Import
Move from Evernote to Readbird
Evernote’s desktop app exports notes as ENEX files. Readbird reads them: notes arrive with their formatting, checklists, tags and dates, and pictures can come along.
How the move works
You export from the Evernote desktop app: pick a notebook or some notes and export them as an ENEX file. One file can hold many notes. Readbird recognises ENEX by its content, so no unpacking or converting is needed.
In Readbird your notes land in the Notes section as one list: formatted text and checklists keep their shape, tags become labels, and everything is searchable. Notes can also be shared with others and edited together.
Servers are in the EU, there are no ads, and every feature is free while Readbird is in beta.
How to move your Evernote notes
Export your notes from the Evernote desktop app as ENEX (.enex). The file may hold a whole notebook; if you have several notebooks, export each one and load the files one after another.
How to move the file
- In the Evernote desktop app select a notebook or notes and export them in the ENEX format.
- Open Readbird, choose “Add content” and go to the “Move everything to Readbird” block.
- Pick the .enex file as it is. Leave “Transfer note images” on if you want your pictures to come along.
- Wait for the report: how many notes were found, imported and skipped, and why.
What moves over from Evernote and what does not
| What | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Title and text | Moves over | The title and the text of every note. |
| Formatting | Partly | Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, headings, lists and links are kept. Fonts, colours and sizes are not. |
| Checklists | Moves over | Evernote checkboxes arrive as a checklist with their ticked state. |
| Tags | Moves over | Evernote tags become labels in Readbird (up to 100 new labels per import). |
| Date | Partly | The creation date is kept and orders the notes. The date of the last edit is not carried over. |
| Pictures | Partly | Pictures are moved when the option is on, up to 20 per note. They are attached to their note rather than placed at the original spot in the text. |
| Other attachments | Does not move | PDFs, audio and other files are not carried over; the report counts them. |
| Notebooks and stacks | Does not move | The ENEX file does not say which notebook a note was in, so notes arrive in one list. Use tags or load each notebook as its own file and label it. |
| Reminders and location | Does not move | These are not read. |
Limits to know about
- An ENEX file can be up to 100 MB. A ZIP of several files can be up to 256 MB with pictures on, 64 MB without them.
- One note keeps up to about 120 KB of text; a longer one is cut and the report counts it.
- The Notes list loads up to 5,000 notes and draws the first 500, then more as you scroll or tap “Show more”. If the import takes you above 5,000, the report says how many of the oldest are not visible in the list; they stay saved and are included in the export.
- Import the same file again and nothing is doubled: notes already in Readbird are recognised and skipped.
Import
Questions about moving from Evernote
Can I import several notebooks?
Yes. Export each notebook as its own ENEX file and load them one after another. They arrive in one list; use tags if you want to keep them apart.
Will my pictures come across?
Yes, up to 20 per note, when “Transfer note images” is on. They are attached to the note rather than placed at the original spot in the text.
What if the file is cut off?
The report says how many notes were cut in the middle and not imported. Export the file again and load it: notes already in Readbird are skipped.
Does importing cost anything?
No. Import is free, and so is leaving: one button in Settings exports everything you have in Readbird.
Switching
Bring your notes over
Start with the import window, or simply write your first note.