Step-by-Step Guide: Building an Evernote Clone with Adalo

Building a note-taking app like Evernote seems straightforward until you face the reality of developing for multiple platforms simultaneously. You need user authentication, database management for notes and folders, tagging systems, search functionality, and cloud sync—all while creating separate codebases for web, iOS, and Android. For solo developers or small teams without extensive programming resources, this multi-platform challenge can turn a simple concept into months of complex development work.

Fortunately, no-code platforms have transformed how creators approach app development. Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. This means you can focus on designing the perfect note-taking experience while Adalo handles the technical complexity of cross-platform deployment.

Why Adalo Works for Building a Note-Taking App

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. This makes it the perfect solution for creating an Evernote-style notes app where users need seamless access to their content across all their devices—phone, tablet, or desktop browser.

Publishing your note-taking app to the app stores means users can download it directly to their devices, receive push notifications for reminders and shared notes, and enjoy native performance for quick capture on the go. With Adalo handling the cross-platform complexity, you can focus on building features like folders, tags, and search that make a notes app truly useful.

This tutorial walks you through building a professional note-taking app using Adalo’s no-code platform. You’ll create an app with note creation/editing, tags and folders, search, and optional cloud integrations. You can even publish the same app to the web, native iOS, and native Android with Adalo, all without writing a line of code.

Prerequisites & Plan Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account

1. Visit Adalo.com → Get Started Free.
2. Verify your email and sign in.

Step 2: Pick a Starting Plan

Start free to build and test. When you’re ready to publish, review current plan features/limits on the live pricing page and choose the tier that fits your launch and scale needs.
Check: Adalo pricing.

Step 3: Create Your Notes App

1. Dashboard → Create New App.
2. Choose Mobile App (recommended) or Web App.
3. Name it (e.g., NoteMaster, MyNotes) → Start from Scratch.
4. Pick a theme (primary/secondary colors, readable font).

Designing Your Data Model

We’ll create Users, Notes, Folders, Tags, and Checklist Items. You can keep metadata in Adalo and later offload heavy/advanced work to external services via External Collections.

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

1. Database → Users.
2. Add properties:
   
   • Profile Image (Image)
   • Display Name (Text)
   • Subscription Status (Text: “Free”, “Premium”)
   • Storage Used (Number)
   • Created Date (Date & Time – automatic)
   • Last Active (Date & Time)

Step 5: Create the Notes Collection

1. + Add Collection → Notes.
2. Properties:
   
   • Title (Text)
   • Content (Text, Multiline)
   • Created Date (Date & Time – automatic)
   • Modified Date (Date & Time)
   • Is Favorited (True/False)
   • Color (Text)
   • Reminder Date (Date & Time)
   • Attachment (File)
   • Is Archived (True/False)
   • Note Type (Text: “Text”, “Checklist”, “Voice”)

Step 6: Create the Folders Collection

1. + Add Collection → Folders.
2. Properties: Folder Name (Text), Icon (Text), Color (Text), Sort Order (Number), Created Date (Date & Time – automatic).

Step 7: Create the Tags Collection

1. + Add Collection → Tags.
2. Properties: Tag Name (Text), Color (Text), Usage Count (Number).

Step 8: Create the Checklist Items Collection

1. + Add Collection → Checklist Items.
2. Properties: Item Text (Text), Is Completed (True/False), Sort Order (Number), Created Date (Date & Time – automatic).

Step 9: Define Relationships

• Users ↔ Notes: A User has many Notes; Note belongs to Owner.
• Users ↔ Folders: A User has many Folders; Folder belongs to Owner.
• Users ↔ Tags: A User has many Tags; Tag belongs to Owner.
• Notes ↔ Folders: A Folder has many Notes; Note belongs to Folder.
• Notes ↔ Tags: Many-to-many (Notes can have many Tags; Tags can belong to many Notes).
• Notes ↔ Checklist Items: A Note has many Checklist Items.

Learn Adalo relational modeling: Relational data explained · Database Help

Authentication & Onboarding

Step 10: Welcome Screen

1. Rename default screen to Welcome.
2. Add logo, headline (“Your thoughts, organized”), subtitle.
3. Buttons: Get Started → Sign Up, I have an account → Login.

Step 11: Sign Up & Login

Sign Up

1. + Add Screen → Sign Up.
2. Add Form (Users) → Create Account (Email, Password, Display Name).
3. On submit → Link to Notes List.

Login

1. + Add Screen → Login.
2. Add Form (Users) → Login (Email, Password).
3. On submit → Link to Notes List.

Core UX: Lists & Editors

Step 12: Notes List Screen

1. + Add Screen → Notes List.
2. Header: title (“My Notes”), icons for Search (→ Search Notes) and Settings.
3. Folder filter (Horizontal List): Folders where Owner = Logged In User (tap filters notes).
4. Notes list:
   
   • Collection: Notes
   • Filters: Owner = Logged In User, Is Archived = false
   • Sort: Modified Date (desc)
   • Cells: Title, preview (first ~100 chars), “time ago”, star if Is Favorited.
   • Tap → View Note (send Current Note).
5. Floating “+” button → Create Note (Edit Note screen).

Step 13: Edit Note Screen (Create & Update)

1. + Add Screen → Edit Note (use for create & edit).
2. Top bar: Back, Save (checkmark), More (menu).
3. Fields: Title (Text Input), Content (Multiline expanding).
4. Toolbar (optional): Add checklist item, Attach file, Set reminder, Pick folder, Pick tags.
5. Save action logic:
   
   • If creating: Create Note → set Owner, Title, Content, Modified Date.
   • If editing: Update Current Note → Title, Content, Modified Date.
   • Navigate back to Notes List; show “Saved”.
6. Optional auto-save: add a Countdown/Timer that periodically Update Current Note.

Step 14: View Note Screen

1. + Add Screen → View Note (expects Note).
2. Show Title, Modified Date, Folder/Tags chips.
3. Body: Content (multiline), Checklist Items (if any), Attachment preview/icon.
4. Actions: Edit, Delete (soft delete), Share (optional), Star/Unstar.
5. Footer (optional): Created Date, simple word/char counts.

Actions, Safety & Ownership

Step 15: Create Note Actions

• On Save (create): Create → Notes (Title, Content, Owner=Logged In User; dates auto).
• Then: Toast (“Note created”) → Link → Notes List.

Step 16: Edit/Update Actions

• On screen load: prefill inputs from Current Note (when editing).
• On Save (edit): Update Current Note (Modified Date = now).
• Optional auto-save: Timer every ~30s → Update Current Note.

Step 17: Delete (Soft Delete)

1. Add Confirm Delete modal.
2. On confirm: Update Current Note → Is Archived = true; go back; toast “Note deleted”.

Step 18: Enforce User Scoping

• Everywhere you list/update notes, filter Owner = Logged In User.
• Hide edit/delete actions if Owner ≠ Logged In User.
• Always set Owner on create.

Search, Tags & Folders

Step 19: Real-Time Search

1. + Add Screen → Search Notes.
2. Search input (updates a temporary property).
3. Results list (Notes): filters Owner = Logged In User, Is Archived = false, and Title contains query OR Content contains query.
4. Cells: title, snippet, modified date; tap → View Note.

Step 20: Tags

1. + Add Screen → Manage Tags.
2. List Tags where Owner = Logged In User (name, color, usage).
3. Form to Create Tag (Tag Name, Color; Owner = Logged In User).
4. In Edit Note, add multi-select for Tags (many-to-many).
5. Add tag chips to Notes List to filter by selected tag(s).

Step 21: Folders

1. + Add Screen → Manage Folders.
2. List user’s folders; allow “New Folder”.
3. In Edit Note, add single-select Folder.
4. In Notes List, clicking a folder filters notes by that Folder; add clear-filter (“All Notes”).

Step 22: Advanced Filters

• Panel with: Sort (Date/Title), Show (All/Favorites/Recent), Date range, Toggle include Archived.
• Show filter chips; “Clear all”.

Responsive Web & Multi-Device

Step 23: Optimize for Web (Windows/Desktop)

1. Settings → Publishing → Web App: enable; use Adalo subdomain or custom domain (paid).
2. Test breakpoints (desktop/tablet/phone).
3. Desktop tips: sidebar + two-pane (list/detail), larger font sizes, keyboard-shortcut plan.
4. Test in Chrome/Edge/Firefox; verify copy/paste & file uploads.

Step 24: Responsive Testing

1. Use Adalo preview device toggles.
2. Test on real devices with the Adalo Preview app.
3. Check: touch targets ≥ 44×44, readable text, smooth lists.
4. iOS/Android/web variations—adjust layouts as needed.

Responsive features: Responsive design.

Publishing (Web, iOS, Android)

Review times and store requirements vary; always verify the latest guidance before submitting.

Step 25: Web Publishing

1. Settings → Publishing → Web App.
2. Free: Adalo subdomain. Paid: custom domain + DNS/SSL.
3. Set SEO: title, description, favicon, social image.

Docs: Publishing overview

Step 26: Apple App Store (iOS)

Prereqs: Apple Developer Program ($99/year); appropriate Adalo plan; required assets/metadata.

1. Prepare assets (verify current specs in Apple docs):
   
   • App Icon: 1024×1024 PNG (no alpha).
   • Screenshots (e.g., iPhone 6.7", iPhone 5.5", iPad Pro 12.9".
2. In Adalo Settings → Publishing → iOS App: upload assets & metadata.
3. Submit for build in Adalo, then deliver to App Store Connect; submit for review.

Step 27: Google Play (Android)

Prereqs: Google Play Developer (one-time $25 fee); appropriate Adalo plan; assets/metadata.

1. Prepare assets:
   
   • App Icon: 512×512 PNG
   • Feature Graphic: 1024×500 PNG
   • Screenshots (phones; tablets recommended)
2. In Adalo Settings → Publishing → Android App: upload assets & metadata.
3. Submit for build; upload the .aab to Play Console; complete listing; submit for review.

Optional: External Sync & Automations

Step 28: External Backend (Xano)

1. Create a Xano account; model Notes/Users; create API endpoints.
2. In Adalo, connect via External Collections (auth headers as needed).
3. Use Custom Actions for uploads/signed URLs and advanced workflows.
4. Keep Users/Tags/Folders in Adalo or migrate gradually; store heavy binaries externally if needed.

Step 29: Automations (Zapier/Make)

• Examples: backups to Google Sheets/Drive, weekly email digests, Slack notifications, reminder events.
• Integrations: Zapier / Make.

Testing & Quality

Step 30: Seed Test Data

• Create 3–5 test users; add 100+ notes with varied content/attachments; verify performance.
• Performance tips: Optimize performance.

Step 31: User Acceptance Testing

• Recruit 5–10 testers; provide tasks; gather structured feedback (bugs, UX pain points, feature requests).
• Iterate on navigation clarity, list performance, font sizes, and touch targets.

Step 32: Common Fixes

• Slow lists: paginate, limit initial load, simplify list cells.
• Search lag: debounce input; filter on key fields.
• Uploads: add limits; show progress/loader; retry path.
• Tag filters: verify many-to-many configuration and list filters.

Monetization (Optional)

If you plan subscriptions, implement a lightweight paywall and storage limits; process payments on web or via your own backend.
Payments option: Stripe via Marketplace component or server-side APIs (confirm current component capabilities).
Stripe fees overview (US online cards commonly start ~2.9% + $0.30): Stripe pricing.

Why Adalo Works for Notes

• Built-in relational DB: model Users ↔ Notes ↔ Tags ↔ Folders.
• Cross-platform publish: iOS, Android, and web from a single build — Adalo product.
• Components & integrations: uploaders, lists, search, plus APIs/webhooks — Marketplace, Custom Actions, External Collections.
• Responsive layouts: adapt UX per screen size — Responsive design.

Cost & Resources

• Adalo: see current plans/limits — https://www.adalo.com/pricing
• Stripe fees: vary by region/method; in the U.S. online cards are typically ~2.9% + $0.30 — https://stripe.com/pricing
• Developer programs: Apple $99/year — https://developer.apple.com/programs/ · Google Play $25 one-time — https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6112435

Additional Resources

• Adalo Help Center — https://help.adalo.com/
• Adalo Marketplace — https://www.adalo.com/marketplace
• External Collections — https://help.adalo.com/integrations/external-collections-with-apis
• Custom Actions — https://help.adalo.com/integrations/custom-actions
• Optimize Performance — https://help.adalo.com/performance/optimize-app-performance
• Xano Integration — https://www.adalo.com/integrations/xano
• Airtable Integration — https://www.adalo.com/integrations/airtable
• Zapier — https://www.adalo.com/integrations/zapier · Make — https://www.make.com/
• Android active devices (Google) — https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2021/05/android-12-beta-1.html
• Apple installed base (2026) — https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/02/apple-reports-first-quarter-results/
• BLS Software Developer median wage (May 2026) — https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm
• Apple iOS adoption (Feb 2026) — https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store/

Note: This Evernote-style build is a prototype using Adalo’s UI and database. For large attachments, rich offline editing/sync, full-text search at scale, and enterprise features (e.g., advanced versioning, audit logs), integrate external services (e.g., Xano, AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage) via External Collections / Custom Actions, and handle heavy processing server-side. Always test performance on real devices and review your data-privacy posture (e.g., GDPR/CCPA) before publishing.

FAQ