You can find plenty of note-taking sites and mobile apps, but Google Keep and Evernote are two very popular options. And it’s with good reason that they both top the list, as you’ll read below.
If you’re currently in the Google Keep vs. Evernote dilemma, the choice can be tough. So, we’ve compiled a list of criteria to compare the two and hopefully help you decide which is best for you.
Interface
When it comes to a simple, uncomplicated, intuitive interface, both applications have their own method of delivery.
Google Keep Interface
Google Keep offers an extremely easy-to-use interface, no matter where you use it. For instance, when you land on the Google Keep website, you are greeted with your notes. You can use either a grid or list view, create a new note quickly, and pop a keyword into the search box.
Google Keep’s navigation is arranged nicely with links to Notes, Reminders, Labels, Archive, and Settings all along the left side. And like most Google service websites, you can access your account, notifications, and other Google apps from the top.
The mobile apps for Google Keep give you a similar interface which is also clear and simple.
Evernote Interface
The Evernote interface is much different than that of Google Keep. When you sign in on the Evernote website, the appearance can look a little cluttered at first. From left to right you see the Evernote navigation, a list of your notes with options to sort or use the Web Clipper, and then your most recent note.
At the top of that, you have buttons for the open note, an option to upgrade if you have a free account, a sharing button, and full-screen view button.
You can take a look at the new Evernote Web experience which is a bit cleaner offering some color separators. However, it is only available for Chrome and Safari browsers.
As for the Evernote mobile apps, when you log in you’ll see a list of your notes with a less cluttered interface than the website. You can quickly create a new note or move between shortcuts, your profile, a search, and your notebooks easily.
Summary: For utter simplicity online or your mobile device, Google Keep delivers. But as a current Evernote user, I can attest that you do get used to its interface the more you use it.
Features
Along with an intuitive interface, the features that an application offers are important to your decision. Google Keep and Evernote do have these several features in common:
- Notes can include text, images, links, and lists.
- Reminders keep you from forgetting task-related notes.
- Labels (Google Keep) and Tags (Evernote) help you organize and easily find notes.
- Sharing notes is useful for collaboration at work and at home.
- Pinning (Google Keep) and Shortcuts (Evernote) let you access favorite notes quickly.
What makes an application stand out are those features its competitor does not offer. Here are distinctive features for Google Keep and Evernote.
Google Keep Standout Features
- Copy to Google Docs: Copy a note to Google Docs when you need to create a lengthy document from a simple note.
- Handy location-based reminders: Create a reminder for when you leave work, arrive home, or head to class.
- Cool color-coding: For a quick way to categorize your notes, give them colors to identify certain ones at a glance.
Evernote Standout Features
- Robust text editor: The options in the note text editor may remind you of Microsoft Word or Apple Pages. You have tons of formatting, font, list, table, alignment, and even subscript and superscript options.
- Useful built-in chat: You can chat with other Evernote users right from the web interface or mobile apps.
- Notebook Stacks: Organize your notebooks by grouping them using Stacks. This lets you keep notebooks with similar subjects together.
- Convenient Web Clipper extension: The Evernote Web Clipper browser extension lets you capture web pages or parts of pages and pop them right into your Evernote account.
Summary: Where Evernote may come in second for a completely simple interface, it makes up for with its features. Google Keep has the basics for simple note-taking. But Evernote gives you more flexible and full-featured note-taking and note-keeping options.
Ease-of-Use
Aside from the interface and feature differences between Google Keep and Evernote, you may be wondering, how easy are they to use? Without going into the detailed features, let’s see how simple it is to do what you really need, which is to create a quick note to access later.
Google Keep Note Creation
When you hit the Google Keep website and sign in, creating a note in a hurry couldn’t be any simpler. Click on the Take a Note box, type your note, and click Close. That’s it. Your note will appear at the top of the page. Of course, you can add a title, color, and other extras. But for fast and easy note-capturing that puts your note on the main screen, Google Keep is a winner.
Evernote Note Creation
When you sign into the Evernote site, you can also create a note quickly. Click the New Note (plus sign) button on the left, type your note, and hit Done. Same as with Google Keep, you can add a title. And as mentioned in the features, you can format it if you like.
Your new note will appear on the main part of the page until you create a new one. And depending on how you sort your notes on the left, it could appear at the top of that list too. The only thing that may not be quite as simple is finding your note later if you don’t put it into a specific Notebook or give it a Tag.
Summary: Both Google Keep and Evernote let you capture notes quickly, there’s no doubt about that. But, for actual note-keeping and finding them later, it may take a bit longer to organize your notes properly in Evernote.
Price
The cost of any application or service is always a consideration when deciding between two great options. Google Keep makes this simple; it’s free. No matter where you access it, how long you use it, or which features you choose to use, Google Keep is free.
Evernote is a bit different in the pricing category. You can use Evernote Basic for free on two devices (availability list below) with limited features. For unlimited devices, larger note size and upload limits, integrations, and more, you can sign up for Evernote Premium or Evernote Business for teams.
Each of Evernote’s paid plans is subscription-based, per user, per month.
Summary: If you just want a free app with basic note-taking features, Google Keep is a good pick and gives no worries of extra purchases. Evernote Basic is also a solid choice for free if you only plan to use the essentials without the need for a paid plan. But if you really want all the bells and whistles and don’t mind a price tag, take a closer look at Evernote Premium.
Availability
Finishing up with an easy yet important comparison is where Google Keep and Evernote are available. This gives you a rundown of the platforms you can use them on and the links to go grab the one you’ve chosen.
Google Keep is available on Android, iOS, the Chrome browser as an extension, and the web.
Download: Google Keep for Android | iOS (Free)
Install: Google Keep for Chrome (Free)
Access: Google Keep on the web
Evernote is available on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and the web. You can also check out the Evernote Web Clipper as an extension on the five major browsers.
Download: Evernote for Android | iOS (Free)
Download: Evernote for macOS | Windows (Free)
Install: Evernote Web Clipper for Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Opera | Safari (Free)
Access: Evernote on the web
Note that the browser extensions listed above are official add-ons from each company. You may find additional third-party extensions for both Google Keep and Evernote.
Summary: It’s clear that Google Keep isn’t as widely available as Evernote. So, take a minute to figure out exactly where you need to use the app and see which one has you covered better.
Take Note
Hopefully, this comparison of Google Keep vs. Evernote will give you some food for thought. Take note of the similarities and differences when making your decision and best of luck with your chosen one!
And if you’ve chosen Google Keep, take a look at more creative ways to use it. If you’ve picked Evernote, pop open our helpful, unofficial Evernote manual.
Read the full article: Google Keep vs. Evernote: Which Note Keeping App Is Best for You?
