Obsidian, Logseq, and Notion still dominate, but free-tier policy changes in 2024-2025 reshuffled the recommendations.
Last updated: 2026-05-19
Note-taking app reviews tend to be opinionated for a reason: the right app depends on whether you want a database (Notion), a graph (Obsidian, Logseq), a journal (Day One), or a quick scratch pad (Apple Notes). We focused on free tiers that are actually usable long-term — not 30-day trials disguised as freemium. The list mixes local-first tools where your data is just files on disk, with cloud-based apps that store everything on a vendor's servers. Both have legitimate use cases. We flagged the differences clearly because the choice has long-term consequences: if your note app vanishes, can you still read your notes? With Obsidian and Logseq, yes. With Evernote, ask anyone who lived through 2023.
01
Obsidian
Free for personal use; Sync $4/month, Publish $8/month
Local-first Markdown notes with a powerful plugin ecosystem and graph view.
Best for: Anyone building a personal knowledge base they want to outlive any company. obsidian.md ↗
Your notes are plain Markdown files in a folder you control
1700+ community plugins for almost anything
Active development and a real community
Sync requires a paid plan or DIY (iCloud, Syncthing)
Plugin sprawl can become its own time sink
02
Logseq
Free, open source
Outliner-style note app built on Markdown with bidirectional links.
Best for: Roam Research refugees who want an open-source outliner with daily notes. logseq.com ↗
Block-level bidirectional linking
Plain text storage you control
Strong daily journal workflow
Mobile apps lag behind the desktop
Database (DB) version still maturing
03
Notion
Free for individuals (unlimited blocks since 2024), paid from $10/user/month
All-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, and lightweight project management.
Best for: Teams and individuals who want structured databases inside their notes. www.notion.so ↗
Powerful database views (table, board, calendar, gallery)
Free tier is unusually generous since 2024
Great for sharing pages publicly
Search is still mediocre
Locking yourself into a closed cloud format
04
Apple Notes
Free with any Apple device
The built-in Notes app — quietly excellent since the 2023 redesign.
Free-form canvas — drop text, images, ink anywhere
Excellent handwriting recognition
Real-time collaboration
Sync occasionally fails between page revisions
Search across notebooks can be slow
Frequently asked
Why is Obsidian recommended so often?
Two reasons: your notes are plain Markdown files in a folder you own, and the plugin ecosystem means you can extend it for almost any workflow. Even if Obsidian disappeared tomorrow, your notes would still open in any text editor.
Is Notion's free tier really unlimited?
Since 2024, yes — Notion removed the 1,000-block cap on personal free accounts. You're still limited on file upload size (5MB per file) and team collaboration features, but for personal use it's genuinely unlimited.
What happened to Evernote?
Bending Spoons acquired Evernote in 2022 and aggressively cut the free tier in 2023 (capped at 50 notes and 1 notebook). Most former Evernote users migrated to Joplin, Obsidian, or Notion. It's still functional but no longer competitive on free.
Are my notes secure in Notion or Apple Notes?
Apple Notes supports end-to-end encrypted folders since iOS 16. Notion encrypts data in transit and at rest but isn't end-to-end — Notion staff can technically access it. If E2E matters, choose Standard Notes, Anytype, or Joplin with E2E enabled.
Can I sync Obsidian without paying?
Yes. Many users put their vault in iCloud Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or Syncthing. Obsidian Sync is a paid convenience, not a requirement.