Best OneNote Alternatives 2023 (Top 10 Similar Competitors)
Quick Summary:
In this article, we review the best OneNote alternatives for your note-taking needs.
From detailed feature comparisons to highlighting key pros and cons, this article aims to guide you in finding a suitable OneNote alternative that aligns with your personal or professional requirements.
In a world teeming with digital possibilities, finding the best OneNote alternatives is like stumbling upon a hidden treasure chest overflowing with productivity potential.
Microsoft OneNote has long been hailed as a titan in note-taking. However, exploring OneNote competitors that might better suit your needs is always a good idea.
Without any further ado, let’s unveil the greatest competitors of OneNote and discover the best fit for you.
Top 10 OneNote Competitors with Similar Products
Here’s a quick review of the few apps like OneNote that deserve the title “best OneNote alternatives.” Although they’re all similar, some OneNote competitors will better suit your needs than others. So, read more about the Microsoft OneNote alternatives below.
Product | Free version | Cross-platform compatibility | Website |
Notion | Yes | Yes | |
Evernote | Yes | Yes | |
Google Keep | Yes | Yes | |
Notability | Yes | Only Apple | |
Confluence | Yes | Yes | |
Zoho Notebook | Yes | Yes | |
GoodNotes | First three notebooks only | Only Apple | |
Roam Research | No | Yes | |
Simplenote | Yes | Yes | |
Joplin | Yes | Yes |
Here’s Our Full List of the Best OneNote Alternatives 2023:
Introducing the creme de la creme of note-taking solutions, the top contenders for the best OneNote alternatives.
Whether you seek seamless functionality, better collaboration, or even a free solution, this comprehensive list will help you find the best note taking app for your needs.
Here’s a list of ten good alternatives to OneNote:
1. Notion (Best OneNote Alternative Overall)
Why We Chose It:
Notion stands out as the best overall alternative to OneNote due to its exceptional versatility and customization options. It excels in creating both simple and complex pages, supported by a vast array of community-made templates.
Notion offers a unique blend of wikis, dashboards, and note-taking capabilities, enabling seamless task tracking and content linking. Its AI-assisted writing tool enhances content creation, while the ability to incorporate diverse content types makes pages more dynamic.
Despite some limitations like a limited offline mode, Notion's clean interface and organizational prowess make it a superior choice for those seeking a flexible and creative note-taking solution.
In summary, Notion is the best alternative to OneNote, offering unparalleled flexibility, creative freedom, and organizational mastery.See a more in-depth comparison in our OneNote vs Notion comparison or check out our Notion review.
Notion is best for:
Individuals and teams seeking extensive note-taking features
Those looking for flexible pricing options
Anyone in need of a versatile and customizable note-taking platform
Features:
Customizable templates for various projects
Seamless integration of different types of content (text, images, app embeds)
Collaborative tools for team projects
Versatile and easily searchable database and table creation
Clean and organized sidebar navigation
Pricing:
Free
Plus ($8 per user monthly billed annually, $10 billed monthly)
Business ($15 per user monthly billed annually, $18 billed monthly)
Enterprise (Contact Notion)
Visit site
Go to Notion’s official website
2. Evernote (Best Free OneNote Alternative)
Why We Chose It:
Evernote shines as the best free OneNote alternative, offering advanced features like optical character recognition (OCR), document scanning, and robust team management tools for efficient note and deadline tracking.
Its user-friendly interface supports both individual and collaborative work, excelling with efficient text search and web clipping functions. The app facilitates the effective organization of various note types and employs a powerful search tool for seamless grouping and tagging.
While Evernote's free version is somewhat basic, its full potential is unlocked with the paid plans, which offer a broader range of features. Accessible across all major platforms, Evernote caters to a diverse user base, from Windows to iOS and Android devices.
Whether you’re a student, a business person, or someone wanting to keep your life in order, Evernote has your back.
See a more in-depth comparison in our OneNote vs Evernote comparison, or check out our detailed Evernote review for more information.
Evernote is best for:
Students seeking to stay organized with their study materials
Professionals who need to manage and access their meeting notes efficiently
Entrepreneurs and small business owners looking for a versatile tool to streamline their workflows
Individuals who want a comprehensive note-taking solution for personal use
Anyone who values the convenience of capturing and organizing information from various sources
Features:
Notebooks for organizing and categorizing your notes
Text formatting options and fonts for easy customization
Audio note recording for capturing ideas on the go
You can save and organize web pages with the web clipper
Attachments for adding documents and photos to your notes
Browser extension for capturing web content with ease
Pricing:
Free
Personal ($12.99 per month billed monthly, $8.33 billed annually)
Professional ($14.99 per month billed monthly, $10.83 billed annually)
Teams ($11.67 per user monthly)
Visit site
Go to Evernote’s official website
3. Google Keep (Most Similar to OneNote)
Why We Chose It:
Google Keep is a standout for its simplicity and seamless integration with the Google ecosystem, making it most similar to OneNote. This free, cloud-based app excels in quickly capturing notes in various formats, including text, checklists, voice recordings, and pictures.
Google Keep offers robust organization features like labels and color-coding and supports optical character recognition (OCR) and speech recognition for added convenience.
While Google Keep is accessible across multiple platforms, its basic interface and lack of advanced features like rich-text editing may limit its appeal for complex note-taking needs.
As you can read in our OneNote review, Google Keep isn’t suitable for long-form notes, unlike OneNote. Moreover, it’s limited regarding formatting options and lacks organization structure.
However, its straightforward design and cross-device synchronization make it an excellent choice for users seeking a simple and efficient note-taking tool.
Google Keep is best for:
Individuals who want seamless synchronization across multiple devices
Google Suite power users seeking integration with other Google apps
Those who primarily need to store reminders and basic notes on the go
Features:
Easy-to-use interface for creating and organizing notes
Synchronization across multiple devices for seamless access
Integration with Google Calendar, Gmail. Google Docs and Google Drive for added convenience
Labeling and color-coding options for efficient organization
Support for checklists and collaborative note-taking
Pricing:
It’s 100% FREE!
Visit site
Go to Google Keep's official website
4. Notability (Good OneNote Alternative if You Want to Use a Stylus)
Why We Chose It:
Notability, a notable OneNote alternative for stylus users, has been redesigned for enhanced user-friendliness and offers innovative tools like a movable toolbox, ruler, and tape tool. It simplifies note creation with a variety of built-in templates and supports audio transcription for recorded notes.
The app excels in organization with its efficient use of subjects and dividers, allowing up to five levels of nesting for thorough document management. Notability's strong suit is its capability to cater to frequent note creation, making it ideal for classroom or meeting environments.
However, it's important to note that most of its features require a yearly subscription. With its focus on ease of use and versatility in note-taking, especially for stylus users, Notability is a strong contender in the digital note-taking space.
Notability is best for:
Students who prefer taking digital notes with a stylus in real-time
Tablet users seeking a user-friendly and organized note-taking experience
Creative individuals who enjoy drawing and sketching
Features:
Drawing and sketching capabilities with a stylus
Clean and intuitive user interface
Recording audio to accompany your notes
Importing and editing documents from other sources
Annotating images and screenshots
Yearly planners and journals for organization
Pricing:
Free
Notability Plus (price varies by region)
Visit site
Go to Notability’s official website
5. Confluence (a Cheaper Alternative to OneNote if You’re on a Budget)
Why We Chose It:
Step into a realm where teamwork thrives, and knowledge is effortlessly organized with Confluence, a cheap alternative to OneNote designed to cater to those on a budget.
The tool offers a simple user interface and robust features for document management and project collaboration. It provides a free plan for individual use and small teams, with a Standard plan priced affordably for larger teams.
Confluence facilitates document creation, advanced search, and real-time team collaboration, although it's more focused on knowledge management than project management.
The app integrates well with other Atlassian products and various third-party apps, enhancing its versatility for diverse collaborative and organizational needs. Overall, Confluence is an ideal choice for larger organizations or teams seeking an economical and comprehensive workspace solution.
Confluence is best for:
Large organizations with many team members
Those seeking a comprehensive knowledge management and collaboration tool
Users looking for seamless integration with project management features
Features:
Robust knowledge management and project collaboration workspace
Create project plans from scratch or choose from 100+ templates
Integration with roadmaps, Jira issues, and Trello boards
Open and connected structure for organization-wide collaboration
AI-powered note-taking with Atlassian Intelligence
Compatibility with 3,000+ Marketplace apps
Pricing:
Free for up to 10 users
Standard ($5.75 per user monthly)
Premium ($11 per user monthly)
Enterprise (Contact Confluence)
Visit site
Go to Confluence’s official website
6. Zoho Notebook (Best Cloud-Based, Budget-Friendly OneNote Alternative)
Why We Chose It:
Zoho Notebook, a budget-friendly alternative to OneNote, stands out with its aesthetically pleasing design and user-friendly interface. Accessible across multiple platforms, it allows syncing across unlimited devices, making it versatile for various users.
The app supports diverse content types, including text, to-do lists, audio, and sketches, catering to a wide range of note-taking needs. While offering standard text formatting options and some advanced features, it integrates well with major platforms and other Zoho apps for enhanced utility.
Despite a smaller range of advanced functions compared to competitors, Zoho Notebook's free version satisfies basic users, and its paid plans are affordable, positioning it as a cost-effective choice for personal use or small-scale collaboration.
Zoho Notebook is best for:
Individuals seeking a free and intuitive note-taking app
Users who prioritize customization and personalization options
Those looking for a secure cloud-based storage solution for their notes and files
Individuals who value cross-platform compatibility across iOS and Android devices
Features:
Cloud-based storage for notes, images, audio clips, and files
Intuitive user interface and design for easy note-taking
Tagging system for efficient organization and searching
Passcode and Touch ID features for enhanced security
Collaboration capabilities for sharing notebooks with other Zoho Notebook users
Custom cover illustrations for personalized note aesthetics
Integration with Zoho Projects and mobile-friendly features like Zia, the AI-powered assistant
Cross-platform availability for iOS (iPhone & iPad) and Android devices
Pricing:
Free
Pro ($19.99 yearly)
Visit site
Go to Zoho Notebook’s official website
7. GoodNotes (Great OneNote Equivalent for Students)
Why We Chose It:
GoodNotes is a revolutionary digital paper and social app designed for students eager to share educational materials and planner templates.
GoodNotes excels with its intuitive user interface, accurate handwriting-to-text conversion, and cloud synchronization across Apple devices. It supports diverse content types and stylus options, including the Apple Pencil, enhancing the note-taking experience.
Key features include audio recording for lectures and meetings and a collaborative sharing function for team projects. GoodNotes also offers digital stickers and innovative Study Sets, utilizing smart learning techniques for effective studying. You can find more details on features in our GoodNotes review.
However, it's best used with an iPad and Apple Pencil and currently lacks cross-platform syncing between Apple and other devices like Windows or Android. This makes GoodNotes a great OneNote equivalent for students, especially those using Apple products.
GoodNotes is best for:
Students who want to share academic materials and collaborate on planner templates
Those who prefer a digital note-taking experience with a focus on community and sharing
Features:
Community feature for connecting and sharing documents with other students worldwide
Built-in flashcards study mode for effective learning and revision
Shared Documents feature for easy collaboration through shareable links
Free Mac app for seamless synchronization and access across devices
Pricing:
Create your first three notebooks for free
Unlock the full version for $9.99 (pay once)
Visit site
Go to GoodNotes’ official website
8. Roam Research (Advanced OneNote Alternative for Users Who Require Advanced Information Organization)
Why We Chose It:
Roam Research is an advanced OneNote alternative, ideal for users who need to organize information in interconnected ways. It employs a graph database interface with bi-directional linking, allowing notes to become interconnected nodes.
This feature suits knowledge-graph thinkers, researchers, and students who require a sophisticated method to navigate and explore related concepts. Unlike OneNote, Roam Research organizes content in a hierarchical outline rather than notebooks and sections.
While it offers unique visualization capabilities, it lacks automated data backup and is more expensive than OneNote, making it a specialized choice for users focused on complex idea mapping and knowledge management.
Roam Research is best for:
Knowledge-graph thinkers and those who enjoy making connections between ideas
Writers, researchers, product managers, and graduate students who require advanced note-taking capabilities
Users who prefer a graph database interface for organizing and visualizing information
Collaborative work environments where unlimited collaborators are needed
Individuals looking for a tool that supports bi-directional linking for creating intricate mind-maps and relationships between notes
Features:
Bi-directional linking capabilities for seamless navigation between related ideas
Graph database interface that mirrors the way our minds work
Unlimited collaborators in the starter plan for efficient team collaboration
Advanced note organization and hierarchical outline format
Support for networked thought and knowledge management
Pricing:
Believer ($8.33 per month)
Pro ($13.75 per month billed annually, $15 per month billed monthly)
Visit site
Go to Roam Research's official website
9. Simplenote (Perfect for Users Who Prefer Simplicity and User-Friendliness)
Why We Chose It:
Simplenote, known for its minimalistic design, is a compelling OneNote alternative for those seeking simplicity in note-taking. Its straightforward interface, free of ads and extraneous features, makes it ideal for personal use and casual note-taking.
Key features include version history, collaboration, and cross-device syncing, with Markdown support for enhanced text formatting.
While Simplenote allows sharing notes and supports various file types for import and export, it lacks advanced features like drawing tools, notebook organization, and end-to-end encryption.
This positions Simplenote as a suitable choice for users who value a clean, focused note-taking environment, but it may fall short for those needing comprehensive features or high-level security.
Simplenote is best for:
Individuals who prefer a simple and intuitive note-taking experience
Markdown enthusiasts who want to write, preview, and publish notes in Markdown format
Users who need cross-device synchronization for their notes
People who value tagging, version history, and efficient search capabilities in a note-taking app
Features:
Easy note creation, editing, and sharing from any device
Tagging system for organizing and categorizing notes
Markdown support for writing and formatting notes
Version history to track changes and revert to previous versions if needed
Collaboration tools for working together on notes with others
Efficient search functionality
Pricing:
Free
Visit site
Go to Simplenote’s official website
10. Joplin (Top Linux OneNote Alternative)
Why We Chose It:
Joplin stands out as a top Linux alternative to OneNote, notable for its versatility and strong focus on privacy. As an open-source app, it supports Markdown for easy document formatting, including structured notes with various elements like headings and tables.
Joplin's commitment to user privacy is evident in its end-to-end encryption, ensuring the security and confidentiality of notes. The app offers cloud synchronization for access across multiple devices and allows offline work, making it highly convenient for users on the go.
Joplin's lightweight design ensures a smooth, responsive experience on both desktop and mobile platforms, consuming minimal resources. Additionally, it supports exporting notes to HTML for easy sharing and collaboration.
Overall, Joplin is a powerful and privacy-centric open-source alternative to OneNote, catering well to users across various operating systems, including Linux.
Joplin is best for:
Users who prioritize privacy and data security
Those who prefer open-source software
Individuals who work across multiple devices and platforms
Features:
Markdown support
Cloud synchronization
End-to-end encryption
Privacy-focused approach
Offline functionality
Hierarchical organization
Lightweight performance
Tagging and encrypted notes
WebDAV support
Plugin system
Export to HTML
Multi-platform compatibility
Pricing:
Free, but also has paid cloud plans
Visit site
Go to Joplin’s official website
Which of the Alternatives to OneNote is a Good Choice for You?
Looking for the best choice ultimately boils down to your unique needs and preferences in the vast landscape of Microsoft OneNote alternatives.
However, we can draw key takeaways after exploring the top apps similar to OneNote.
Firstly, each alternative to Microsoft OneNote has special features allowing you to tailor your note-taking experience.
Secondly, consider viral factors like smooth integration with existing tools, collaboration capabilities, and intuitive interfaces when deciding.
Lastly, please don’t overlook the possibility of a free Microsoft OneNote alternative, as it can be a budget-friendly option without compromising functionality.
Ultimately, the best OneNote alternative for you is the one that aligns perfectly with your workflow, boosting your productivity and enhancing your digital journey.
