Onenote is a dynamic note-taking and information management software by Microsoft. It enables users to capture, organize, and share ideas across multiple devices and platforms. With its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and integration with other Microsoft products, Onenote facilitates easy creation and access to notes, documents, and multimedia content. It's an essential tool for enhancing productivity and fostering effective collaboration in both personal and professional environments.

  • 01Pros and cons from reviewers
  • 02Main features
  • 03What is OneNote?
  • 04How OneNote compare to similar software?
  • 05Who is OneNote best for according to our reviewers?
  • 06OneNote Reviews

What is OneNote?

OneNote is a digital note-taking software developed by Microsoft. It provides a user-friendly platform for users to capture, organize, and share their ideas. This productivity tool allows the creation and storage of notes, drawings, audio recordings, and web clippings in one place. It integrates across devices for easy accessibility and synchronization, making it suitable for individuals and teams. OneNote's advanced search and organization features aid in managing notes efficiently. It's an ideal tool for students, professionals, or anyone seeking to streamline their workflow. Special promotions are available for OneNote and similar advanced software.

Pros from reviewers

  • Versatile Note-Taking: OneNote's intuitive interface allows for a variety of note-taking methods, including text, drawing, images, and audio notes, catering to different learning and thinking styles

  • Superior Note Management: OneNote's note management system, particularly the use of subpages, allows for effective categorization and organization of notes, making it easy to keep track of various subjects and tasks

  • Interactive and Customizable: OneNote allows for the creation of fully interactive collections with links to other locations in the notebook, the internet, and the ability to embed videos and documents directly into the pages, providing a rich and customizable note-taking experience.

  • Efficient Collaboration: OneNote's integration with Office 365 Groups and Teams, as well as the Collaboration Space and Documentation Library, allows for simultaneous and frequent work on central repositories, enabling efficient collaboration and sharing of materials

  • Accessibility and Syncing: OneNote is accessible on both desktop and browser versions, and its syncing feature across various devices ensures that notes are always accessible, improving workflow and efficiency

Cons from reviewers

  • Limited exporting options: OneNote has limited options for exporting notes to other formats, which can be a hindrance when sharing notes with those who do not use the software

  • Frequent data loss: Some users have reported losing a whole day's notes due to frequent syncing to servers, which can be a significant issue for those relying on the software for important note-taking

  • Poor customer support: Users have reported negative experiences with OneNote's customer support, including being hung up on and having to repeatedly explain their issues.

  • Inefficient search function: The search function in OneNote is often criticized for being subpar and failing to yield results, even when users are certain the information exists within their notes

  • Mobile app limitations: The mobile version of OneNote has fewer features compared to the desktop version, which can limit functionality when using the software on a mobile device

Main features

Starting Price

N/A

Free Plan

No

Enhanced collaboration

Organize like a pro

Seamless integration

Capture inspiration on the go

Powerful search

Who is OneNote best for according to our reviewers?

  • Virtual Group Facilitators: These users utilize OneNote to prepare and conduct virtual meetings. They create tabs for sessions and pages for agenda items, using the software as a virtual whiteboard for real-time collaboration

  • Professionals in Organizations: These users find OneNote beneficial for documentation and collaboration within their teams. The software's integration with Office 365 Groups and Teams, and features like Collaboration Space and Documentation Library, allow them to create central repositories for simultaneous and frequent work

  • Students: High school and university students use OneNote for managing classes and organizing study materials. They find the software user-friendly and efficient for note-taking and tracking assignments, although initial setup can be confusing

  • Personal Users: Individuals use OneNote for personal note-taking, organization, and planning. They appreciate the notebook structure and the ability to create interactive collections with links, embedded videos, and documents

  • Client Managers: Professionals who manage clients find OneNote useful for keeping track of client calls and information. They appreciate the software's binder-like setup with tabs and pages, which allows them to easily access and organize client notes.

  • OneNote Reviews

    4.3

    OneNote rating

    4.5

    Ease of use

    4.4

    Customer service

    4.5

    Value for money

    4.3

    Likelihood to recommend

    4.5

    Features

    24 OneNote Reviews

    4.3 (24 reviews)
    Leave a review
    • Harold B

      Efficient Note Categorization: OneNote's Fantastic Tagging Feature

      The tagging feature in OneNote is fantastic. It allows me to categorize my notes effectively and makes retrieving information a breeze

      September 17, 2024

    • Janice Jones

      Indispensable.

      Essential. There's not much to say, they did a pretty good job. I believe this software is crucial.

      September 9, 2024

    • Nolan

      Adore OneNote, its layout echoes classic high school binders

      I've been using OneNote for years and have found it incredibly easy and efficient for keeping track of clients and client calls. I love being able to open OneNote and have access to dozens of binders and notes, unlike Word where I have to search and open a document each time. Everything is at my fingertips with OneNote. I appreciate its setup as a binder with tabs and the ability to have as many pages of notes as I want within each tab. I wish Word had this feature. I enjoy being able to move pages around and create multiple binders for each subject with as many tabs and pages as I want. I use this software daily. However, when I copy and paste a note from OneNote into an instant message, it pastes the text as if it's a photo, so I have to remember to right-click and paste as unformatted text.

      September 3, 2024

    • Kelly Johnson

      Exemplary Customer Service Experience with OneNote Support

      I had the opportunity to chat with Kashish at 2:3 PM on 5/26 and it was quite an interesting experience. She was very patient and dedicated, taking the time to fully understand my issue even though it required me to explain it several times. Her unique approach to problem-solving was evident in her decision to remotely control my computer, which allowed her to personally navigate through my OneNote application. In her thorough exploration, she confirmed that my entire OneNote notebook was indeed missing from the application. This was a crucial step in identifying the root of the problem. Kashish then suggested that the issue might be related to my Surface device and recommended transferring me to the Surface department. While I initially had reservations about this, I appreciated her proactive approach in trying to find a solution. The entire process was a learning experience and I am grateful for the time she invested in trying to resolve my issue.

      August 25, 2024

    • Alice F

      OneNote: A Go-To Tool for Daily Note-Taking

      I and my team use OneNote daily as it meets our needs and improves our workflow. The software is user-friendly and promotes easy collaboration. It's particularly helpful to track changes made by different users. It surpasses Word in terms of incorporating images or screenshots. However, its search feature could be better. If you use other Microsoft applications, OneNote integrates well. But, there could be compatibility issues with products from other developers.

      August 18, 2024

    • Juan

      OneNote - My Daily Work Companion!

      I use OneNote to manage two classes at my university and maintain a teacher resource library. This system is efficient and saves me a lot of time. Most of my usage (95%) is for these tasks. I value the ability to organize, reorganize, and share my content with my team. However, I've faced challenges when trying to create an archival copy of a notebook and when editing sharing privileges, which led me to delete all shares and start over.

      August 12, 2024

    • Elizabeth M

      Exploring OneNote's Exceptional Tools and Diverse Customer Service

      OneNote's tools are absolutely fantastic! I've had quite an interesting experience with their tech support. I was connected to their team in India, and it was a unique cultural exchange. It's quite impressive that a global company like Microsoft can provide such diverse customer service. It's like going on a mini adventure, far more exciting than a mundane root canal procedure, and I'm not kidding!

      August 5, 2024

    • Tamsin M

      Excellent Note-Taking Solution

      I think OneNote is an excellent digital note-taking tool that lets me store all my documents, images, and other content in one place. It has a good organization system, is simple to set up, provides rich formatting features, and is easy to print. It also has a great mobile app. However, it has limited exporting options to other formats and the mobile app has fewer features compared to the desktop version.

      July 29, 2024

    • Emma G

      The Versatile Note-Taking Power of OneNote

      I appreciate the flexibility that OneNote offers in terms of note-taking. Whether I'm typing out a list, drawing a diagram, or clipping a webpage, it can handle it all

      July 22, 2024

    • Ewan M

      Ideal for Managing Virtual Teams with OneNote

      I have been facilitating virtual groups through OneNote and it has been working brilliantly. I prepare for the meeting by creating a tab for the session and pages for the agenda items. I insert notes, blank diagrams, and tables on these pages, which I plan to fill in during the session. I use my iPad to bring up OneNote, share my Zoom screen, and use it as a virtual whiteboard where I can draw, circle, underline, and cross out as I facilitate. I also open the same notebook on my PC to type onto pages. OneNote syncs everything behind the scenes, making it seem as if I'm doing everything from one device. I absolutely love it.

      July 13, 2024

    • Patricia N

      Game-Changing Productivity Boost: OneNote Mobile App Review

      The mobile app for OneNote has been a game-changer for me. Being able to access and update my notes on-the-go has increased my productivity significantly

      July 6, 2024

    • Judy G

      Efficient Online Journal with Robust Filing Capabilities

      My experience with OneNote has been positive, especially for team-wide access to notes and documents. I value its syncing feature across various devices, which ensures my notes are always accessible. I find its note management system, especially the subpages, effective for categorizing notes. However, I think its user interface could be better, as some competitors have a more appealing UI. We chose Microsoft OneNote mainly for its superior note management system.

      June 30, 2024

    • Russell A

      OneNote's Versatility with Microsoft Integration

      OneNote's integration with other Microsoft products is a major plus. I can easily import data from Excel or embed a PowerPoint presentation, making it a versatile tool for compiling information

      June 25, 2024

    • Willa D

      Expressing Admiration for OneNote: An Indispensable Tool

      I absolutely adore OneNote! It's an incredible application that allows me to store all my essential notes and access them in a snap. I can't help but express my gratitude to Microsoft for crafting such a phenomenal product that has become an indispensable tool in both my work and daily life.

      June 18, 2024

    • Orin S

      Search Functionality Falls Short in OneNote

      I find OneNote to be an excellent, easy-to-use tool for documentation or impromptu note-taking, needing little training or effort to set up. I value its accessibility on both desktop and browser versions. However, I am let down by its search function, which is subpar and frequently fails to yield results, even when I am certain they exist.

      June 9, 2024

    • Isabella

      The Unique Freeform Canvas: A Natural and Intuitive Way to Organize Thoughts in OneNote

      Lastly, the freeform canvas in OneNote is one of its most unique features. It allows me to arrange my thoughts and ideas in a way that feels natural and intuitive.

      June 4, 2024

    • Randy Brown

      Efficient Collaboration with OneNote

      As a project manager, I've utilized OneNote's collaboration features extensively. It has made sharing project updates and brainstorming with my team seamless and efficient

      May 28, 2024

    • Judith Williams

      The Power of OneNote's Search Function

      The search function in OneNote is incredibly powerful. It has saved me countless hours by quickly locating the notes or documents I need

      May 20, 2024

    • Philomena M

      OneNote: The Cornerstone of Effective Teamwork

      OneNote has become an essential tool for documentation in my organization. Its integration with Office 365 Groups and Teams, as well as the addition of the Collaboration Space and Documentation Library, has enabled us to create central repositories that can be worked on simultaneously and frequently. We can collaborate, share materials, and use private spaces for group members to take notes or work on individual content. I personally adore OneNote and have extended its use into my personal life for note-taking, organization, and planning. The notebook structure appealed to me when I first started using it. Once I let go of the idea of creating everything to fit a printed letter size piece of paper, it really took off. I can create a notebook that can be printed, but also transform it into a fully interactive collection with links to other locations in the notebook, the internet, and even embed videos and documents directly into the pages. However, there have been challenges. When OneNote transitioned to the web during the focus on the Metro.

      May 12, 2024

    • Andrea G

      Organizing with OneNote

      I've found OneNote to be an invaluable tool for organizing my thoughts and projects

      May 4, 2024

    • Tyler Rodriguez

      Syncing May Result in Data Loss.

      Initially, I found OneNote to be impressive. However, after repeatedly losing a whole day's notes multiple times, I can't use it anymore. For some reason, Microsoft OneNote frequently syncs to its servers and then loses all the updates from the day. This is unacceptable. Additionally, there are numerous bugs and the app is noticeably slower than other alternatives.

      April 30, 2024

    • Gloria E

      Experience Worry-Free Work with Onenote: An Automatic Saving Feature Review

      This software is fantastic! I spent an entire day planning an essay and it was so liberating not having to worry about hitting save every few minutes. The best part is, there's no need for a save option. Onenote automatically saves your work as you go along. I would highly recommend Onenote to anyone who needs to focus on their work without the constant worry of losing their progress.

      April 20, 2024

    • Philip A

      Streamlining Workflow with Intuitive Note-Taking Software

      its intuitive interface and robust features make it a standout in the realm of note-taking software. The ability to create separate notebooks for different projects has streamlined my workflow significantly

      April 15, 2024

    • Alexander N

      Effortlessly Streamline Your Ideas with Microsoft OneNote

      As a user, I find Microsoft OneNote to be a powerful and versatile note-taking tool, suitable for a variety of personal and professional uses. My overall experience with OneNote has been positive, providing an efficient and creative platform for capturing and organizing ideas. Whether I'm in a meeting, conducting research, or brainstorming, OneNote's intuitive interface allows me to jot down text, draw, add images, and even record audio notes, catering to my different learning and thinking styles. It integrates well with other 365 products and facilitates easy collaboration and sharing. However, as a new user, I initially felt overwhelmed, particularly when exploring advanced features like tags, templates, and integration with other Microsoft services.

      April 13, 2024