13 Best OneNote Alternative To Capture Notes, Ideas and Memos

There is no better way to say this, but we all have forgotten to take important notes or forgotten tons of things by the end of the day.

It is not always easy to write everything on a sticky note or set up a reminder for everything on your device. You may need a tool or software that can manage everything.

OneNote is an exceptional tool to serve all your purposes and is also free. But it is primarily for Windows users only and limited functionality with Linux, macOS, Android, or iOS.

So, we have made a list of some of the best OneNote alternatives you can use if this does not satisfy your needs.

Using any digital notebook can pose a huge advantage not only for professionals but also for any individual.

It can be used for taking notes at home while shopping for groceries, making a to-do list, having ease of use, lesser paperwork involved, and a lot of other long-term benefits.

The most significant advantage of using such notebooks is that you can easily share them with your friends or family and collaborate for greater benefits.

Let us have a look at the top OneNote Alternative:

Best OneNote Alternative – Our Top Picks👌

1. Evernote – Top OneNote Alternative in Note Taking

Evernote is the most popular and best OneNote alternative note-taking tool. This application is available on every platform and is highly compatible with every operating system.

Moreover, Evernote is easy to use, and the user interface has been made user-friendly and highly intuitive.

If you are wondering why anyone would need an application for taking notes, Evernote is more than just note-taking.

It is used to organize, manage, arrange, visualize, and create better ideas by collecting every piece of information you may have.

This cross-platform is excellent for personal use and everyone looking to organize work in their business.

One of the most noticeable features of Evernote is that you can easily share the notebooks with your family, friends, colleagues, etc. 

This will further allow better collaboration and smooth functioning of any such operations. Evernote is free of cost but only for a limited space.

You may have to get access to the premium version for your business or even some advanced features that can be put to great use.

Some other noticeable features are web-clipper, audio notes, text input, images, password-protected notes, etc.

Pros:-

1. Highly secure and trustworthy
2. Compatible with every platform
3. OCR functionality to convert images to searchable text
4. Easy integration with third-party apps
5. Multiple themes are available to create notes.

Cons:-

1. Difficult to re-order notes
2. Limited features on free account

OneNote vs Evernote:-

Here’s a detailed table comparing OneNote and Evernote based on their features:-

Feature	OneNote	Evernote
Platforms	Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web	Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web
Note-taking	Allows free-form note-taking with handwriting, drawing, and typing options	Allows free-form note-taking with handwriting, drawing, and typing options
Organization	Uses a notebook-section-page hierarchy for organizing notes	Uses a notebook-note-tag hierarchy for organizing notes
Search	Offers powerful search capabilities with natural language recognition	Offers powerful search capabilities with natural language recognition
Syncing	Synchronizes notes across all devices instantly	Synchronizes notes across all devices instantly
Collaboration	Allows real-time collaboration with others on notes	Allows real-time collaboration with others on notes
Integration	Integrates with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel	Integrates with many third-party apps such as Slack, Google Drive, and more
Audio Recording	Allows audio recording within notes	Allows audio recording within notes
Image Recognition	Offers image recognition for searching handwritten notes	Offers image recognition for searching handwritten notes
Price	Free for basic use, requires a subscription for advanced features and use	Free for basic use, requires subscription for advanced features and use

10 Evernote Hacks & Tips

2. Google Keep – OneNote Alternative To Capture Ideas

Google has always taken a high road in every niche and is not far behind in providing an excellent note-taking tool.

Google Keep is a simple-to-use and suitable alternative to OneNote. No one can deny the security of the application’s content and its features for every user.

The best part of this OneNote Alternative you will love is that all the notes you may take are arranged beautifully on colored cards.

You can easily identify every word on it with clarity and an easy view.

This tool is available on your Android as well as iOS devices. You can also access web-based applications or add them as your chrome extension.

You can use Google Keep to share your notes, notebooks and images, web clippers, etc., with whoever you want.

It is free of cost, and all the features are free entirely. Furthermore, it is integrated with Google Drive, and all your data is synced directly.

Pros:-

1. Unlimited and seamless sync across every Google-connected platforms
2. Saves all the files automatically
3. Notes are color-coded and grouped via labels
4. Supports drawing and writing notes by hand
5. Free of cost

Cons:-

1. No text formatting is available
2. Label limit up to 50 only

OneNote vs Google Keep:-

Here’s a detailed table comparing OneNote and Google Keep:-

Feature	OneNote	Google Keep
Price	Free, with premium features available with Microsoft 365	Free
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web	Android, iOS, Web
Note-Taking	Allows text, handwriting, images, audio, and video notes	Allows text, images, and audio notes
Organization	Notebooks, Sections, Pages, and Subpages	Labels, Colors, and Reminders
Collaboration	Share notebooks with others for editing	Share notes with others for viewing or editing
Synchronization	Syncs across all devices automatically	Syncs across all devices automatically
Search	Robust search capabilities with advanced filtering	Basic search capabilities
Integration	Integrates with Microsoft Office, OneDrive, and Outlook	Integrates with Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Tasks
Security	Offers password-protected sections and pages	Offers password-protected notes and fingerprint unlocking
Productivity Tools	Offers various formatting options and drawing tools	Allows users to set reminders and create to-do lists
Customization	Customizable interface with various color schemes	Customizable backgrounds and notes with different colors

How to use Google Keep Notes like a Pro! (Tips & Tutorial)

3. SimpleNote

SimpleNote, as the name speaks, is a rather simple yet sophisticated note-taking app, popular for its easy-to-use interface.

There aren’t loads of features that make the application very light and also help you keep your entire focus on simply taking down notes.

We all agree with how complicated OneNote could be at times, with tons of features involved. And if you have been looking for a rather simple approach, SimpleNote does the job perfectly.

Like Google Keep, this tool is free of cost and has no hidden charges. It is also highly compatible with iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, and web-based applications.

All your notes are arranged according to the dates to keep everything organized and managed effectively. Also, it is advisable not to exceed the word limit of each note above 1000 since it will be easier to sync the content smoothly on the cloud.

Furthermore, Evernote allows you to easily share your notebook with friends or others. You can also use email or social media platforms to share the notes.

Pros:-

1. Available offline and work efficiently
2. Web Interface supports Markdown format
3. Open-source application
4. Easily export data like text documents
5. Ease of use and clean interface

Cons:-

1. It does not support file attachments.
2. No reminder feature is available.

OneNote vs SimpleNote:-

Feature	OneNote	Simplenote
Platforms	Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web	Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Web
Note Types	Text, handwriting, images, audio, video, files, and more	Text only
Organization	Hierarchical notebooks, sections, pages, and sub-pages	Tagging and search only
Collaboration	Real-time collaboration with others	Sharing notes via email or link
Syncing	Automatic syncing across devices and platforms	Automatic syncing across devices and platforms
Pricing	Free, with some features limited; Premium plans available with more features	Free and open-source
User Interface	Feature-rich and customizable	Simple and minimalistic
Integration	Integration with Microsoft Office suite	Integration with some third-party apps
Security	Password protection and encryption	Two-factor authentication and encryption

4. Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workplace to write, collaborate, plan, and organize every little feature you have been looking for.

This tool is specially used by many businesses and organizations to keep their notes organized and all the employees informed by collaboration.

This tool is the best OneNote alternative and works perfectly well if you want to take notes and create docs. Notion can offer 30+ media-type options replacing your need for Google Docs and Evernote.

With the need to manage every task and project of your team, this tool helps you further with the Kanban board, calendar, and list views.

The drag-and-drop feature adds more to this tool, helping to organize your notes smoothly.

It is available on macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS for a simpler workflow and greater compatibility. One of the best aspects of this tool is that any user can easily create a dashboard and transfer all the services directly to it.

Pros:-

1. Content storage is flexible and organized
2. Excellent for Wikis
3. Available on multiple platforms
4. Attach files easily in table files
5. Renders Markdown syntax

Cons:-

1. The interface is not intuitive
2. Markdown table not available

OneNote vs Notion:-

Here is a detailed comparison table between OneNote and Notion:-

Feature	OneNote	Notion
Pricing	Free, with the option to upgrade to Microsoft 365 Personal or Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions.	Free for personal use, with the option to upgrade to a paid plan for advanced features.
User Interface	OneNote has a traditional note-taking interface with notebooks, sections, and pages. Users can create notes with text, images, and drawings and organize them using tabs and tags.	OneNote allows users to share their notebooks with others and collaborate in real-time on notes and pages.
Collaboration	Notion has robust collaboration features, including sharing pages and databases with others and collaborating in real time. Users can also set permissions for individual team members and comment on pages to discuss specific details.	OneNote integrates with Microsoft Office Suite and has native Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS apps. It also integrates with third-party apps like Zapier, Evernote, and IFTTT.
Integrations	OneNote’s robust search function allows users to search for specific keywords and phrases within their notes. Users can also organize their notes using notebooks, sections, and pages, and add tags to help with searchability.	Notion integrates with various third-party apps, including Google Drive, Trello, Slack, and Asana. It also has native Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS apps.
Organization and Search	OneNote has a robust search function that allows users to search for specific keywords and phrases within their notes. Users can also organize their notes using notebooks, sections, and pages, and add tags to help with searchability.	Notion has a powerful search function, allowing users to search all their pages and databases for specific keywords and phrases. Users can also organize their pages using tags, and filter their databases to find specific information. Notion also has a feature called “Linked Databases,” which allows users to connect related databases and pages, making it easier to find information across their workspace.
Task Management	OneNote has some basic task management features, such as the ability to create to-do lists and checklists within notes.	Notion has robust task management features, including the ability to create project boards, task lists, and kanban boards. Users can also set due dates, assign tasks to team members, and track progress using various view options.
Templates and Customization	OneNote has a limited number of templates for users to choose from, and limited customization options for the interface.	Notion has a wide variety of templates for users to choose from, including project management templates, meeting notes templates, and more. Users can also customize their workspace to fit their needs.

Top 15 Notion Tips for Beginners

5. Laverna

Regarding providing the best security, Laverna is way better than OneNote by Microsoft. Many users are unsure about their notes being in the right hands and may not be satisfied with the tech giant’s security measures.

Laverna is an open-source note-taking application available on GitHub. You are welcome on board to contribute to this tool and suggest necessary changes.

This tool is available on Linux, Windows, macOS, and self-hosted servers. You may not be able to get your hands on the Android version, but it will soon be available on your smartphones.

It also has a Markdown editor, allowing users to write faster and create better content. Moreover, its distraction-free feature keeps you away from the editor.

Since you can sync all your data using Dropbox or Remote Storage accounts, this tool is accessible anytime from any device.

Laverna makes it easy for people to export the docs to their friends or colleagues, and with the help, you can easily get it back through its import.

Pros:-

1. Provides end-to-end encryption
2. Real-time preview of texts
3. Includes Markdown editing features
4. Password protected vaults
5. Uses remote storage for better security

Cons:-

1. No Android app is available yet
2. Pictures cannot be resized

OneNote vs Laverna:-

Here’s a detailed table comparing OneNote and Laverna:-

Feature	OneNote	Laverna
Platform	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web	Web
Price	Free with limited features, $6.99/month for premium	Free
Interface	User-friendly, visually appealing	Minimalistic
Organization	Hierarchical notebook and section structure	Notebooks, tags, and categories
Collaboration	Real-time collaboration with others	No collaboration features
Formatting	Extensive formatting options including tables and charts	Limited formatting options
Syncing	Automatic syncing across devices	No syncing
Encryption	Password protection and encryption of sections	AES-256 encryption of notes
Integration	Integrates with Microsoft Office and other Microsoft products	No integrations
Audio/Video	Supports audio and video recordings	No audio or video support
Handwriting	Supports digital inking and handwriting recognition	No handwriting support
Storage	5GB of free storage on OneDrive, can purchase additional storage	No storage provided
Export	Can export notes to various formats, including PDF and Word	Can export notes as plain text
OCR	Supports OCR for scanned documents	No OCR support
Mobile App	Available for Android and iOS	No mobile app

6. Zoho Notebook

Zoho Notebook is a part of Zoho that provides you with a platform for free note-taking.

This tool is a great OneNote alternative since it is free of cost and has many features. Apart from all the others we have come across, Zoho Notebook is the best-looking tool.

There are no hidden advertisements whatsoever, and everything has been kept free of cost to benefit every user. It is also very easy to link the notebook to the cloud and sync all the data.

You can create a notebook and take necessary notes on the platform on the colorful cards. Unlike Laverna, you can create text notes, put up voice notes, add images, and a lot more.

This tool is available on all platforms, i.e., Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web apps. Every platform is highly compatible and has no issues or lags whatsoever.

The best way to use it for your grocery list or academics is through your smartphones. Easy to edit and make necessary changes.

Pros:-

1. Easy to use and navigate
2. Cloud sync
3. Pre-built checklist and audio notes
4. Unlimited devices and ad-free
5. Excellent UI

Cons:-

1. No desktop client
2. No note tagging

OneNote vs Zoho Notebook:-

Here’s a detailed comparison table between OneNote and Zoho Notebook:-

Feature	OneNote	Zoho Notebook
Pricing	Free for basic features; Premium plan for advanced features	Free for basic features; Premium plan for advanced features
Platforms	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Note-taking	Supports text, images, audio, video, handwriting	Supports text, images, audio, video, handwriting
Organization	Uses a hierarchical notebook structure	Uses a card-based system with tags and notebooks
Collaboration	Can share notes with others and collaborate in real-time	It uses a card-based system with tags and notebooks
Integration	Integrates with Microsoft Office apps and services	Integrates with Zoho’s suite of productivity tools
Syncing	Syncs across all devices automatically	Syncs across all devices automatically
Security	Offers password protection and encryption	Offers password protection and encryption
OCR	Has built-in OCR technology to extract text from images	Has built-in OCR technology to extract text from images
Handwriting	Supports digital ink and handwriting recognition	Supports digital ink and handwriting recognition
Searchability	Provides powerful search capabilities	Provides powerful search capabilities
Web Clipping	Can clip and save web pages as notes	Can clip and save web pages as notes
Third-party apps	Has a wide range of third-party integrations	Has a limited number of third-party integrations
Customer support	Offers online support and community forums	Offers online support and community forums

Notebook

7. Bear

The Bear app can be the best thing you may have seen for all Apple users. It is strictly designed for the Apple OS and devices like iPad, iPhones, and Macs.

This tool has been designed perfectly well and won many awards after its launch. 

Bear is a multi-operational platform that can take notes or create notebooks and organize and manage your work effectively.

Some additional well-known features are the focus mode and the markup options to edit the documents in the best way possible. 

Unlike other apps, it has gorgeous themes and typography to make your notes unique. Bear has taken the necessary steps to secure all the app’s content.

You can effectively set a password, Face ID, or Touch ID to lock the content. Some options to export the notes include HTML, PDF, DOCX, MD, JPG, and more.

Pros:-

1. Encrypt individual notes and lock the app
2. Multi-device sync with iCloud
3. Multiple themes available
4. Advanced Markup Editor
5. Loads of export options

Cons:-

1. Not entirely free
2. Only for apple users

OneNote vs Bear app:-

Feature	OneNote	Bear app
Platforms	Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web	Mac, iOS, iPadOS
Price	Free (basic features), $6.99/month (premium features)	Free (basic features), $1.49/month (premium features)
Note-taking features	Rich text editing, handwriting support, drawing tools, audio and video recording, ink-to-text conversion, templates, integration with other Microsoft Office apps	Rich text editing, Markdown support, hashtags, to-do lists, attachments, sketching, focus mode
Organization	Notebooks, sections, pages, tags	Mac, iOS, iPad
Syncing	Syncs across devices using OneDrive	Syncs across devices using iCloud or Dropbox
Collaboration	Co-authoring, sharing, commenting, version history	Sharing via Bear notes or PDF, commenting
Security	Password protection, encryption	Password protection, Face ID/Touch ID lock
Integrations	Microsoft Office, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, third-party integrations via Zapier	Third-party integrations via Zapier
Unique features	Tags, nested tags, cross-note linking, saved searches, drag-and-drop organization.	Hashtags and focus mode, Markdown support

8. Turtl

Turtl is a note-taking tool similar to Laverna and focuses on giving its users enough privacy.

With the help of this tool, you can create notes, bookmarks, research papers, logs, docs, etc. All the above are secured in a vault provided by the application that is password protected.

The password is highly encrypted, and the vault can only be accessed with a genuine key. To access the files easily, you can sync all the documents on your device, which can be viewed on other devices.

Furthermore, even though it is private or secure, you can easily share it with your colleagues, family, or friends. Using tags on the content has made it highly beneficial for users to get on with the content they need to access easily.

OneNote does not support the Markdown format, while Turtl and others support this feature. It makes the writing smooth with an excellent font style available. Moreover, Turtl is open-source, and many more changes can be made.

Pros:-

1. Excellent privacy and security
2. Available on multiple platforms
3. Open-source application
4. Great UI
5. Easy to use

Cons:-

1. No iOS app is available
2. Not available when offline

OneNote vs Turtl:-

Here’s a detailed table comparing OneNote and Turtl:-

Feature	OneNote	Turtl
Price	Free with limitations	Free and open source
Cross-platform	Yes, available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Web	Yes, available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android
User interface	User-friendly and intuitive interface with a ribbon-style menu	Simple and easy-to-use interface with a modern design
Note-taking	Supports text, images, audio, and video notes	Supports text, images, and attachments
Organization	Provides hierarchical notebooks and pages	Uses tags and categories to organize notes
Collaboration	Allows real-time collaboration with multiple users	No real-time collaboration, but notes can be shared with others
Security	Provides password protection and encryption	Provides end-to-end encryption and requires a master password
Synchronization	It provides end-to-end encryption and requires a master password	Synchronizes across all devices with an internet connection
Integration	Integrates with Microsoft Office apps and other tools	Integrates with Firefox and Chrome browsers
Privacy	Stores data on Microsoft servers	Stores data locally or on user-chosen cloud storage
Customization	Allows customization of font, color, and style	Limited customization options
Import/Export	Supports importing and exporting of notes in various formats	Supports exporting of notes in plain text format
Availability	Available in multiple languages	Available in multiple languages

9. Cinta Notes

We have another OneNote alternative application specially designed for Windows users. Cinta Notes is a brilliant note-taking application available in installer and portable versions.

The design has been kept minimal and rather simple to reduce the load off the site.

Once you visit the site, you can select for yourself among the multiple options. It is free of cost but only carries the basic features in this package. If you are comfortable spending a small amount, choose the Pro or Lifetime Pro.

All the paid versions have everything you need in a tool other than just taking notes. Professionals or other businesses using the paid version can be more beneficial.

With the help of CintaNotes, you can easily capture any form of text from the web or any application. No special plugin function will be needed; you must highlight the text and transfer it to CintaNotes.

Using this tool, you can easily search words, texts, tags, notes, etc., with the help of the search query index. It also backups up all the notes in your notebooks each hour, daily, or even weekly.

Pros:-

1. Lightweight and highly effective
2. Excellent note section
3. Tagging system for easier search
4. Supports Google Drive, DropBox, or SugarSync
5. Portable version available

Cons:-

1. Only for Windows users
2. Copy and pasting images is not possible directly

10. WorkFlowy

WorkFlowy is a much simpler and more direct approach to list-making & taking notes. You can grab the web and the mobile application on your devices for better access.

There aren’t any complications regarding how to use or many features that can create chaos. You can easily create a grocery or shopping list and share it with your family or friends afterward.

This tool is available for free for every user but has limited features. You can list your groceries with a limit of only 250 entries per month.

It may seem a lot, but this may not be the best if you are a regular shopper or anything. You can go for the paid version, which surely has every feature and benefit you can grab.

It is a quick web app and provides distraction-free note-taking features that will help you keep up with your work hassle-free. There are options to try out the keyboard shortcuts on the web app, making things a lot easier for you.

Furthermore, the application has a stunning design, making it even more favorable even though it is not entirely free.

All the data synced on one device can be viewed easily on all the other compatible devices.

Pros:-

1. Simple yet powerful UI
2. Easy to share lists and collaborate
3. Compatible on multiple platforms
4. Searchable and expandable
5. Easy to structure the lists and notes

Cons:-

1. Color formatting is not available
2. Multi-tagging not allowed

11. SynapBook

SynapBook is an exceptional knowledge management tool useful for creating notes or lists for free.

The content and all your notebook data are saved on the cloud, which can be accessed from any compatible device anytime. This tool is similar to Evernote, OneNote, Google Keep, and other applications.

It has personalized hotkeys to make your work easier while taking notes. You will find a specific toolbar with multiple features to help you edit and create your groceries list.

Unlike other tools, it supports different font styles, colors, formatting, and other text modifications. One important feature that sets it apart from others is the use of colored boxes to separate the content from each other.

SynapBook is available on Windows and Android. The company is still looking to make the app compatible with Linux and Mac, and maybe for iOS users.

Apart from data being stored on the cloud, it is also stored locally, which can help you access it much faster.

Pros:-

1. Structure the notes in tree form
2. Excellent User Interface for Memo
3. Supports Offline Mode
4. Available for free

Cons:-

1. Not available on iOS

12. BoostNote

BoostNote is the last resort we list here among the best OneNote Alternative. It is an open-source application available on GitHub, where you can easily contribute to this tool.

Being one of the best note-taking applications, it is an excellent choice for all developers and can be downloaded on Windows, macOS, and Linux OS. You can even download it on Android and iOS devices for better access.

One of this tool’s most significant aspects is writing or editing notes offline. All the data will be saved locally, which you can access anytime.

It is free of cost on every platform but with limited storage space. At the same time, you can go for the premium subscription by paying a small amount and getting unlimited space for storage.

BoostNote is equipped with multiple themes and color schemes that you can use to make your application even more interesting.

It can even highlight code snippets in more than 100 languages, making it even more favorable for developers who can understand code better than most.

Pros:-

1. Open-source applications
2. Supports multiple platforms
3. Excellent for developers
4. Includes tag and search feature
5. Supports Markdown editing

Cons:-

1. Uses third-party tools for syncing
2. Syncing is poor

📗FAQ

Final Words

OneNote is still considered one of the best note-taking tools available on every platform. But many other options are also available, sometimes making it less favorable.

We have mentioned the best OneNote alternative in the list above, and still, there are many more that you have been using.

Considering the most intuitive and stable applications, such as the ones mentioned above, you can easily pick out anyone and start working on them. If you want a free or premium option, everything has been listed with the best of both worlds.

It is also recommended to stick to the names as given since we have thoroughly reviewed them and made sure it is curated according to which would suit you the best.

In a good tool, you must look for a simple-to-use interface and easily understandable features. Using the tools on your devices is a better option, especially if you are making a list of your groceries, which would be difficult to open up the system and start typing. Make the right choice.