Evernote (印象笔记) once had over 15 million registered users in China, but its web monthly active users had dropped to approximately 1.46 million by 2024 — a dramatic decline reflecting the broader shift toward free, AI-powered domestic alternatives. In 2023, Evernote China became an independently operated entity, and the global brand has been steadily losing ground. Today, Chinese users have access to powerful alternatives: Youdao Cloud Note offers the largest user base (30M+), Feishu Docs provides AI-powered real-time collaboration, Tencent Docs has over 100 million documents created, and DingTalk Docs serves Alibaba's 700 million user ecosystem.
Chinese Note-Taking Apps Compared
| App | Developer | Key Stats (2025) | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youdao Cloud Note (有道云笔记) | NetEase (NTES) | 30M+ users; largest note-taking user base in China; AI-powered editing | Document editing + web clipping; AI writing assistant; largest user base; free tier |
| Feishu Docs (飞书文档) | ByteDance | Part of Feishu workspace; AI-powered real-time collaboration | Best real-time collaboration; AI features; embedded in Feishu (飞书) ecosystem |
| Tencent Docs (腾讯文档) | Tencent | 100M+ documents created; deep WeChat/QQ integration | WeChat mini-program access; real-time co-editing; rich template library |
| DingTalk Docs (钉钉文档) | Alibaba | 700M DingTalk user ecosystem; enterprise-focused | Enterprise knowledge base; org-level permissions; approval workflows |
| Evernote (印象笔记) | Independent (was Evernote Corp) | ~1.46M web MAU (2024); down from 15M+ peak | Brand recognition; cross-platform sync; but declining |
Detailed Breakdown
Youdao Cloud Note (有道云笔记)
China's note-taking app with the largest user base, boasting over 30 million users. Youdao Cloud Note offers a comprehensive feature set including rich document editing, web page clipping, image OCR, and an AI-powered writing assistant. It benefits from NetEase's ecosystem integration and offers a generous free tier that satisfies most individual users. Its web clipping feature is particularly popular among researchers and students who need to save online content.
Key strength: Largest user base with the most comprehensive free tier. Key differentiator: Best web clipping tool among Chinese note apps.
Feishu Docs (飞书文档)
ByteDance's collaborative document platform, embedded within the Feishu (飞书) workplace suite. Feishu Docs offers real-time co-editing, AI-powered writing assistance, smart meeting notes, and deep integration with Feishu's messaging, calendar, and approval systems. It is widely adopted by tech companies and startups in China, particularly those already using Feishu as their primary workplace tool.
Key strength: Best-in-class real-time collaboration features. Key differentiator: Deepest AI integration with the most modern UI among Chinese document tools.
Tencent Docs (腾讯文档)
Tencent's document platform has seen over 100 million documents created, making it one of the most widely used document tools in China. Its killer feature is deep WeChat integration — users can create, edit, and share documents directly within WeChat via mini-programs, without installing a separate app. Real-time co-editing, a rich template library, and support for spreadsheets, presentations, and forms make it a versatile alternative to Google Docs.
Key strength: Most accessible document tool via WeChat integration. Key differentiator: No app installation needed — works directly in WeChat.
Why Evernote Lost China
Evernote's decline in China reflects broader trends in the Chinese productivity software market:
- Free alternatives: Youdao, Feishu Docs, and Tencent Docs all offer generous free tiers that cover most use cases
- AI advantage: Domestic apps integrated AI writing assistants faster and more deeply than Evernote
- Ecosystem lock-in: Chinese users are already in WeChat/Feishu/DingTalk workflows, and switching costs are high
- Payment friction: Evernote's subscription model requires foreign payment methods, while domestic alternatives accept Alipay/WeChat Pay
- VPN requirement: Notion, the other major international competitor, is frequently inaccessible without VPN
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Evernote China (印象笔记) became an independently operated entity in 2023 and continues to operate. However, its web MAU has dropped to approximately 1.46 million by 2024.
It depends on your needs. Youdao Cloud Note has the largest user base. Feishu Docs is best for team collaboration. Tencent Docs is most accessible via WeChat. DingTalk Docs is best for enterprise.
Notion is technically accessible but frequently unstable without a VPN. Its Chinese interface is limited, and payment requires a foreign credit card. Most Chinese users prefer domestic alternatives.
Yes. All major Chinese note-taking apps offer generous free tiers. Premium features (more storage, AI features) are available but affordable compared to Evernote or Notion.
Evernote peaked at 15M+ registered users in China but declined to ~1.46M web MAU by 2024. In 2023, Evernote China became an independent entity. The decline was caused by free domestic alternatives with better AI integration and ecosystem lock-in.
Stay Updated on China's Tech Landscape
New guides published weekly. Bookmark 7zi for the latest insights.
Explore All Guides