After a tumultuous period characterized by price increases and restrictions on its free plan, Evernote is making a comeback with an attractive update: AI Transcribe, a swift and accurate multimodal transcription tool, though it’s available only to paying users.
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Transcribe with a Click from Almost Any Source
Since being acquired by Bending Spoons, Evernote has faced its share of challenges. With internal restructuring, a reduction in free features, and price hikes, the note-taking platform had alienated some of its user base. But the latest update might reignite interest. It introduces an AI-powered transcription tool named AI Transcribe
, which can convert audio, video, or visual content into text.
Available in both the main app and through a standalone web tool, AI Transcribe is highly flexible. It allows users to upload audio files (up to 60 minutes or 100 MB), record sound directly, or even paste a video URL (from YouTube, Zoom, etc.) to generate an automatic transcription.
The tool supports MP4 and MOV video files, and JPG or PNG image files, clearly targeting practical uses like Zoom meetings, podcasts, or digitizing handwritten notes, such as those on a whiteboard. In an informal test, AI Transcribe reportedly transcribed a 55-minute podcast in Brazilian Portuguese in less than a minute, with impressive accuracy. And honestly, this could be incredibly useful for certain meetings where a complete transcription or a summary is necessary.
A Powerful Tool… But Locked Behind a Subscription
Unfortunately, this new feature is part of a strengthened monetization strategy. Evernote reserves it exclusively for paying subscribers, at a time when the free plan has become very restrictive: 50 notes, one notebook, a maximum size of 200 MB per note, and only one device allowed. Currently, the paid subscription starts at €12.99/month with no commitment, or €8.99/month annually. It also includes 3 widgets and supports all possible file formats.
A Clear Professional Orientation
With AI Transcribe, Evernote appears to be solidifying its shift towards a premium platform, aimed at heavy users who centralize their notes, documents, and workflows in one environment. The tool is undeniably fast, versatile, and accurate, and could appeal to professionals seeking reliable transcription integrated into their productivity ecosystem.
However, for the general public or casual users, this update doesn’t change much: access remains limited, and a subscription is still a mandatory prerequisite. It remains to be seen whether this strategy will help Evernote regain its position in the highly competitive market of note-taking and AI tools. And that’s a real pity.
• Evernote’s website