Evernote vs Springpad: Which One Is More Suitable For Your Small Business? In the world of brands and products there have been great rivalries over the years. You were either…
Evernote vs Springpad: Which One Is More Suitable For Your Small Business?
In the world of brands and products there have been great rivalries over the years. You were either a Pepsi drinker or a Coca Cola consumer. You either loved the
flame-broiled Whopper or the double meat patties of the Big Mac. And most recently, you probably identified yourself as a Mac or PC—and were quite proud to do so. Now there is a new rivalry in town: Springpad vs. Evernote. Users are already claiming one is superior over the other. You be the judge!
What are Evernote and Springpad?
Evernote and Springpad are similar web applications that allow for saving notes, pictures, ideas, checklists, tasks, recipes, and more. Both offer free smartphone and tablet apps that are compatible with iOS and Android platforms, in addition to online synchronization. Both offer privacy options that allow users to share content with a select group, or to keep content private. User content can be organized a variety of ways, but both Evernote and Springpad feature “tagging” and notebooks for easy searching and organizing. Evernote and Springpad claim to be essential applications for college students, business owners, and busy people, offering a one-stop-solution for their organizing needs.
As far as similarities go, they end there. Using one application over the other offers a completely different experience.
Evernote
To use Evernote, is to love Evernote. Err— well really, to use Evernote, the user must understand that everything is a “note.” Whether they are creating a list of supplies for their office, or saving a picture to send to their mother, they are saving a note. To find notes later, notes must be tagged and saved to a specific notebook. This Springpad alternative allows for unlimited notebooks for a user’s organizing needs.
The desktop application and mobile application offer different functions. In the desktop app, Evernote users can easily create new notebooks, and organize their notes by dragging notes from one notebook to another. The only way to add new content is by clicking the New Note button. In the note window, users can create a bulleted or numbered list, copy and paste an image, format text, add a URL, or attach a file. They can also create a checklist using the Insert To-Do Checkbox button, a button located in the editing toolbar. The mobile app offers additional functions, allowing users to do more than add a “new note.” In the mobile app, users have the following four options:
- New Note – create a new note with the same features in the desktop app
- Snapshot – attach a new picture to a note,
- Audio – attach a new audio file to a note
- Attach – attach a file already saved on the device to the note
Both the desktop and mobile apps have the ability to tag notes and/or place notes in a particular notebook, before saving.
Springpad
To use Springpad, users must get accustomed to a certain vernacular. Content (or what Evernote users may call a note) is called a Spring. In addition, the user must have an idea of what they want to save. Confused? Let me explain. Content/Springs are categorized by note, photo, task, checklist, event, place, product, and more. When the user clicks, “New Spring” they must select one of these categories to begin work. Springs are not automatically saved into a notebook when they are created. If the user does specify a notebook they are place in an “unfiled” list for tagging or moving to a notebook. The user has the option to create multiple notebooks for their organizing needs.
The desktop application and mobile application are very similar, allowing users to add whatever Spring they like no matter what device they are using. The notebooks are highly customizable, permitting the user to color code and provide distinct backgrounds for each notebook. Springs that contain pictures are featured on the outside of the notebook for easy identifying. Users can organize their Springs using tags and notebooks. In addition, the user can sort the content in a particular notebook by the type of Spring (e.g. checklist, task, movie, recipe, etc).
In addition to creating Springs and notebooks, this Evernote alternative encourages users to explore and share their notebooks. The Springpad App has two options where the user can “Explore” other notebooks and Springs, or “Follow” notebooks. Springpad promotes the most popular and new notebooks each week, and highlights newly added Springs. Entire notebooks are available to be “followed” or the user can add a Spring to their own notebook.
Evernote VS Springpad
Break it Down for Me
There is a distinct difference between Springpad and Evernote and the kind of user they attract. Evernote seems to be exclusively for note-taking while Springpad has the social aspect. In case you have not already made up your mind, here are some facts to consider, and also some ideas of applying this app to your business
EVERNOTE |
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| The Good | Evernote has a clean platform and simple design. After downloading the app, users can quickly begin adding notes, learning the features of the application as they go. Many features, such as the editing toolbar and notebooks, resemble the toolbar and folders of desktop applications that are very familiar to most. These intuitive features help users start work quickly, without the learning curve of other note-taking applications. |
| The Bad | This Springpad alternative confuses users, with functions and features missing if they use the desktop app instead of the mobile app. Creating a checklist is difficult with the Insert To-Do Checkbox button hidden in the toolbar. |
| Application | Since Evernote does not have an accessible community of users like Springpad, Evernote is a tool best used in conjunction with social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. The Evernote app shares notes by creating a link to the note. The link can then be promoted via Twitter or LinkedIn to a set of followers. Viewers of the link have the option to save the note to their personal Evernote notebook. You would need a significant web following for this to be an effective marketing tool, but this could be useful for promoting a new product or service. |
SPRINGPAD |
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| The Good | Springpad offers a lot of customization, allowing users to color code their notebooks and add pictures. Users can explore the Springpad community for Springs that interest them and easily add them to their notebooks. Springpad has an additional level of sorting as users can sort by the type of Spring. |
| The Bad | The Springpad app has so many features, users can feel overwhelmed. The customization aspect makes the learning curve longer as the user must first create a notebook before creating their first task, checklist, or note. |
| Application | By using Springpad, you have the ability to market to the Springpad Community, and more specifically users who use the products or services you are selling. You can develop a presence on Springpad by creating notebooks and adding content, in addition to following other notebooks that somehow relate to you. The Springpad website highlights popular/new notebooks and new springs on their Explore page. Moreover, the Springpad app, like the Springpad alternative, can be used in conjunction with social media. |
Can I use this?
Absolutely! Whatever side of the Evernote vs Springpad debate you are on, you can use both (or either) to promote your business. Because both offer the ability to share notebooks, and individual notes, you have the ability to share information with consumers. The key is understanding which application fits your product and your consumer.
* Update: Since version 4.0 of Springpad, some of these features have been updated. Check the post:Time Sensitive Content and Online Reputation Management: A Lesson Taught by Springpad for the updates.
*Post Addendum: On June 5, 2014, Springpad officially closed shop: Read More Here:Springpad Folds
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