Microsoft OneNote

4.6 (1,795)
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Collaboration and file management

About Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote is a free cloud-based digital note taking app that allows users to create and organize meeting notes, journal entries, lab results and more. Users can take that notes are then instantly converted into digital text for improved organization and less retyping. The product offers deep search functionality for all notes stored in its database and allows users to store and organize audio recordings in a searchable format. OneNote also comes Microsoft 365 integration.


Key benefits of Microsoft OneNote

E-Book: Store all contacts in one place with one template

University: With the fall courses template, users can manage your course load and stay organized throughout the semester.

Outlook: Tight integration with your inbox means seamless file sharing

Cut. Paste. Cook: Gather and organize recipes and entertainment tips using notes, photos, and even clippings from websites.

Live sharing: Collaborate with friends or colleagues on the same page with Live Sharing.

Canvas: OneNote allows adding, grouping, and moving of notebooks.


Images

Microsoft OneNote Software - Microsoft OneNote color-coded workbook tabs
Microsoft OneNote Software - Microsoft OneNote workbook interface
Microsoft OneNote Software - Microsoft OneNote drawing tools
Microsoft OneNote Software - Microsoft OneNote page annotations
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Microsoft OneNote Software - Microsoft OneNote color-coded workbook tabs
Microsoft OneNote Software - Microsoft OneNote workbook interface
Microsoft OneNote Software - Microsoft OneNote drawing tools
Microsoft OneNote Software - Microsoft OneNote page annotations

Not sure about Microsoft OneNote? Compare with a popular alternative

Microsoft OneNote

4.6 (1,795)
VS.
Highly reviewed

Starting Price

$6.00
month
$5.00
month

Pricing Options

Free version
Free trial
Free version
Free trial

Features

11
57

Integrations

6
57

Ease of Use

4.5 (1,795)
4.6 (2,523)

Value for Money

4.5 (1,795)
4.5 (2,523)

Customer Service

4.3 (1,795)
4.4 (2,523)
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Reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5
(1,795)
Value for Money
4.5/5
Features
4.5/5
Ease of Use
4.5/5
Customer Support Software
4.3/5

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Software buyers need your help! Product reviews help the rest of us make great decisions.

Showing 5 reviews of 1,795
Raido
Raido
Overall rating
  • Industry: Consumer Electronics
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support Software
  • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

OneNote: The Only Anti-Minimalist Note-Taking App That Works

Reviewed on 04/09/2024

For me, Obsidian feels a bit too complex, and MS Notepad far too basic. OneNote strikes the right...

For me, Obsidian feels a bit too complex, and MS Notepad far too basic. OneNote strikes the right balance between the two. I don't consider myself a hardcore note-taker, but I do need a space to get ideas out of my head. I appreciate the freedom of its canvas and the ability to drop things in as messily as they come to me—quickly and efficiently. Then, when the storm of ideas calms, I can sort through what’s important and structure everything accordingly.

Pros

Old habits die hard. Even though there are numerous new note-taking apps available—and some of them are really good—I still find myself sticking with OneNote to capture my thoughts and ideas. Despite the allure of new, shiny apps, I always find it hard to switch. OneNote remains my daily driver for note-taking, so I let it be.What I like most about Microsoft OneNote is its ability to handle all sorts of media—text, images, links, and more—and how it manages thumbnails and backlinks. While this isn't unique or groundbreaking by today’s standards, it was back when I first started using it, and it's been working beautifully for me ever since.

Cons

search functionality, while decent, isn't as powerful as I'd like. Finding specific content can be slow, especially in larger notebooks, and it doesn't always surface relevant results as efficiently as other apps. For someone juggling multiple projects or ideas, this can slow down productivity.

Tom
Overall rating
  • Industry: Wireless
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support Software
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

OneNote is a Game Changer

Reviewed on 03/08/2024

OneNote has revolutionized the way I organize and manage information. Its intuitive interface,...

OneNote has revolutionized the way I organize and manage information. Its intuitive interface, flexible canvas, and powerful features have made it an indispensable tool in both my personal and professional life. Whether I'm capturing fleeting thoughts, collaborating on projects, or simply keeping track of my daily to-dos, OneNote consistently proves to be a reliable and versatile companion. Its seamless integration with other Microsoft products further enhances its value, making it a true productivity powerhouse. OneNote is not just a note-taking app; it's a digital workspace that empowers me to be more organized, efficient, and creative.

Pros

OneNote is my digital sanctuary for organizing thoughts, ideas, and information. Its flexible canvas allows me to seamlessly capture notes, clippings, images, and even audio recordings in a way that feels natural and intuitive. The ability to create multiple notebooks and sections keeps everything neatly organized, while the powerful search function ensures that I can always find what I need. Whether I'm brainstorming for a project, taking lecture notes, or simply jotting down a quick reminder, OneNote is my go-to tool. The ability to collaborate with others in real-time is a game-changer, making it an essential tool for both personal and professional use. OneNote is not just a note-taking app, it's a productivity powerhouse that has become an indispensable part of my daily workflow.

Cons

Sometimes it takes a bit long to upload onto my desktop.

Alternatives Considered

Evernote Teams

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft OneNote

Because of all the capabilities, they seem endless.
Mark
Overall rating
  • Industry: Apparel & Fashion
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support Software
  • Likelihood to recommend 6.0 /10

OneNote Review

Reviewed on 26/08/2024

Pros

Able to save documents written in Microsoft word. Has great storage for saving documents

Cons

Unable to connect to a printer. When it comes down to getting documents it has a hard time releasing them.

Robert
Overall rating
  • Industry: Industrial Automation
  • Company size: 5,001–10,000 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

Reliable note taking and task management app

Reviewed on 31/07/2024

Pros

As a note taking app I find OneNote more useful and with more features than other apps. I used to use Evernote, but there were to many restrictions and not too many options for notes categorization.
With OneNote one has not only the Notebook entity, but also the sections within each Notebook and the pages within each section. This tree structure on 3 levels allows for a quite flexible approach when it comes to notes categorization.
Another critical feature is the Search function: allowing to search across all notebooks and pages.
As for task management, I find OneNote easier to use to store my to do's with additional info (text and images). This is very useful when working on individual projects and not having to switch to other apps. OneNote can work as a mood board, note taking, task management, reminders, even password management (you can password protect a particular section)

Cons

The sync process could benefit from some improvements: as in the notebooks to be created by default in OneDrive or SharePoint. There are scenarios where the notebooks are created locally, then in order to sync one needs to put it manually on OneDrive or SharePoint.

ADRIAN
Overall rating
  • Industry: Law Practice
  • Company size: 51–200 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Ease of Use
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

Outstanding Way of Organising Notes and So Much More

Reviewed on 30/05/2024

Amazing piece of software that I have used for over then years. I have multiple note books for work...

Amazing piece of software that I have used for over then years. I have multiple note books for work and personal material and I can access this across platforms - Windows and Mac as well as different devices. I could not be without OneNote!

Pros

Microsoft OneNote provides the ability to handle multiple notebooks and pages with ease. It is great to be able to use the software cross platform and on any device - laptop, iPhone etc. Best of all it’s free with a purchase of Office.

Cons

No facility to set reminders for tasks.

Showing 5 reviews of 1,795 Read all reviews

Microsoft OneNote FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions for Microsoft OneNote.

Microsoft OneNote offers the following pricing plans:

  • Starting from: $6.00/month
  • Pricing model: Subscription
  • Free Trial: Not Available

Microsoft OneNote is bought as part of the Microsoft 365 suite.

Microsoft OneNote has the following typical customers:

Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000

Microsoft OneNote supports the following languages:

English

Microsoft OneNote supports the following devices:

Android (Mobile), iPhone (Mobile), iPad (Mobile)

Microsoft OneNote integrates with the following applications:

AutoCAD, EDUonGo, Feedly, IFTTT, Microsoft Lens, Obindo

Microsoft OneNote offers the following support options:

Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base Software, Phone Support, 24/7 (Live rep), Chat

Related categories

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