Microsoft OneNote is one of the most popular note-taking tools, but it is primarily for Windows users, and limited functionality with Linux, macOS, Android, or iOS.
Microsoft OneNote. With a rating of 4.7 on the App Store from over 291.2K users, Microsoft. Believe it or not, the built-in Notes app on your iPhone and iPad can do more than just.
The Apple Pencil can be used in several of the Office apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. But, OneNote is also a useful app for recording handwritten text. This video shows how to work with the Pencil in all four of those apps, focusing mainly on OneNote. The app you’ve got: Apple Notes. Apple’s Notes app works quite well with an Apple Pencil, but it is.
If OneNote isn’t your cup of tea, We’ve handpicked 11 alternatives to OneNote for you to choose. Let’s get right into first.
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1. Evernote
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Even if you’ve never used it, you’ve probably heard of Evernote. It is probably the most popular note-taking app today. And we pick it as the first and best alternative to OneNote.
Firstly, it offers the same basic functionality as OneNote – the ability to create, organize and sync notes among multiple platforms, including Windows PCs, Macs, iPads and iPhones, Windows Phones, Android devices and the web.
Then, Evernote has a handful of features that support collaboration. Among them, you can share any notebook by right-clicking on it and selecting “share notebook.” Input the email addresses of those with whom you want to share your notebook and select the type of access permissions you want to grant them: view, edit or edit and invite.
Finally, Evernote has a handy chat feature that can be used to discuss notes.
Related Post:Evernote vs OneNote: The Best App for Note-Taking in 2020
Pros:
- Offline access
- Syncing across multiple platforms and devices
- Quick to capture notes and thoughts
- Sharing capabilities
- Easy to use layout
Cons:
- Web application has limited features especially with respect to images.
- No option to record audio and video directly from Evernote.
Pricing: Evernote Basic- Free, Evernote Premium- $69.99/year, and Evernote Business- $14.99/user/month.
2. Notion
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web
Notion is an all new task and project management tool which stands out different from the peers. It’s basically like a folder that contains everything you need such as documents, notes, tasks, wikis, database, and more to help you manage workload quite efficiently.
Pros:
- Allows flexible management of individual and team projects
- Easy on-boarding
- Provides for unrestricted access including offline
- Customizable and distraction free
Cons:
- Offline access is limited to only recently opened pages
- No handwriting support
Pricing: Notion has four pricing tiers—a Free plan, a Personal plan for $4 a month, a Team plan at $8 per member per month, and an Enterprise plan at $20 per member per month.
3. Google Keep
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
Google Keep is similar to OneNote but with a simpler approach. It lets you take down short notes with just a basic title and your note content. You can also choose to add an image to a note and color code each note.
Pros:
- Create notes and lists, set time and place reminders, and check off your completed tasks.
- Add a collaborator to your notes and lists, then get things done together.
- Search notes by automagically created topics.
- Integrated with Gmail and Chrome to easily create notes
- Access your notes on any device – synced automatically to your phone, tablet, watch, and laptop.
Cons:
- Google Keep is best for short notes or short-term notes. But if you have a long list of notes, it might be unmanageable.
- It never notifies when some new notes are added to the shared list.
- You may notice some problems with syncing data between devices
Pricing: Free
4. Apple Notes
Platforms: iPhone/iPad/Mac
OneNote is default for Windows users. Similarly, as for Apple users, Apple Notes is the default option for them. Starting with Apple Notes, the software allows you to create multiple notebooks. You can create sub-notebooks inside it. When editing a note, you can choose from Title, Headings, Subheading, Monospaced, Bullet list, and Numbered list. Users can also integrate photos and documents inside a note.
Pros:
- Nativity with iOS
- Simple yet useful app
Cons:
- There is no way to tag;
Pricing: Free
5. Notability
Platforms: iOS, macOS, Android, Chrome, and Windows
Notability is a powerful note-taker to annotate documents, sketch ideas, record lectures, take notes and more. It combines, typing, handwriting, audio recording, and photos so you can create notes that fit your needs.
Pros:
- Audio recording
- Vertical and horizontal scrolling
- Change size and color of pen after it’s written
- Color picker tool, making it super easy to match your pens to your planner colors
- Can add gifs
- Syncs with iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox and works perfectly
Cons:
- Can’t select all pages or move multiple pages at once
- Can’t open 2 planners at once
- No conversion from handwriting to text
Pricing: $8.99 on iOS / $4.99 macOS/In-app purchases in the Notability shop.
6. GoodNotes
Platforms: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices
GoodNotes is a note-taking app, but it’s nothing like note-taking apps you’re used to using. It isn’t meant to be used for typing (though you can type). It’s specifically designed as a handwriting app so you can use your Apple Pencil or another stylus. You can create sketches for presentation, annotate PDFs that you’ve imported, and even search all of your notes — handwritten, typed, or imported as a PDF. Here are dozens of paper styles, including lined paper in a variety of sizes, dotted paper, grids, column pages for accounting, and more.
Pros:
- Three custom pen colors always available and just one tap to switch between them
- Pictures inserted into the notes are able to be moved around
- The *NEW* unlimited organization of notebooks within folders
- THE SEARCH FEATURE!
Cons:
- The pages don’t auto-lock to the width of the screen.
- The developers do not let you decide the backup file format.
- There is no voice recording function.
Pricing: GoodNotes 5 costs $7.99. If you previously purchased a prior version of the app, there is a Complete My Bundle option that lets you just pay the difference between whatever you previously paid and $7.99.
7. Simplenote
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Simplenote is another good alternative to OneNote. It offers markdown support, cross-platform apps, and can be accessed through most web browsers. On Simplenote, users are permitted to record an almost unlimited number of text-based notes on the platform. Once the note has been composed, it can be pinned to the top of a list for immediate access.
Pros:
- Simple and clean UI
- Markdown support that allows users to write, preview, and publish notes
- Instant searching through tags
- Users are allowed to export data
- Collaborative features to work together
Cons:
- No reminder
- No social media integration
- Poor save-to-disk feature
Pricing: Free
8. Zoho Notebook
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Zoho Notebook sets itself apart by allowing you to incorporate graphics, colors, and photos into your notes. If you’re a visual person, using these features to store your notes will help simplify the organization of your data. You can also add multiple types of media to your notes, including audio, checklists, and files.
Pros:
- Audio notes
- Cloud Syncing
- Pre-built checklist
- Completely free and ad-free
Cons:
- No text formatting
- Lacks some features like tag search
Pricing: Free
9. Bear
Platform: iOS, Mac, Apple Watch
This simple note-taking app was released in 2016 and has quickly become one of the most popular tools of its kind thanks to its simplicity and clean, intuitive UI. Also, It features powerful Markdown capability and an excellent writing experience.
Pros:
- Multiple themes and rich previews
- To-dos and Hashtags
- Focus mode
- Multiple export options
- Advanced Markup Editor
Cons:
- No tabs, so you can view only one note at a time
- Only available for Apple devices
Pricing: Free or $1.49 monthly and $14.99 annually
10. Laverna
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Web
Laverna is a JavaScript note taking application with Markdown editor and encryption support.
Laverna’s main selling point is its focus on privacy. Your notes are never stored on the company’s servers. However, you can store your data on Dropbox or RemoteStorage if you want to sync across devices. It’s also possible to set a password that’ll encrypt your notes, too.
Pros:
- All notes are written in Markdown with a live preview window
- It has three levels of organization; profiles, notebooks, and tags
- It has distraction-free editing mode
Cons:
- Cannot drag and drop images for upload
- A few bugs in the system
Pricing: Free
11. Turtl
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Turtl is a secure OneNote alternative. It lets you take notes, bookmark websites, and store documents for sensitive projects. From sharing passwords with your coworkers to tracking research on an article you’re writing, Turtl keeps it all safe from everyone but you and those you share with.
Pros:
- Turtl stores your info encrypted
- You can easily share boards of bookmarks & notes you can synch files & images it’s cross platform & free
Cons:
- Limited storage on its free plan
Onenote Apple Pencil To Text
Pricing: Turtl has a free to use plan that allows you to store up to 50mb of data and it’s paid plans start at $3 a month.
Summary: Best OneNote Alternative
To wrap it up, there are many note-taking apps are better than OneNote for specific tasks you’re doing.
Evernote is still the top pick for most people who looking for a OneNote alternative. Its vast feature set ensures that it does everything well enough and has the fewest quirks
For Mac and iOS users, Apple Notes and Bear might be good OneNote alternatives.
If you focus on privacy and data security, Laverna and Turtl are good choices.
Finally, the true best OneNote alternative is the one that fits your needs.
Before you begin
- Make sure that you have the Apple Pencil model that works with your iPad.
- You might need to charge your Apple Pencil and pair your Apple Pencil with your iPad before you can use it.
Draw with Apple Pencil
Open an app, like the Notes app. With iPadOS, move the tool palette around the screen or minimize it so you have more space to draw and sketch. The tool palette has different tools, depending on the app you're using. Use the ruler tool to create straight lines, then rotate them with your fingers. Made a mistake? You can erase by object or even by pixel.
To draw in the Notes app:
- Open Notes.
- Tap to start a new note.
- Start drawing with your Apple Pencil.
You can also start by tapping to open the tool palette. Choose from several drawing tools and colors, and switch to the eraser if you make a mistake. Double-tap the eraser to view erasing options on your iPad. When you draw, you can tilt your Apple Pencil to shade a line and press more firmly to darken the line. You can drag the tool palette to a different edge of the screen. Tap to auto-minimize the tool palette and see more options.
Learn more about drawing with the Notes app.
Drawing near the edge of the screen with your Apple Pencil won't activate Control Center, Notification Center, or Multitasking. You can draw anywhere on the screen without getting interrupted.
Write with Apple Pencil
You can write a note with your Apple Pencil in Notes and other apps. With iOS 14, you can write with your Apple Pencil in any text field.* You can convert your handwriting to text. And you can use a handwritten phone number, date, or address as if you had typed it.
Write in any text field with Scribble
You can use your iPad and Apple Pencil to write by hand in any text field, like the search field in Safari or a text field in Mail.* All handwriting and conversion to text happens on your iPad, keeping your writing private and secure.
You can learn how to delete, select, insert, and join words using Scribble by going to Settings > Apple Pencil and tapping Try Scribble.
Convert your handwritten notes to text
You can convert your handwriting* in two ways:
- You can write with the pen farthest from the ruler, which has an 'A' on it. Your handwriting will convert automatically to text as you write.
- If you already have some handwritten notes, you can select the notes and convert them to text:
- Double-tap or touch and hold a word you want to select. Select more words by sweeping your finger over them. You can triple-tap to select an entire line of words.
- Tap the selected words.
- In the menu that appears, tap Copy as Text.
- Paste the text elsewhere in the same document or in another app.
Use handwritten phone numbers, dates, addresses, and more
- Tap a number, date, address, or other recognized data that you've written. It will have an underline.*
- Choose what you want to do, like call the number or create an event.
Draw perfect shapes
You can perfect a lopsided circle or leaning square. Here's how:
- Draw a shape by hand, like a circle, square, or star, using a single stroke.
- When you finish the shape, pause with the tip of your Apple Pencil on the screen. The shape you drew will be replaced by a perfect one.
Double-tap Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
On an Apple Pencil (2nd generation), you can double-tap near the tip of your Apple Pencil to quickly switch back to the tool you used last. To change your settings for double-tap, go to Settings > Apple Pencil, then choose:
- Switch between current tool and eraser
- Switch between current tool and last used
- Show color palette
- Off
Onenote Ios Scribble
Double-tap works only in supported apps, like Notes.
Learn more
- Use Markup in apps like Mail, Messages, and Photos to add drawings, text, and shapes with your iPad and Apple Pencil. For example, you can add a signature to a PDF.
- Learn how to create an instant note from the Lock screen or pick up where you left off on your last note.
Onenote Apple Pencil Lag
* This feature is available only in English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese with iPadOS 14 or later.