saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

note-taking app · Microsoft

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebook app from Microsoft with pen and touch drawing, live co-authoring and sync through OneDrive.

57/100

#7 of 10 note-taking apps
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

OneNote suits people who write or draw by hand and want free notebooks on every device1,3,7. Notebooks sync through OneDrive, keep an offline copy, and can be co-authored live3,4. The catch: notes stay in OneNote's own format, with no Markdown or HTML export of a whole notebook5.

Best for: People who write by hand or share notebooks with others.

Where the points come from

Systems22 of 25
Your data0 of 30
Features15 of 25
Price20 of 20

Systems 22 of 25 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
AppsWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, WebMicrosoft develops OneNote for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the web3.15 / 18
Works offlineYesAll versions keep a cached copy of notebooks so you can use them offline3.7 / 7

Your data 0 of 30 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Notes as plain filesNoNotebooks are stored in the cloud and export as OneNote files, not plain text3,5.0 / 10
Export everything to Markdown or HTMLNoA whole notebook exports only as a ZIP of OneNote files5.0 / 6
End-to-end encryptionNot publishedPassword-protected sections cannot be unlocked by Microsoft, but end-to-end encryption is not documented8.0 / 8
Open sourceNot published0 / 6

Features 15 of 25 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Web clipperYesThe free OneNote Web Clipper has extensions for Edge and Chrome6.5 / 5
Linked notesNot published0 / 5
Real-time collaborationYesOneNote syncs shared notebooks that several people co-author at the same time4.5 / 5
Tables and databasesNot published0 / 5
Handwriting and drawingYesDraw, sketch or write notes with a finger, a pen or a mouse7.5 / 5

Price 20 of 20 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free syncYesFree on web, iOS and Android, and cloud notebooks stay in sync across devices1,4.10 / 10
Cheapest paid plan$1.67/moMicrosoft 365 Basic, $19.99 a year, adds 100 GB of storage1.10 / 10

The rule behind each line: how we score note-taking apps.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
Free1 personFree1$0Free on web, iOS and Android with a Microsoft account
Microsoft 365 Basic1 person$19.99/year1$1.67$1.99 billed monthly; 100 GB of cloud storage
Microsoft 365 Personal1 person$99.99/year2$8.33$9.99 billed monthly; 1 TB of cloud storage, OneNote included

OneNote has no plan of its own; Microsoft 365 plans add cloud storage and other Office apps1,2.

Strengths

  • Free on the web, iOS and Android1.
  • Write, draw or sketch with a finger, stylus or mouse7.
  • Several people can co-author a shared notebook at the same time4.
  • Every version keeps a cached copy of notebooks, so you can work offline3.
  • The free Web Clipper saves web pages into OneNote from Edge and Chrome6.

Limits

  • A whole notebook exports only as a ZIP of OneNote files, not Markdown or HTML5.
  • Notebook export works only in OneNote for the web, for personal OneDrive accounts5.
  • Notebooks are stored in the cloud in OneNote's format, not as plain files3,5.
  • Microsoft lists apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the web, but not Linux3.

Other note-taking apps

  1. 1
    AnytypePeople who want Notion-style databases kept encrypted on their own devices
    76/100
    $4/mocheapest paid plan
  2. 2
    LogseqPeople who want linked notes as plain files they control
    72/100
    $5/mocheapest paid plan
  3. 3
    ObsidianPeople who want their notes as plain files they own
    71/100
    $4/mocheapest paid plan
  4. 4
    JoplinPeople who want free, open-source notes with encrypted sync
    67/100
    $2.67/mocheapest paid plan

All 10 note-taking apps

Sources

  1. Microsoft 365 for Individuals User Guide | Microsoft 365, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. Compare Microsoft 365 Plans & Pricing (Formerly Office 365) - Microsoft Store, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. Frequently Asked Questions about OneNote in Office 2019 and Microsoft 365, Microsoft Support. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. Sync a notebook in OneNote, Microsoft Support. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. Export OneNote notebooks, Microsoft Support. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. Getting Started with the OneNote Web Clipper, Microsoft Support. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. Draw and sketch notes in OneNote, Microsoft Support. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. Protect your notes with a password, Microsoft Support. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.onenote.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Microsoft.