Microsoft OneNote is a note-taking app that allows you to create and organize notes in a variety of ways. You can create text notes, handwritten notes, audio notes, and even scanned images. OneNote also allows you to collaborate with others on notes, and it syncs across all of your devices so you can access your notes from anywhere.
Why you might be looking for an alternative to OneNote
There are a few reasons why you might be looking for an alternative to OneNote. Perhaps you’re not happy with the way OneNote syncs, or you’re looking for a more powerful note-taking app with more features. Or maybe you’re simply looking for a change.
What to look for in a OneNote alternative
There are a few things to look for in a OneNote alternative. First, you’ll want to consider the features that are most important to you. Do you need a note-taking app that can handle a lot of different types of content? Do you need an app that allows you to collaborate with others? Do you need an app that syncs across all of your devices?
Second, you’ll want to consider your budget. There are both free and paid OneNote alternatives available. If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll want to look for a free alternative. However, if you’re willing to pay for a more powerful app, there are a number of great paid options available.
Here are some of the factors you should consider when choosing a OneNote alternative:
- Features: What features are important to you in a note-taking app? Do you need the ability to create text notes, handwritten notes, audio notes, or scanned images? Do you need an app that allows you to collaborate with others? Do you need an app that syncs across all of your devices?
- Ease of use: How easy is the app to use? Is the interface intuitive? Are the features easy to find and use?
- Price: How much does the app cost? Are there any free or freemium options available?
- Support: What kind of support is available for the app? Is there a help center or forum where you can get help with the app?
- Security: How secure is the app? Is your data safe?
Once you’ve considered these factors, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices and choose the best OneNote alternative for you.
10 best OneNote alternatives:
Notion
Notion is a powerful note-taking app that combines the best of document editing, task management, and wikis. It’s a great choice for people who need a versatile app that can handle a lot of different tasks. Notion is also very customizable, so you can tailor it to your specific needs.
Pros:
- Powerful and versatile note-taking app
- Can be used for a variety of tasks, including note-taking, task management, and wikis
- Highly customizable
- Easy to use
- Secure
Cons:
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Can be expensive
Roam Research
Roam Research is a new note-taking app that’s been getting a lot of attention lately. It’s a unique app that uses a graph-based approach to note-taking. This means that your notes are connected to each other, which makes it easy to find and explore related information. Roam Research is a good choice for people who want a powerful and flexible note-taking app.
Pros:
- Unique graph-based approach to note-taking
- Notes are connected to each other, which makes it easy to find and explore related information
- Easy to use
- Secure
Cons:
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Can be expensive
Evernote
Evernote is a veteran note-taking app that’s been around for over a decade. It’s known for its powerful search capabilities and its ability to sync notes across multiple devices. Evernote is a good choice for people who need a reliable and feature-rich note-taking app.
Pros:
- Well-established and trusted note-taking app
- Powerful search capabilities
- Can sync notes across multiple devices
- Easy to use
- Secure
Cons:
- Can be slow at times
- Not as visually appealing as some other note-taking apps
- Not as customizable as some other note-taking apps
Zoho Notebook
Zoho Notebook is a note-taking app from Zoho, a popular productivity suite. Zoho Notebook is a good choice for people who need a free and ad-free note-taking app. It also has a number of features that are not available in OneNote, such as the ability to create tables and charts.
Pros:
- Free and ad-free
- Has a number of features that are not available in OneNote, such as the ability to create tables and charts
- Easy to use
- Secure
Cons:
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Not as customizable as some other note-taking apps
- The interface can be a bit clunky
Google Workspace (Google Keep)
Google Workspace is a suite of productivity apps that includes Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Google Keep. Google Keep is a simple note-taking app that’s great for jotting down quick notes. It’s also very easy to share notes with others, which makes it a good choice for collaboration.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- Free
- Can be used on multiple devices
- Integrates with other Google apps
Cons:
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Not as customizable as some other note-taking apps
- Can be difficult to find notes if you have a lot of them
Bear
Bear is a minimalist note-taking app that’s great for writers. It has a beautiful interface and a number of features that are designed to help you write better, such as distraction-free mode and a built-in grammar checker. Bear is also very easy to use, making it a good choice for people who are new to note-taking apps.
Pros:
- Beautiful interface
- A number of features that are designed to help you write better, such as distraction-free mode and a built-in grammar checker
- Easy to use
- Secure
Cons:
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Not as customizable as some other note-taking apps
- The price can be a bit steep for some people
GoodNotes
GoodNotes is another note-taking app for iPad and iPhone. It’s similar to Notability, but it has a few unique features, such as the ability to annotate PDFs and the ability to create templates. GoodNotes is a good choice for people who want a powerful note-taking app for their iPad or iPhone.
Pros:
- Similar to Notability, but has a few unique features, such as the ability to annotate PDFs and the ability to create templates
- Can be used on iPad and iPhone
- Easy to use
- Secure
Cons:
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Not as customizable as some other note-taking apps
- The price can be a bit steep for some people
Milanote
Milanote is a visual note-taking app that’s great for brainstorming and planning. It allows you to create boards that are made up of blocks of content, such as text, images, and videos. Milanote is a good choice for people who need a creative and flexible note-taking app.
Pros:
- Visual note-taking app
- Boards can be made up of blocks of content, such as text, images, and videos
- Easy to use
- Secure
Cons:
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Not as customizable as some other note-taking apps
- The price can be a bit steep for some people
Notability
Notability is a note-taking app for iPad and iPhone. It’s known for its excellent handwriting recognition and its ability to record audio notes. Notability is a good choice for people who take a lot of handwritten notes.
Pros:
- Excellent handwriting recognition
- Ability to record audio notes
- Can be used on iPad and iPhone
- Easy to use
- Secure
Cons:
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Not as customizable as some other note-taking apps
- The price can be a bit steep for some people
Simplenote
Simplenote is a simple and easy-to-use note-taking app. It’s a good choice for people who just need a basic note-taking app. Simplenote is also very secure, making it a good choice for people who need to keep their notes private.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- Free
- Secure
Cons:
- Not as feature-rich as some other note-taking apps
- Not as customizable as some other note-taking apps
- Can be difficult to find notes if you have a lot of them
Feature comparison table of the 10 best OneNote alternatives:
| Features | Ease of use | Price | Support | Security | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneNote | Text notes, handwritten notes, audio notes, scanned images, tables, charts, mathematical equations, links, attachments, collaboration | Easy to use, intuitive interface | Free (with limited features), or $6.99/month for Office 365 subscribers | Help center, forum, and online chat | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Notion | Text notes, handwritten notes, audio notes, tables, charts, code blocks, databases, Kanban boards, wikis, templates, integrations with other apps | Easy to use, customizable interface | Free (with limited features), or $4/month for Personal, $8/month for Personal Pro, or $16/month for Team | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Evernote | Text notes, handwritten notes, audio notes, scanned images, tables, web clippings, reminders, tags, search, collaboration | Easy to use, but can be overwhelming for beginners | Free (with limited features), or $7.99/month for Personal, $14.99/month for Professional, or $19.99/month for Teams | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Google Keep | Text notes, lists, reminders, voice notes, location sharing, color coding, collaboration | Easy to use, simple interface | Free, or $1.99/month for Premium | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Zoho Notebook | Text notes, handwritten notes, tables, charts, checklists, voice notes, collaboration | Easy to use, simple interface | Free (with limited features), or $1.49/month for Personal, $3.99/month for Professional, or $6.99/month for Business | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Bear | Text notes, handwritten notes, tables, checklists, Markdown, code blocks, images, PDF annotations, collaboration | Easy to use, distraction-free interface | Free (with limited features), or $1.49/month for Bear Pro | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Milanote | Visual note-taking, boards, blocks of content, drag-and-drop, collaboration | Easy to use, visual interface | Free (with limited features), or $9.99/month for Milanote Premium | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Notability | Handwritten notes, audio notes, PDF annotations, collaboration | Easy to use, but can be limited for some users | $9.99/month for Notability | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| GoodNotes | Handwritten notes, PDF annotations, collaboration | Easy to use, but can be limited for some users | $10.99/month for GoodNotes | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Roam Research | Graph-based note-taking, backlinks, search, templates | Easy to learn, but can be difficult to master | Free (with limited features), or $15/month for Roam Pro | Help center, forum, and email support | End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication |
| Simplenote | Simple text notes | Easy to use | Free | Help center | End-to-end encryption |
Here are some tips on how to choose the right OneNote alternative:
- Consider your needs and preferences. What do you need a note-taking app for? Do you need to take a lot of handwritten notes? Do you need to collaborate with others? Do you need to create tables and charts? Once you know what you need, you can start to narrow down your choices.
- Identify the features that are most important to you. What features are essential to you in a note-taking app? Do you need a powerful search function? Do you need the ability to create templates? Do you need to sync notes across multiple devices? Once you know what features are important to you, you can start to look for an app that has them.
- Set a budget. How much are you willing to spend on a note-taking app? There are both free and paid options available, so you’ll need to decide how much you’re comfortable spending.
Once you’ve considered these factors, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices and choose the best OneNote alternative for you.
Here are some additional tips:
- Try out different apps. There are a lot of great note-taking apps out there, so it’s a good idea to try out a few different ones before you decide which one is right for you.
- Read reviews. Reading reviews from other users can be a great way to get an idea of what an app is like before you try it out.
- Watch tutorials. There are a lot of tutorials available online that can teach you how to use different note-taking apps. This can be a great way to learn the ropes and get the most out of your app.
Here is a summary of the best OneNote alternatives:
- Notion: A powerful and versatile note-taking app that can be used for a variety of tasks, including note-taking, task management, and wikis.
- Roam Research: A unique note-taking app that uses a graph-based approach to note-taking.
- Simplenote: A simple and easy-to-use note-taking app that is free.
- Evernote: A well-established and trusted note-taking app with powerful search capabilities.
- Milanote: A visual note-taking app that allows you to create boards made up of blocks of content.
- Notability: A note-taking app for iPad and iPhone with excellent handwriting recognition and the ability to record audio notes.
- Google Keep: A simple and easy-to-use note-taking app that is free and can be used on multiple devices.
- Zoho Notebook: A free and ad-free note-taking app with a number of features that are not available in OneNote.
- Bear: A beautiful note-taking app with a number of features that are designed to help you write better.
- GoodNotes: A note-taking app for iPad and iPhone that is similar to Notability, but has a few unique features.
Here are some tips for choosing the right OneNote alternative:
- Consider your needs and preferences. What do you need a note-taking app for? Do you need to take a lot of handwritten notes? Do you need to collaborate with others? Do you need to create tables and charts?
- Identify the features that are most important to you. What features are essential to you in a note-taking app? Do you need a powerful search function? Do you need the ability to create templates? Do you need to sync notes across multiple devices?
- Set a budget. How much are you willing to spend on a note-taking app? There are both free and paid options available, so you’ll need to decide how much you’re comfortable spending.
- Try out different apps. There are a lot of great note-taking apps out there, so it’s a good idea to try out a few different ones before you decide which one is right for you.
- Read reviews. Reading reviews from other users can be a great way to get an idea of what an app is like before you try it out.
- Watch tutorials. There are a lot of tutorials available online that can teach you how to use different note-taking apps. This can be a great way to learn the ropes and get the most out of your app.
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