Simple Memo vs Evernote
Which Should You Choose?
Evernote is a powerful knowledge management system — but for quick capture, it's overkill. It takes 3–5 seconds to launch and has far more features than you need in the moment. Simple Memo is the fast "quick inbox" that feeds into tools like Evernote.
Having used Evernote intensively for over 5 years before developing Simple Memo, I can say Evernote's knowledge management is unmatched, but the stress of waiting for it to launch when you just need to capture one line is bigger than you'd expect.
What is Evernote?
Evernote is a comprehensive knowledge management platform featuring notebooks, tags, full-text search, Web Clipper, PDF annotation, and shared notebooks. For years it was the go-to digital note tool, but since 2023 its increasingly restrictive free tier has pushed many users to seek alternatives. Evernote excels at long-form writing, project management, and research organization — but its complexity makes it too slow for quick thought capture. Launch times of 3–5 seconds and multi-step workflows are its core limitation for quick use.
Comparison Table: Simple Memo vs Evernote
| Feature | Simple Memo | Evernote |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Speed | 0.3s (type immediately) | 3–5s (loads note list) |
| One-Tap Send | Yes (direct email) | No (share flow required) |
| Email Send | 150ms direct send | Multiple steps required |
| No Account Required | Use existing email | Evernote account required |
| Free Tier | 3 sends/day, no feature gates | 1 device, 50 notes/mo, 60MB cap |
| Offline Support | Outbox auto-resend (free) | Paid plan only |
| Encryption | AES-GCM (on-device) | Server-side encryption |
| Notebooks & Tags | None (intentional) | Yes (extensive) |
| Web Clipper | No | Yes |
| Full-Text Search | No | Yes |
| UI Complexity | Minimal | Feature-rich / complex |
6 Differences: A Deep Analysis
-
1
Launch Speed: 0.3s vs 3-5s
Evernote loads notebook lists, recent notes, and sync status at launch — taking 3-5 seconds. Simple Memo places the cursor in the input field instantly at 0.3 seconds. In meetings or on the go, this gap determines whether you capture or lose the thought. -
2
Direction of Features: Send Out vs Accumulate
Evernote is built to accumulate and organize with notebooks, tags, and full-text search. Simple Memo is built to write and instantly email. It outsources storage to your email inbox and GTD system, achieving zero friction by focusing solely on capture. -
3
Data Location: Email Inbox vs Evernote Servers
Evernote notes live on Evernote's servers, accessible only through Evernote apps. Simple Memo delivers to your email inbox — viewable and searchable in Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, or any client. Email is the most universal data store in existence. -
4
Search vs Inbox: Fundamentally Different Approaches
Evernote uses powerful full-text search to dig up past notes. Simple Memo sends memos to your inbox, managed through your email client's search, filters, and labels. If you already have an email management workflow, Simple Memo fits naturally into it. -
5
Free Plan Practicality: Full Features vs Harsh Limits
Evernote's free tier limits you to 1 device, 50 notes/month, and 60MB — effectively pushing you toward paid plans. Simple Memo's free tier allows 3 sends/day with all features available. It's designed to be sustainably free for light users. -
6
How Evernote Users Combine Both
Many Evernote users succeed by combining both apps: instant capture with Simple Memo on the go, receive via email, then organize important notes into Evernote. This "fast inbox + robust archive" combination is more efficient than Evernote alone.
Who Should Choose Which?
- Need to capture ideas instantly
- Find Evernote's launch time frustrating
- Don't want to create another account
- Want memos delivered to your email inbox
- Need a sustainable free tier
- Value speed and simplicity above all
- Manage large libraries of organized notes
- Need Web Clipper for saving web pages
- Use PDF annotation or rich text editing
- Share notebooks with a team
- Have years of Evernote history to preserve
- Need project management features
Migration Guide from Evernote
A "full migration" from Evernote to Simple Memo - Captio-style is not necessary. Simple Memo - Captio-style is not an Evernote replacement — it is a complementary quick-capture tool. Here is how to transition your daily capture workflow to Simple Memo - Captio-style while keeping Evernote for what it does best: knowledge management.
-
1
Migrate only the capture habit
Keep your existing Evernote notebooks exactly as they are. What you are migrating is only the habit of "instantly jotting down a thought." Install Simple Memo - Captio-style, set your email address, and you are ready. No changes to your Evernote notebook structure needed. -
2
Connect via Evernote's email-in feature
Evernote offers an "email to note" feature (paid plans). Set Simple Memo - Captio-style's send address to your Evernote email-in address, and you create an automatic pipeline: Simple Memo - Captio-style to email to Evernote note. Capture speed from Simple Memo - Captio-style, archival power from Evernote — the best of both worlds. -
3
Run both apps in parallel for one week
For the first week, keep both apps on your home screen. Use Simple Memo - Captio-style when you think "I need to note this NOW" and Evernote when you need to search past notes. Most users naturally settle into the Simple Memo - Captio-style-for-capture, Evernote-for-organization division within a week.
FAQ
Can I import my Evernote legacy data into Simple Memo?
Simple Memo is not a replacement for Evernote — it's a fast capture complement. There's no need to migrate existing data. Use Simple Memo for instant capture, receive memos via email, and move important ones into Evernote. This workflow enhances Evernote rather than replacing it.
Evernote's pricing keeps increasing. Is Simple Memo cheaper?
Evernote has repeatedly tightened free tier limits and raised paid plan prices. Simple Memo's free plan (3 sends/day) includes all features, and Premium is just $2.99/month. For quick capture alone, the free plan is often sufficient — you can keep Evernote for archiving without upgrading.
Why has Evernote become so slow?
Evernote's v10 rewrite moved to an Electron-based architecture, increasing launch time and memory usage. Users with many notebooks and notes feel this most acutely. Simple Memo is built natively with SwiftUI — 0.3-second launch, minimal memory footprint, no web engine overhead.
Can I automate Simple Memo emails into Evernote?
Yes. Evernote has an email-to-note feature: forward emails to your Evernote email address to create notes automatically. Combined with Simple Memo, you can set up: capture in Simple Memo → receive email → auto-forward to Evernote. This creates a fully automated capture-to-archive pipeline.
Is Simple Memo better than Evernote for quick notes?
For quick capture specifically, yes — dramatically so. Simple Memo launches in 0.3s vs Evernote's 3-5s, and sends with one tap vs Evernote's multi-step flow. But Evernote excels at long-term organization, search, and knowledge management. The best approach is using both together.
