I stopped using Evernote, struggled with Notion, and built my own productivity suite
By Gerald · 31 May 2026
I used to be a huge Evernote fan. Back in 2014 and 2015, it was one of my go-to apps. For years it was my second brain. Clean, fast, and reliable. I could capture ideas, web clips, photos, and notes instantly and actually find them later. It just worked.
Then things changed. Evernote started feeling slower and more cluttered. It drifted away from the elegant simplicity that made it great.
Like many others, I switched to Notion. Its power is undeniable. You can build dashboards, wikis, databases, and almost anything. For a while I enjoyed experimenting with templates and systems.
But even with a tech background, I found it cumbersome for everyday use. Capturing a quick idea often turned into managing page structures, properties, and relations. It felt like I was building a mini app instead of just taking a note. I respected Notion, but I never truly loved it.
I missed the straightforward simplicity of classic Evernote without the bloat or heavy restrictions.
I got tired of compromising. Tired of choosing between tools that were either too simple and declining or too powerful and overwhelming.
So I decided to build the solution I wished existed.
This whole thing started when I developed a kanban board inspired task management web app (which became FlowBoard), while enhancing its features, I decided to just build an entire productivity suite called Flow.
Flow includes three tightly integrated tools:
FlowNote. Inspired by classic Evernote. A clean and simple note-taking app where you create notebooks and add notes inside them. Tags give you an extra layer of filtering and organization. That's it.
FlowBoard. A straightforward Kanban-style task manager built on my core principles. I'm a firm believer that we should not have too many workflows when it comes to tasks. The problem with Trello and similar tools is that they offer too much flexibility, which ends up creating more friction than focus. So I designed FlowBoard around the simple system that actually works for me: just three columns. Triage, Executing, and Delivered.
Capture Inbox. A lightning-fast simple capture tool. Hit Cmd+K (or Ctrl+K) for an instant window to quickly save ideas, photos, or links with zero friction. Best used together with Wispr Flow.
The three tools work together as one cohesive system.
Building Flow taught me a powerful lesson. When the tools around you no longer serve you, sometimes the best move is to create your own. It started from real frustration but quickly became a passion project that reminded me why I love building.
I am incredibly excited to share it with you. If you ever loved old-school Evernote but got disappointed, or tried Notion and found it too heavy, Flow might be exactly what you have been looking for. You can sign up for the demo via the link below.
What is your current note-taking or productivity setup? Have you ever felt stuck between tools that were either too basic or too complex? Reach out through the contact page and tell me. I read every message.
The best tools should serve us, not the other way around.