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Education · head to head

Evernote vs Merlin Bird ID

Evernote logo

Evernote

Education

Remember everything and tackle any project

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Merlin Bird ID logo

Merlin Bird ID

Education

Free bird identification app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology using photo, sound and step-by-step ID

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Evernote free tier limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook, 5 spaces; 20GB storage with Single device sync; Merlin Bird ID it only identifies birds, so it is not useful for plants, insects or other wildlife the way a general nature app is.
  • They diverge on capability: Evernote covers Note creation and organization, Merlin Bird ID covers Sound ID.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Evernote and Merlin Bird ID actually diverge.

Attributes where Evernote and Merlin Bird ID differ
AttributeEvernoteMerlin Bird ID
Pricing modelfreemiumFree, no ads and no in-app purchases
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, SafariiOS, Android
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Evernote

  • Note creation and organization
  • Web clipper
  • Document scanning
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Audio notes
  • Templates
  • Tags and notebooks
  • Advanced search

Only in Merlin Bird ID

  • Sound ID
  • Photo ID
  • Step-by-step ID
  • Offline regional packs
  • eBird-linked suggestions
  • No account required for basic use

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Evernote

  • Cross-platform note-taking and organisationnot Merlin Bird ID
  • Web clipping and content capture with web clipper extensionnot Merlin Bird ID
  • Task management and calendar integrationnot Merlin Bird ID
  • Document scanning with OCR capabilitynot Merlin Bird ID
  • Real-time collaboration with team membersnot Merlin Bird ID

Merlin Bird ID

  • A casual walker who hears a bird and wants to know what it is without paying for an appnot Evernote
  • A birdwatcher building a life list who wants identification tied to real regional sighting datanot Evernote
  • Someone teaching a child to identify birds without exposing them to ads or a paywallnot Evernote
  • A hiker who wants offline bird identification in an area with no signalnot Evernote

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Evernote

  • Free tier limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook, 5 spaces; 20GB storage with Single device sync
  • AI features (AI Assistant, Semantic Search, Transcription) only available in Advanced plan
  • Advanced and Enterprise plans require custom pricing for enterprises
  • Note limit constraints in Starter plan: 1000 notes vs unlimited in Advanced

Merlin Bird ID

  • It only identifies birds, so it is not useful for plants, insects or other wildlife the way a general nature app is.
  • Sound ID can struggle in noisy environments or with overlapping bird calls, since it depends on a clean audio signal.
  • Being a free institutional project, feature releases and interface polish move more slowly than a funded commercial app.
  • Photo ID accuracy drops for juvenile birds, moulting birds or poor-quality photos, more so than for well-lit adult specimens.
  • It has no social or gamified layer, so users who want streaks, badges or a community feed will find it plain by comparison.

Pricing, plan by plan

Evernote

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 notes
    • 1 notebook
    • 1GB storage
  • Starter$null/mo
    • 1,000 notes
    • 20 notebooks
    • 5GB storage
  • Advanced$null/mo
    • Unlimited notes
    • Unlimited storage
    • Unlimited device sync

Merlin Bird ID

Free
  • Merlin Bird IDFree
    • All identification modes included
    • Offline regional bird packs
    • No account required for identification

Which should you pick?

Choose Evernote if

  • You need note creation and organization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
  • You also want web clipper.
Evernote review

Choose Merlin Bird ID if

  • You need sound id.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want photo id.
Merlin Bird ID review

Questions people ask

Is Evernote or Merlin Bird ID better?
Neither clearly leads. Evernote starts at Free and Merlin Bird ID at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Evernote or Merlin Bird ID?
Evernote starts at Free and Merlin Bird ID at Free.
Does Evernote or Merlin Bird ID run on more platforms?
Evernote runs on Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari. Merlin Bird ID runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Evernote for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Evernote best used for?
Evernote is most often used for cross-platform note-taking and organisation, web clipping and content capture with web clipper extension, task management and calendar integration, document scanning with ocr capability. Of those, cross-platform note-taking and organisation and web clipping and content capture with web clipper extension are not what Merlin Bird ID is typically brought in for.
What can Evernote do that Merlin Bird ID cannot?
Evernote covers Note creation and organization, Web clipper, Document scanning, Handwriting recognition. Merlin Bird ID covers Sound ID, Photo ID, Step-by-step ID, Offline regional packs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Evernote: Does Evernote publish specific pricing for its paid plans?

No. Evernote's pricing page displays plan tiers (Starter, Advanced, Enterprise) with different features but does not disclose any dollar amounts, subscription costs, or pricing information.

Source
Merlin Bird ID: Is Merlin Bird ID really free with no catch?

Yes. It has no ads, no in-app purchases and no subscription; it is funded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as a research and outreach tool.

Evernote: What storage limit comes with Evernote's free plan?

The free plan includes 1GB of storage, 50 notes, 1 notebook, 5 spaces, and 20 tags with access limited to 1 device.

Source
Merlin Bird ID: How is it different from eBird?

Merlin identifies birds; eBird is where you log checklists and sightings that feed the research database Merlin draws its suggestions from.

Evernote: What are the key differences between Evernote's free, Starter, and Advanced plans?

Free includes 1GB storage and 50 notes. Starter adds 5GB storage and 1,000 notes. Advanced provides unlimited storage, notes, and devices with full AI features.

Source
Merlin Bird ID: Does it work offline?

Yes, once you download the regional bird pack for your area.

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