Evernote is testing out tight limits on its free plan, which could push users to upgrade or abandon the app altogether. As reported by TechCrunch, some Evernote users were shown a pop-up message revealing that the free plan would be restricted to a single notebook and 50 notes. The pop-up also advertised a “special 40 percent off” deal to encourage users to upgrade to a paid plan for unlimited notes and notebooks.
Despite the in-app message, Evernote’s website does not mention any changes coming to the free plan. A company representative told TechCrunch that the website had not been updated because the change was not yet finalized. Evernote has been testing the limited plan with less than 1 percent of its free users, and will decide whether to implement the new plan based on the results. If the change is made, the company plans to communicate it to “the relevant customer touch-points.”
The limited free plan would not prevent users from managing, editing, or deleting their current notes, but it would restrict the ability to create new notes unless users upgrade to a paid plan.
For a long time, Evernote was the preferred app for many power users and productivity experts. However, the app has been struggling recently. In 2020, Evernote attempted to revitalize its app with a major redesign across platforms, but it wasn’t enough to revive the app’s former glory. In November, Evernote was acquired by a Milan-based company called Bending Spoons, which proceeded to lay off 129 employees and announced plans to shift Evernote development to Europe.
If the restricted free plan is implemented, it would be a significant change for dedicated Evernote fans who have been using the free plan for basic note-taking. The change would essentially render the free plan useless, giving users little reason to choose Evernote over free and more powerful note-taking apps from Apple and Google.