Free Microsoft OneNote alternatives
Top Note-taking & Knowledge Bases like Microsoft OneNote
The most popular alternative to Microsoft OneNote is Evernote, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Microsoft OneNote are Notion, Apple Notes, Google Keep, and Obsidian.
Most alternatives to Microsoft OneNote are in the Note-taking & Knowledge Bases category, compared here by price, platform and features.
All Microsoft OneNote alternatives
Evernote is a long-standing note-taking app, owned by Bending Spoons since 2023, that stores notes, web clips, PDFs, scans and audio in notebooks with tags and full-text search, including text inside images. Recent versions add tasks, calendar integration and AI features, while the free plan has become very limited compared with the paid tiers.
12 Evernote alternativesPros
- Mature web clipper and full-text search, even inside images
- Stores notes, PDFs, scans and audio in one place
- Tasks and calendar integration alongside notes
Cons
- The free plan is very limited compared with paid tiers
- Paid plans are expensive compared with many note apps
- Apps can feel heavier and slower than lighter note tools
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesNotion combines notes, documents, databases and project management in a flexible block-based workspace, with an integrated AI assistant.
17 Notion alternativesPros
- Docs, wikis and databases combined in one flexible workspace
- Large template gallery for roadmaps, trackers and wikis
- Real-time collaboration with comments, mentions and an API
Cons
- Databases and relations take time to master
- Offline access is limited compared with local-first apps
- Large workspaces can feel slow to load
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesApple Notes is the free notes app included with iPhone, iPad and Mac, synced through iCloud and also reachable on the web at iCloud.com. It handles checklists, tables, Apple Pencil sketches, document scanning and searchable text in images, plus shared notes and folders, tags, smart folders and locked notes.
9 Apple Notes alternativesPros
- Free and built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Document scanning, Pencil sketches and text search inside images
- Shared notes and folders with real-time collaboration
Cons
- No native apps for Windows or Android, only iCloud.com
- Fewer organization options than dedicated knowledge tools
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryCategoriesGoogle Keep is a free note app for quick thoughts, checklists, voice memos and photos, shown as colorful cards that can be pinned, labeled and shared. Reminders can be tied to a time or a place, text can be extracted from images, and notes are available from Gmail, Google Docs and Android devices.
8 Google Keep alternativesPros
- Fast capture of notes, checklists, voice memos and photos
- Reminders tied to a time or a place
- Integrated with Gmail, Google Docs and Android
Cons
- No desktop app outside the browser
- Limited formatting makes it a poor fit for long documents
- Organization relies on labels only, with no folders or nesting
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryPlatformsObsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files on your device, links them into a knowledge graph and extends with a large plugin ecosystem.
17 Obsidian alternativesPros
- Notes are plain Markdown files stored on your device
- Large ecosystem of community plugins and themes
- Graph view and backlinks for connected notes
Cons
- Official sync and publishing are paid add-ons
- Plugin-heavy setups take time to configure and maintain
- No real-time collaboration on notes
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesJoplin is an open source note-taking app with Markdown notes, notebooks, end-to-end encrypted sync and a web clipper.
11 Joplin alternativesPros
- Open source, with Markdown notes stored in an open format
- End-to-end encrypted sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV or Joplin Cloud
- Web clipper and plugins extend the core app
Cons
- Interface feels dated next to newer note apps
- Sync setup takes more effort than turnkey services
- No web app for reaching your notes from a browser
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesUpNote is a note-taking app with a clean editor, notebooks, tags and links between notes, available on the web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. Notes are stored locally for offline use and synced across devices, with a web clipper and Markdown shortcuts. The free version is capped at a small number of notes, and Premium can be bought once or as a subscription.
11 UpNote alternativesPros
- Clean editor with notebooks, tags and links between notes
- Apps on every platform, including Linux and the web
- Premium is available as a one-time purchase
Cons
- The free version is capped at a small number of notes
- No shared notebooks or real-time collaboration
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesCraft is a document and note-taking app with a native, polished design on Mac, iPhone and iPad, also available on Windows and the web. Notes are built from blocks and nested pages with backlinks, can be shared as public web pages or edited together in real time, and include AI writing help, tasks and daily notes.
12 Craft alternativesPros
- Polished native design on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Block-based pages can be shared as public web pages
- Real-time collaboration plus built-in AI writing help
Cons
- The experience is best on Apple devices, other platforms feel secondary
- Advanced features and AI usage are reserved for paid plans
- Less suited to large databases than Notion-style tools
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryMicrosoft Whiteboard is a freeform digital canvas for sketching, brainstorming and teaching together, with pen and touch input, sticky notes, templates and reactions. It is built into Microsoft Teams meetings, saves boards to OneDrive, and is free with a Microsoft account on the web, Windows, iOS and Android.
8 Microsoft Whiteboard alternativesPros
- Free with a Microsoft account on web, Windows and mobile
- Built into Microsoft Teams meetings
- Natural pen and touch input for sketching
Cons
- Fewer templates and integrations than Miro or Mural
- No native Mac app, only the web version
- Best suited to teams in the Microsoft ecosystem
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryCategories
Microsoft OneNote vs its alternatives at a glance
Pricing, platforms and the key features of Microsoft OneNote, compared with its most popular alternatives.
| App | Pricing | Platforms | Cross-device sync | OCR | Offline mode | Real-time collaboration | Web clipper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Microsoft OneNote | Free | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Browser extension | |||||
 Evernote | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Browser extension | |||||
 Notion | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Apple Notes | Free | Web, Mac, iPhone | |||||
 Google Keep | Free | Web, iPhone, Android, Browser extension | |||||
 Obsidian | Freemium | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android |
Microsoft OneNote alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
The most popular alternative to Microsoft OneNote is Evernote: Note-taking app to capture, organize and search everything. Other great alternatives are Notion, Apple Notes, Google Keep, and Obsidian.
Is there a free alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
Yes, 9 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Evernote, Notion, Apple Notes, and Google Keep.
Is there an open source alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
Yes, one open source alternative is listed: Joplin.
Is Microsoft OneNote free?
Yes, Microsoft OneNote is free to use.
Compare Microsoft OneNote with its alternatives
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