never to make the basics usable.

Side by side

Feature	Evernote	TaskNote
Feel	Everything sink, cluttered	Focused workspace, clean
Privacy	Standard, the company has access	Zero-knowledge, only you have access
Speed	Slow and heavy	Instant and lightweight
Format	Proprietary HTML, hard to leave	Universal Markdown, easy to export
Free plan	Two devices	Unlimited devices

So, should you switch?

Stay with Evernote if:

You use it as a filing cabinet for PDFs and web clippings you rarely reopen.
You depend on its scanning and text recognition for receipts.

Switch to TaskNote if:

You actually want to write and think, not manage an archive.
You are tired of waiting for an app to load.
You want your personal journal to stay personal for good.

Frequently asked questions

Can I import my Evernote notes into TaskNote?

Yes. In Evernote export a notebook as ENEX, then in TaskNote press Ctrl+K, choose Import, pick Evernote and select the .enex file. Titles, text, lists and links come across; the notes land in a folder named after the import.

Is TaskNote really free, or is it a trial?

Free, with limits rather than a clock: 50 notes, 3 boards and 10 folders, no card. Pro lifts the limits. Evernote's free plan caps notes and devices too, but its paid plans cost several times more.

Does TaskNote encrypt notes like Evernote?

Evernote can encrypt a selected passage inside a note; the rest is readable on its servers. TaskNote encrypts every note end to end with a key only you hold, so nothing readable is stored on our side.

Does TaskNote have a web clipper?

Yes, a Chrome extension. The version for the Windows app saves clips to your PC with no account; the version for the web app is on its way to the store.

What does Evernote do that TaskNote does not?

Evernote searches text inside images and PDFs, scans documents from the phone and has years of integrations. TaskNote has none of that; it has notes, a kanban board and reminders, and keeps them private.