Evernote vs. Zotero

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Evernote
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
Evernote is a suite of software and services designed for notetaking and archiving. A "note" can be a piece of formatted text, a full webpage or webpage excerpt, a photograph, a voice memo, or a handwritten "ink" note. Notes can also have file attachments. Notes can be sorted into folders, then tagged, annotated, edited, given comments, searched and exported as part of a notebook. Evernote supports a number of operating system platforms (including OS X, iOS, Chrome OS, Android, Microsoft…
$7.99
per month
Zotero
Score 9.4 out of 10
N/A
Zotero is a free reference management tool developed as a project developed at Carnegie Mellon and supported by a small team at George Mason University.N/A
Pricing
EvernoteZotero
Editions & Modules
Premium
$7.99
per month
Business
$14.99
per month
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
EvernoteZotero
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
EvernoteZotero
Considered Both Products
Evernote
Chose Evernote
Honestly, Trello is my favorite now that I've been using it, but Evernote is a strong close contender. It is an easy to use program and has premium features for a price. I think that there are now really good competitors in the market and they should ensure that they are able …
Chose Evernote
Evernote is presently the most beneficial solution available when it comes to note-taking software that may be utilized for group assignments. Evernote can be used for both individual and group projects. Evernote is a tool for capturing notes that users may use via a web-based …
Chose Evernote
Google and Microsoft (told by a friend) are better options than Evernote. Even free account of Google Keep and Microsoft one drive offers more options than the Evernote free account.
Chose Evernote
Google Keep does not require 15GB of storage and stores notes in small files. OneNote works well with Microsoft Office apps like Outlook and PowerPoint. In addition to supporting handwritten, the web clipper functionality of Evernote distinguishes it from other note-taking …
Chose Evernote
I would say that Evernote stacks up really well against its competitors because it gives you a lot of features and functionality that would always keep the bar very high for the other products to reach. especially I love the feature where it can be available across multiple …
Chose Evernote
Slack is excellent for team collaboration but is not as good for keeping track of and searching notes. The notion has more advanced features and a more pleasing UX but can be harder to learn.
Chose Evernote
Previously, I worked on OneNote a few times since it has released but have never really liked the software. Microsoft's OneNote interface is far too big and cumbersome for my low-resolution on tablets. OneNote's UI takes up about half the screen with wasted space between …
Chose Evernote
Evernote is a better product than OneNote because it is not attached to an organization with other apps. Evernote allows the user freedom to create notes without looking cluttered. Although it does not have features to clip notes from websites that I have seen, the sleek design …
Chose Evernote
Evernote's simplicity far exceeds OneNote's. OneNote is clunky when entering information into a note. It is hard to position your cursor and format your notes. Also, the search is not as intuitive as Evernotes, the results are very messy and hard to sort through. It has …
Chose Evernote
Microsoft OneNote is very similar to Evernote, and I think that the free version of OneNote is even better, but the users in our company preferred to use Evernote. You might check if Microsoft OneNote free version is good enough for your needs, it might save you some money.

Googl…
Chose Evernote
Evernote is more user friendly and flows better during collaboration events as long as everyone in your team is using it. Organization of files, reports, photos and even video files has been helpful with Evernote and the program makes it easy to send those files to coworkers. …
Chose Evernote
The most similar program I have used is OneNote by Microsoft, and other note taking programs exist like Notepad and Microsoft Word but those programs do not offer syncing like Evernote does. There are newer programs in the space like Dropbox Paper and Google Docs which would be …
Chose Evernote
Zoho projects and notebook are a simple tool compared to Evernote, allowing for collaboration, note making, and organizing notes. I used to use it earlier as it also has more advanced features for time management and responsibility division. However, I eventually stuck with …
Chose Evernote
I have also used Google Keep; they are both similar products although Google Keep is more web-based and lends itself to being more portable than Evernote. However, when it comes to the richness of features, Evernote certainly wins out and can do a lot more than Google Keep. …
Chose Evernote
I've used one-note in the past, but selected ever note this time because it was easy to sync on non-microsoft machines
Chose Evernote
I stuck with Evernote as I started using and liked it. I think OneNote is also great but I don't like the fact that it is tied to your corporate account which sometimes has a risk of losing data when you change firms. Also, exporting notes is easier in OneNote.
Chose Evernote
At its core, it's simply a space to take and store notes, but it can be integrated with every major note tablet maker and even works with cheaper Amazon tablets
Chose Evernote
I haven't really used any other similar products because I've been very pleased with Evernote and never had a reason to try anything else.
Chose Evernote
I have tried using Apple notes and Samsung notes, and they are also pretty good products, but both of those products don't work if you ever switch from an Apple device to a Samsung or vice versa, so Evernote is the best because it works on both platforms really well.
Chose Evernote
I like the app format.

I like that the account belongs to me (and not my company) so I can use it for personal information
Chose Evernote
The only other tool that is close to this is Microsoft notes. But it really doesn't compare in terms of feature and ease of use
Chose Evernote
Evernote has a nicer UI that makes taking notes really easy and pleasant. We do use OneNote for cases where we need MS Teams integration, but for personal note-taking, many individuals across the organization will use Evernote to organize their meeting notes as well as …
Chose Evernote
This solution does not have advanced features like attaching files, video files, sounds, and images like Evernote does.
Chose Evernote
I've only used Notepad for taking notes and Asana for to-do lists. Notepad was ineffective because I had to go to the folder which I kept each of the different customers' files, and I couldn't be able to attach images in them. Asana is good for to-do lists for my purposes, but …
Zotero
Chose Zotero
the interface of those is quite better, but Zotero's usability is more intuitive and straightforward. The price of the others might seem a bit more affordable, but the functions are restricted to the sucription. Zotero's free use is magnificent, paying for the cloud space seems …
Chose Zotero
Zotero is far superior. First of all, it is free! These other programs cost money. Second, because Zotero is open source, there are many more online resources and forums to find help. Third, Zotero is well-known to have a far friendlier interface and ability to read articles, …
Chose Zotero
Mendeley isn't open source like Zotero and doesn't have well-built browser plug-ins, although it has a better, more modern interface. Zotero has limitations with PDFs, but Mendeley doesn't support them at all. For Qiqqa, it is a better alternative and is open source as well. …
Chose Zotero
For a brief time I tried Mendalay, since at the time Zotero didn't have a Google Docs plug in. Mendalay is not as intuitive as Zotero and if I recall correctly, was more expensive. Zotero works very well, and ultimately I found myself back in Zotero because it's easier to use …
Chose Zotero
Zotero is much less prone to glitches than Mendeley, and has much easier to use web extensions and word processor plugins. I found Zotero easy and intuitive to use.
Chose Zotero
Like Zotero, Mendeley is also available for MacOS, Windows, and Linux. It's also available for iOS and Android, whereas Zotero is not. Mendeley is not open source but is free, as well. Zotero's browser integration is superior to Mendeley's, however.

Qiqqa is limited to …
User Ratings
EvernoteZotero
Likelihood to Recommend
4.1
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.3
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
7.6
(0 ratings)
7.0
(0 ratings)
Availability
8.9
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.9
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.9
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.8
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
EvernoteZotero
Likelihood to Recommend
Evernote is a good solution for note-taking and more, it supports different types of notes and sharing and discussing those notes as well. Evernote is easy to use almost for everyone, so it can be implemented pretty easily to different types of users. Before choosing Evernote as your note-taking app, check your needs and the cost (do you need the Premium or not?).
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Zotero (with its good buddy Zotfile) is well suited for any researcher who wants to go completely paperless in their research process, or who wants a centralized library system to manage their research projects, including attachments, notes, annotations, sources, and bibliographies. It is geared towards academic and social sciences researchers. Zotero is a powerful tool with a learning curve, and as such it might not be worth the investment of time and energy for end-users with simple research project needs.
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Pros
  • Ability to share meeting notes with others (like that it works well with Rocketbook).
  • The To-Do list helps with organization and project deadlines.
  • Able to sync to multiple devices so you can use it in the office or in the field.
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  • Zotero's MS Word and Google Docs plug-ins and Chrome extension makes the process of storing, indexing, and citing sources seamless
  • Zotero's automated retrieval of embedded metadata in PDFs and websites is incredibly accurate, which increases my confidence in the citations created by Zotero
  • The library of available citation styles is extensive and largely accurate
  • I love that Zotero syncs your work and citations online, which allows me to work from multiple devices (e.g., laptop, office desktop, computer labs)
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Cons
  • The new version 10 desktop client for Windows lacks some features that were available in earlier versions such as auto start at login or the ability to open the app directly from the taskbar icon.
  • Sometimes the Android app is buggy when unlocking your screen and Evernote is currently open and viewing a note.
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  • the cloud space is very scarce for the free version
  • consolidation of library could be better when migrating the data
  • ipad app need much more iteration
  • UI could improve its aesthetics
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Likelihood to Renew
I can't really imagine how much they'd have to charge me to make me quit Evernote. I can't really think of any technology that has changed my life as much without going back to email in the 90s, or the introduction of the iPhone. I know I sound ridiculous, but it would be really tough for me to live without it. If I were forced to choose between my smart phone (and keep in mind that I get lost in my driveway) and my Evernote, I'd probably choose my Evernote.
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Zotero is a fantastic software for researchers. We do pay for 6 GB of storage for each user, so their libraries can be backed to the cloud beyond the 300 MB of allowed free storage. It's low-cost, or can be free if you don't opt into that version. No other citation manager comes even close to Zotero in its capabilities, user-friendly nature, and cost, nor do they innovate their features constantly like Zotero and have open source support online
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Usability
  • Basic visual organization - ability to create a notebook and store user notes inside of it.
  • Basic easy navigation - You can quickly move in and out of files and notes.
  • User intuitive addition - whatever you need to add to your document, it's relatively easy to understand and use.
  • We find overall that we still want some functionality in creating better task lists, boards, and other things that we find in Notion - which is the tool that we use as a team notebook/storage space.
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once you adapt to the interface, which could feel a bit outdated and old school, its incredible intuitive. An aesthetic improvement could make it reach a whole other level, just if it does not lose any of its usability features. Its quite intuitive and the learning curve is very short.
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Reliability and Availability
Generally issues are by connectivity and not Evernote availability but I have had issues in the past with cross-client consistency of data which Evernote Support has ID'd as bugs that are still unresolved as far as I know
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Always available. I have it downloaded on my desktop and it opens quickly/immediately, holds open the articles I was reading on the page I was at, and is always ready-to-go for something like Word integration for adding citations
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Performance
Fast and clean interface. Just upgraded to Evernote 5
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Everything loads shockingly quickly. PDFs open much faster in Zotero than they do in Adobe Acrobat, all changes to PDFs are saved, the citation manager opens relatively quickly in Word, the tool updates with the online Zotero interface and automatically syncs seamlessly
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Support Rating
I bet you won’t even need to call their support. Their product has never failed me. Simply put. But if you were to email them to gather some details or help, I bet they won’t disappoint you. Don’t worry about the support, it’s the last thing you should worry about this product.
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I have never used Zotero support. I can answer the questions I need to from googling or finding others who have asked my same question in the Zotero support community forums
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Implementation Rating
Make sure you think about your tags. If you end up with multiple similar tags then things aren't grouped together as you might prefer. For instance if you have a tag called Disney and Walt Disney, this will split up your articles. Evernote makes it simple to correct, but I suggest you make sure your users look closely at the existing tags before creating new ones.
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I was not involved with the implementation
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Alternatives Considered
Google Keep does not require 15GB of storage and stores notes in small files. OneNote works well with Microsoft Office apps like Outlook and PowerPoint. In addition to supporting handwritten, the web clipper functionality of Evernote distinguishes it from other note-taking applications. Better than any other app because it allows you to tag notes and groups them.
Read full review
Mendeley isn't open source like Zotero and doesn't have well-built browser plug-ins, although it has a better, more modern interface. Zotero has limitations with PDFs, but Mendeley doesn't support them at all. For Qiqqa, it is a better alternative and is open source as well. However, like Mendeley, there isn't a good base of plug-ins like Zotero has and, as a result, suffers from ease of use.
Read full review
Scalability
No answers on this topic
All features of Zotero have always worked just fine to me. In my many years using it, I've never run into issues. And when I do want to maximize my use of some feature or learn more, the product support communities are helpful. It's an extremely consistent, reliable software
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Return on Investment
  • Evernote has allowed our school's over 3000 students and staff members to work more efficiently instead of spending time on making physical notes, clicking pictures, and uploading them to the cloud in order to share them
  • The investment in Evernote Premium has also allowed for heavier files to be attached in each note such as student work that allows teachers to be certain that students have followed deadlines and finished assigned tasks
  • Evernote has allowed our school to smoothly transition in and out of online learning as the local COVID-19 protocols change and student work requires one platform to be based on throughout
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  • Much easier to integrate sources into scholarly writing
  • Much easier to keep track of source library
  • Much easier to switch citation styles when necessary
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ScreenShots