You've been using Milanote for your creative projects, but something's missing. Maybe you're tired of constantly switching between your browser and the app. Or you wish it had better AI features to help with research.

Whatever brought you here, you're in the right place.

TL;DR: Quick Picks for Busy People

• Best overall Milanote alternative: Kosmik - Free AI-powered research tool with built-in browser

• Best for enterprises: Miro - Industry standard with extensive templates

• Best all-in-one workspace: Notion - Highly flexible database-driven platform

• Best for simple task management: Trello - Clean Kanban boards, easy to learn

• Best for speed: Nuclino - Lightning-fast knowledge base

• Best feature-packed option: ClickUp - Comprehensive project management

• Best for researchers: Scrintal - Academic-focused visual note-taking

• Best for traditional notes: Evernote - Classic note-taking with powerful search

Start with Kosmik for free to exeprience AI-powered research and multimedia workflows.

Now let's dive deep into the 8 best alternatives that actually deserve your attention in 2025.

Why People Are Looking For Milanote Alternatives?

Before we jump into alternatives, let's be honest about why you're probably here. Milanote is decent, but it's got some real limitations:

• Research is a pain. You're constantly jumping between your browser and Milanote. Found something cool online? Screenshot, save, switch apps, upload. It's 2025. This shouldn't be so clunky. Studies show that frequent app switching can reduce productivity by up to 25%.

• No AI assistance. While other tools are using AI to suggest content and automate tagging, Milanote feels stuck in 2019. Modern creative work needs intelligent assistance.

• Limited multimedia support. Sure, you can add files, but try reading a PDF or watching a video natively. You'll be opening other apps constantly.

• Integrations are weak. Good luck connecting Milanote to your existing workflow. Most integrations feel like afterthoughts.

• Pricing adds up fast. Once your team grows, those monthly costs start to sting, especially when you're missing features other tools include.

• No offline work. Internet cuts out? Your workflow stops. Not ideal for creative professionals who travel or work in spotty connection areas.

What Actually Matters in a Creative Workspace

Here's what we found after reviewing dozens of tools:

• AI-powered research capabilities are game-changers. Tools that can automatically suggest related content, tag your resources, and help discover visual inspiration save hours every week.  Studies show that AI-assisted workflows can increase productivity by up to 40%.

• Built-in web browsing eliminates the app-switching nightmare. The best tools let you research, capture, and organize without ever leaving your workspace.

• Native multimedia support means reading PDFs, watching videos, and annotating images right in your workspace. No more juggling multiple apps.

• Visual similarity search uses AI to find related images and inspiration automatically. It's like having a creative assistant that never sleeps.

• Offline-first design keeps you productive anywhere. Your best ideas don't wait for good WiFi.

• Real performance optimization across platforms. Nobody has time for laggy interfaces when creativity strikes.

The bottom line? Modern creative tools should enhance your natural workflow, not fight against it.

The 8 Best Milanote Alternatives (Ranked)

1. Kosmik - Best Milanote alternative

Kosmik is like Milanote, but with a built-in browser and AI that actually helps with research. Instead of just organizing your ideas, it actively helps you discover new ones.

The built-in browser is brilliant. You can research, capture inspiration, and organize everything without switching apps. But here's where it gets interesting: the AI watches what you're working on and suggests related content automatically.

Working on a design project? Kosmik finds similar images across the web. Writing content? It pulls relevant links and resources. It's like having a research assistant that actually understands your work.

Pros:

• Built-in browser eliminates app switching completely

• AI visual similarity search finds inspiration you'd never discover manually

• Multimedia support with native PDF reader, video player, and seamless handling of images, documents, and web content. No more opening separate apps.

• Offline first design so you can continue to work

• Cross-platform apps that actually feel native on Mac and Windows

• It's completely free right now (seriously)

Cons:

• Newer product, so smaller community than established tools

• Template library is growing but not massive yet

• Integrations are still being built (though honestly, the built-in features reduce the need)

Pricing:

• Free (paid plans start at $6.99/month)

Perfect for:

• Creative professionals who do lots of research, visual thinkers who work with multimedia, anyone who's tired of app-switching hell

• Creative professionals who do lots of research, visual thinkers who work with multimedia content (including videos), designers creating moodboards, anyone who's tired of app-switching hell

Why Kosmik is the Best Milanote Alternative?

If you're here reading this, you've probably experienced the common Milanote frustrations. The constant app switching, the manual organization, the workflow interruptions. Here's how Kosmik addresses each one:

• Streamlined research workflow: You know the routine: find something online, screenshot it, save to desktop, switch to Milanote, drag and drop, try to remember the source. With Kosmik's built-in browser, you click any web element and it's saved directly to your canvas. Source link automatically included.

• AI that genuinely helps: You're building a mood board for a coffee shop rebrand? Kosmik starts finding similar aesthetics, color palettes, and related YouTube videos automatically. Without you asking. It's like having a research assistant who understands your project context.

• True multimedia integration: Need to read a brand guidelines PDF while referencing competitor videos and organizing inspiration images? In Milanote, that requires multiple apps. In Kosmik, everything works in one place. PDF opens in the side panel, video plays inline, images arrange logically. Your workflow stays uninterrupted.

• Reliable offline functionality: When WiFi cuts out during a client presentation, Kosmik keeps working. All your content is stored locally first, then syncs when connectivity returns. No more workflow interruptions due to internet issues.

• Intelligent auto-organisation: Drop in 50 images from a research session and Kosmik automatically tags everything by style, color, and subject matter. Search for "minimalist blue logos" and it finds them even though you never manually tagged anything. The AI understands your content contextually.

What real user says about Kosmik:

"It's an interesting app made by a dedicated indie team that cares about what they are doing, are extremely active in their community, and responsive when it comes to bugs & feature requests. The closest tool that I can compare it to is Freeform by Apple and Kosmik is a lot richer and fuller experience."

Benjamin, Toolfinder Review

Start with Kosmik for free and see how it helps you to improve your creative workflows.

2. Miro - The Enterprise Favorite

The whiteboard tool every big company uses for workshops and collaboration. Miro is the safe choice. It's what IBM and Netflix use for their creative sessions. Tons of templates, rock-solid collaboration features, and integrations with everything.

But here's the thing, it can feel like overkill for simple creative projects. It's built for 50-person workshops, not quick individual brainstorming.

Pros:

• Massive template library for every situation

• Video calls built right in

• Integrates with literally everything

• Enterprise security features

• Everyone knows how to use it

Cons:

• Can be overwhelming for simple projects

• Gets slow with large boards

• Expensive for small teams

• Learning curve is steeper than needed

Pricing: 

• $10/month per user

Perfect for: 

• Large teams, formal workshops, enterprise environments

What Real user says about Miro:

"I like Miro and feel as if I haven't quite unlocked its potential..more to learn but the learning curve is high"

Leonie S., Capterra Review

3. Notion - The Swiss Army Knife

The all-in-one workspace that can become anything you want. Notion is incredibly flexible. You can build databases, wikis, project managers, or creative workspaces. The community has created templates for everything imaginable.

The downside? That flexibility comes with complexity. Expect to spend time learning how to set it up properly.

Pros:

• Incredibly flexible, build exactly what you need

• Strong database features for organizing complex projects

• Huge template community

• Great for teams that want everything in one place

• Affordable pricing

Cons:

• Steep learning curve

• No visual brainstorming canvas

• Can get messy and overwhelming

• Performance lags with complex setups

Pricing: 

• $12/month per user, Business plan with AI $24/month per user

Perfect for: 

• Teams wanting one tool for everything, database-heavy workflows, highly organized teams

What real user says about Notion:

"What I like most about Notion is its versatility. I'm still amazed at how much you can do and create. I've tried so many different note taking apps and note taking systems. None have worked as well as Notion for helping me get everything into one place, organize it and make it efficient."

zoie Y., Capterra Review

4. Trello - The Simple Task Manager

Kanban boards made easy. Cards, lists, boards. That's it. Trello nailed simplicity. Anyone can figure it out in 5 minutes. It's perfect for straightforward project management and task tracking.

But if you're looking for creative brainstorming features, you'll be disappointed. It's more about organizing work than generating ideas.

Pros:

• Dead simple to use

• Great mobile apps

• Affordable pricing

• Perfect for task management

• Drag-and-drop feels natural

Cons:

• Limited creative features

• Basic reporting

• Can get messy with complex projects

• No visual brainstorming tools

Pricing: 

• $5/month per user

Perfect for: 

• Small teams, simple project tracking, task management

What real user says about Trello:

"My experience has been great. The Kanban style of the boards works really well for my work style. I use it to manage work projects and also for fun projects like shopping wishlists and vision boards."

Peter, Capterra Review

5. Nuclino - The Fast Knowledge Base

Lightning-fast collaborative writing and knowledge management. Nuclino is all about speed. It loads instantly, search is crazy fast, and real-time collaboration actually works smoothly.

It's great for documentation and knowledge sharing, but lacks the visual creativity features most designers need.

Pros:

• Incredibly fast performance

• Clean, distraction-free interface

• Excellent search functionality

• Multiple organization views

• Easy real-time collaboration

Cons:

• Limited visual brainstorming features

• Fewer integrations

• Basic multimedia support

• Smaller community

Pricing: 

• $5/month per user

Perfect for: 

• Knowledge management, team documentation, fast collaboration

What real user says about Nuclino:

"I really enjoy how simple and easy to use Nuclino is! If you have a small to mid size team, this is a great solution to project management and even further than that, a knowledge base, asset base and more. Clean design, simple features, just great all around."

Kris, Capterra Review

6. ClickUp - The Feature-Packed Beast

Project management on steroids. It tries to replace every productivity tool you use. ClickUp has every feature imaginable. Time tracking, goals, automation, whiteboards, docs, chat. It's all there.

The problem? It can feel overwhelming. Sometimes you just want to brainstorm, not configure a complex project management system.

Pros:

• Tons of features for the price

• Multiple project views

• Good automation tools

• Includes whiteboard functionality

• Comprehensive reporting

Cons:

• Overwhelming interface

• Steep learning curve

• Can feel cluttered

• Performance issues with complex projects

Pricing: 

• $7/month per user

Perfect for: 

Teams wanting comprehensive project management, feature-heavy workflows

What real user says about Clickup:

ClickUp is an exceptional task management tool that has greatly enhanced my productivity. Its user-friendly interface, customizable features, and seamless collaboration capabilities make it an absolute game-changer...The integrated time tracking and reporting functionalities are invaluable for monitoring project progress and analyzing team performance. ClickUp's versatility and intuitive design truly simplify my work processes."

Takasi, Clickup Review

7. Scrintal - The Research-Focused Canvas

Infinite canvas designed specifically for researchers and knowledge workers. Scrintal gets the academic crowd. It's built for connecting ideas, taking research notes, and building knowledge networks.

The linking system is powerful, but it's really designed for individual research rather than team collaboration.

Pros:

• Unlimited canvas for spatial thinking

• Powerful note linking system

• Focus mode for deep work

• Built by researchers for researchers

• Free tier available

Cons:

• Limited collaboration features

• Performance issues with large files

• Smaller user community

• Less polished interface

Pricing: 

• Free plan available, Personal Pro starts at $5/month

Perfect for: 

• Individual researchers, students, academic work, personal knowledge management

What real user says about Scrintal:

"I'm getting a much better result than using classic mind maps apps. Scrintal is much more flexible and versatile. I can move things up and down, zoom in and out effortlessly. Finally, I love how I can go into focus mode inside a node and start writing on a blank screen."

Paco, Capterra Review

8. Evernote - The Classic Note Taker

The original digital notebook that's been around forever. Evernote was great 10 years ago. The web clipper is still solid, and search works well. But it feels dated compared to modern alternatives. It's built for individual note-taking, not team collaboration or visual creativity.

Pros:

• Excellent web clipper

• Powerful search with OCR

• Works great offline

• Cross-platform sync

• Mature, stable platform

Cons:

• No visual organization features

• No real-time collaboration

• Dated interface

• Expensive for what you get

• Limited team features

Pricing: 

• Premium $8/month, Business $15/month per user

Perfect for: 

• Individual note-taking, document archiving, traditional workflows

What real user says about Evernote:

"Evernote helps me grab my random thoughts and voice recordings on the fly and they are synced between my phone and laptop. It puts my meeting snippets, web clippings, and to‑dos into notebooks that feel custom made to my work style."

Proera, Capterra Review

Quick Comparison: What's Actually Different

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best free Milanote alternative?

Kosmik, hands down. It's completely free right now and has AI features that paid tools don't offer. Notion and Trello have decent free tiers too, but with more limitations.

Which Milanote alternative is best for research-heavy projects?

Kosmik wins this easily. The built-in browser, AI content discovery, and visual similarity search make research workflows way more efficient than traditional approaches.

Can I import my Milanote boards?

Most tools don't have direct import, but you can export from Milanote and recreate your structure. It's a bit of work, but usually worth it for better features.

Which Milanote alternative has the best AI features?

Right now, only Kosmik has real AI-powered research and content discovery. Other tools are adding basic AI writing features, but nothing like automated visual similarity search.

What's the best free Milanote alternative?

Kosmik offers a permanent free plan that includes 1 workspace, up to 3 members, unlimited universes, and 50 AI requests per month – which is generous for individual users. For other free options, Notion has a solid free tier for personal use, and Trello offers decent free project management. But if you want AI-powered research and built-in web browsing without paying, Kosmik's free tier is hard to beat.

Which Milanote alternative works best for artists and designers?

Artists need visual organization and inspiration discovery, which makes Kosmik and Miro the top choices. Kosmik excels at mood board creation with AI-powered visual similarity search and seamless web research – perfect for finding inspiration and references. Miro offers extensive design templates and collaboration features that work well for client presentations. For artists focused on research and inspiration gathering, Kosmik's built-in browser and automatic content suggestions make it ideal.

What's the best Milanote alternative for writers and content creators?

Writers need different features than visual creators. Notion leads here with its powerful database system for organizing research, characters, plot lines, and publishing schedules. Obsidian works well for writers who want to create connections between ideas and research notes. Kosmik can be valuable for writers doing heavy research – the AI content discovery helps find relevant articles and sources automatically, and the visual organization can help with plot mapping or character development. For pure writing, stick with Notion or Obsidian. For research-heavy writing projects, Kosmik's research capabilities are great.

Which Milanote alternative offers the best video support?

Kosmik leads in this area with comprehensive native video support that allows you to view, organize, and work with video content directly within your workspace. Unlike other alternatives that require external apps, Kosmik handles various video formats, making it ideal for creative professionals working with multimedia content, video references, and visual storytelling projects.

The Bottom Line

The creative workspace world is splitting into two camps. There are the traditional tools that organize what you already have, and the new AI-powered tools that help you discover what you didn't know existed.

Kosmik represents where things are heading. Built-in research, AI assistance, and seamless multimedia support aren't just nice features. They're becoming essential for modern creative work.

Most of the other tools are playing catch-up to features that were innovative 5 years ago. Kosmik is building for where creative work is going, not where it's been.

Try Kosmik for free. If you do any kind of research-heavy creative work, the built-in browser and AI features alone will change how you work.