Top 16 OneNote Alternatives to Use in 2023

Note-taking is a crucial part of any professional designation. Whether you are a member of the project development team or the project manager of that development team, taking notes is always going to help make sure that you and your team are well-informed about the work that you have to do.

As we know that one of the best note-taking applications in the market right now is Microsoft OneNote. The application helps all sorts of people to retain the information they might need for another day and makes sure that they have access to that information from all over the world.

But as with everything, there are many different alternatives to MS OneNote as well, that can help you to improve your note-taking processes even further.

What is Microsoft OneNote?

Microsoft OneNote is an app created by Microsoft and part of the Microsoft Office suite. It’s a digital note-taking application that lets you capture, organize and share all your ideas, notes, and other information in one place. 

Whether you need to jot down a quick reminder or write lengthy research projects, OneNote has it covered with powerful organizational tools such as page tabs, tags, to-do lists, insertions, formatting options for text and tables, in addition to audio recordings. 

It also allows users to collaborate on notes with colleagues or classmates through shared notebooks. 

With its cross-platform compatibility across PCs, Macs operating systems, iOS devices, and Android devices, it makes sharing information easy no matter what device you own. 

Moreover, since OneNote runs on the cloud, it offers real-time synchronization of documents which can be used from any computer anywhere in the world by simply signing into your account online via Onedrive, which stores your data securely.

In this article, we are going to talk about those alternatives and help find out the crucial importance of those alternatives, if you want to switch from OneNote.

16 Best OneNote Alternatives to Use in 2023

Here is a list of the alternatives that we are going to about in this article.

Let’s take a look at all of the wonderful OneNote alternatives in detail and find out how they are more useful and beneficial than OneNote.

1. nTask

One of the very best things about any software or tool is its ability to multitask. You have heard about nTask as one of the very best project management and task management application in the market right now, but what you may don’t know is that it is an incredible note-taking app too.

The applications help make sure that all of the tasks and processes that you are working on, using the application are properly documented, and all of the little notes and important things that you need to write down, are properly stored and accessed from all around the world.

Here is a list of features that this incredible OneNote alternative has to offer to its clientele.

Key Features

• Task Management
• Risk Management
• Note-Taking
• Comments
• Increased Collaboration
• Gantt Charting
• Time Tracking
• Resource Management
• Time & Expense Tracking

Pricing

• Basic free plan
• 14-day free trial for Premium and Business plan
• The paid pricing for this incredible OneNote alternative starts at $3/month

2. Evernote

As we know that the reigning champion of note-taking applications for a while now has been Evernote.

The application is an incredible note-taking and documentation management application that allows you to keep in touch with every little piece of information regarding your project, from all around the world.

The application is a masterpiece when it comes to bringing all of the best note-taking features from all around the apps in the marketplace, in a single interface.

Key Features

• Access Controls
• Collaboration Tools
• Content Management 
• Document Storage
• Mobile Access
• Filter
• Version Control
• API
• Permissions management
• Communication Management
• Document Management
• File Sharing
• Search
• Task Management

Pricing

• There is a free version of the application if you want to use the tool without the full arsenal of features that the application has to offer
• The paid pricing plans for this incredible OneNote alternative start at $7.99/per month

3. ClickUp

ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity tool for teams across industries to manage projects, collaborate smarter, and bring all of your work into one place. ClickUp is known for its feature-rich experience and customization capabilities; manages your workload, monitors project updates, and communicates with the team—no matter what project style you use.

ClickUp offers intuitive and powerful note-taking features, making it an ideal OneNote alternative. Create beautifully outlined wikis, knowledge bases, roadmaps, agendas, and more with ClickUp Docs. Additionally, real-time editing in ClickUp Docs and Whiteboards allows the team to work alongside each other, while ClickUp’s Notepad lets store notes and checklists, format with rich editing, and transform your notes into trackable tasks. Download ClickUp’s Chrome Extension and mobile app to keep your Docs and Notepad handy wherever you go.

Key Features

• User-friendly with drag-and-drop functionality
• Fully customizable
• Advance note-taking features
• Search and filtering abilities
• Collaboration detection
• Custom permissions and sharing
• Real-time editing and reporting
• 15+ view options
• Global time tracking
• Integration capabilities
• Mobile app
• 24/7 customer support

Pricing

• Add unlimited members and tasks and get 1,000 MB of storage with the Free Forever Plan
• Get access to more advanced features with paid plans starting at $5

4. Notion

Another fantastic project management application that can be used as a note-taking application is Notion. The application is a tool that allows you to create a different project, pick all of the assignees for the right tasks and processes, and also add many different types of documents to the interface.

The application also supports different checklists, note history, team collaboration, and list items for greater visibility.

Key Features

• Filters
• Android and iOS apps
• Smart notifications
• Intelligent Grouping
• Question surfacing
• Intelligence Layer/ Auto learning
• Highlights
• Highlighting important emails
• Smart Multi-Swiping
• Snooze

Pricing

• There is a free trial available if you want to check out the software without spending any money
• If you want a paid subscription with the full arsenal of features, then you have to contact the company so that they can custom-create a subscription for you according to your needs and requirements

5. Laverna

If you want a note-taking application that was purpose-built to maintain your privacy, then you need to check out Laverna. The application is an open-source note-taking application that brings end-to-end encryption and password protection to all of your notes in the interface.

Let’s take a look at all of the different features that this amazing OneNote alternative has to offer to its clientele.

Key Features

• No requirement for registration
• Allows client-side encryption option
• Create or manage to-do lists and notes both online and offline, so that if you are off the grid, you can still access all of your notes
• Easy and free download for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Provides cloud storage synchronization

Pricing

• This incredible note-taking application is free for all of its users around the world

6. Bear

If you are an Apple fanatic and you need a note-taking application that is exclusive to the Apple ecosystem, then Bear is the application for you. The software, for many people, is the most beautifully effective note-taking application on the market right now.

Key Features

• Advanced markup editor to make sure that the application understands over 150 languages, simultaneously
• Smart data recognition of all of the links and email addresses being input into the interface
• Hashtags to find out specific notes from long lists
• Focus mode to hide all of the notes that you don’t want to see
• Regular updates to make sure that all of your writing material is current and accurate

Pricing

• The paid pricing plan for this incredible OneNote alternative starts at $14.99/per year

7. Zoho Notebook

Zoho Notebook is an amazing OneNote alternative that allows you to take all of the notes that you want to take for your personal and professional life. Also, it can help you make checklists, record audio, and also to capture other moments that you deem important.

Key Features

• Organize Notes
• Notable Gestures
• Find Notes
• Sketch Functionality
• Take Notes
• Sync Notes
• Customize Notes
• Share Notes

Pricing

• The application is free to use for all of the different clients that it has around the world

Check this out: 

24 Best Zoho Alternatives to Use in 2023

8. Asana

Another incredible application that you can use as a note-taking application and project management software is Asana. The application helps make sure that all of your tasks and processes are properly organized and managed.

The application can be used to manage all of the initiatives that you take as a company, create as many different projects as you want, and then complete different tasks within these projects.

Key Features

• Add assignees, attachments, and hearts to tasks
• Create custom calendars and views
• My Tasks list and Focus Mode
• Get notifications and reminders
• Multiple workspaces
• Real-time updates
• Activity feed
• Automatic updates to email/inbox
• Email bridge
• Track tasks and add followers
• iPhone support, HTML5 mobile site
• Project Sections and Search Views

Pricing

• There is a free trial of this incredible software available for use if you want to check all of the features, before spending any money
• The paid plans for this incredible software, which includes all of the different features that it has to offer, are priced at $9.99/member/month
• If you want the Enterprise model, that can house your big company, then you need to contact the company so that they can create a custom subscription for you

9. Notability

Another incredible OneNote alternative that you can find on the market right now is Notability. The application is a mobile-based note-taking tool that allows you to collaborate and manage different projects using PDF annotation tools and sketching.

The application also allows users to create hand-crafted notes with graphics, different web pages, or even image attachments. You can also organize these notes as per your needs and requirements.

The application also helps users to combine different sketches that they have created or the outlines that they have put forth, and share them with all of the relevant people that they work with or even with the people close to them in their personal life.

They can share these notes with their team members using different applications like Google Drive, Dropbox, AirDrop, and much more.

Users can also create different types of content as per their requirements, receive verbal or written comments from their colleagues, and playback different audio recordings by clicking on the required note in the interface.

The application also enables users to highlight different docs, photos, imported textbooks, and lecture slides, among many other things.

Key Features

• Collaboration Tools
• Data Import/Export
• Drag & Drop
• Handwriting Recognition
• Notes Management
• Annotations
• Commenting/Notes
• Document Generation
• File Sharing
• Meeting Notes
• Project Management

Pricing

• The application offers no free version or free trial that can enable you to enjoy the features that this application has to offer without paying anything, and if you want to use the application, you can pay a one-time payment of $10.82

10. Roam Research

Roam Research advertises itself as “a note-taking tool for networked cognition,” and it enhances mind mapping with bi-directional links: a node becomes a note that users may access by clicking on it.

Each note can have its own in-text links as well as be linked to other notes to establish connections. Roam Research’s interface, in essence, mirrors how human thoughts work.

Because the formats are so dissimilar, OneNote users may struggle to interpret Roam Research.

Unlike OneNote, each Roam page is an outline made up of hierarchical blocks of text and visuals. As a result, unlike with OneNote, there are no notebooks or sections to open sequentially.

Features

• For networked thinking, graph database connection
• The basic package supports an infinite number of contributors
• Writers, researchers, product managers, and graduate students are the most likely to utilize this note-taking application
• Bidirectional connecting features enable the creation of mind maps from pages or related topics

Pricing

• Roam Research provides a free 31-day trial
• Pro plan starting at $15/month
• Believer plan at $500/5 years

11. Apple Notes

Apple Notes is the most secure software for taking notes on the go, whether you use FaceID, TouchID, or a password. Apple Notes works with all Mac and iOS devices. In recent years, Apple Notes has seen substantial improvements, making notes more accessible across all Apple devices.

While Apple Notes might be the first logical choice for Apple users, its note structure is quite restricted when compared to Microsoft OneNote’s notebooks, sections, and pages.

Features

• An Apple Pencil and a compatible iPad may instantly generate a note from the Lock Screen
• Gallery display, allowing users to quickly discover the note they are looking for
• iCloud sync across all Apple devices is automatic

Pricing

• Free

12. Milanote

Milanote is a web-based program for visual collaborators such as product designers and photographers. It is a dynamic visual workspace for creating mood boards, taking notes, and getting feedback on design concepts.

The drawback is that Milanote may be tough to master if you are not used to a scrapbook-style layout. You may easily squander hours organizing notes and figuring out a strategy that is not intended for how you think and take notes.

Features

• Secured notes both at rest and in transit
• Videos, animated GIFs, typefaces, and other formats are supported
• Built-in templates available

Pricing

• Free
• Paid plans from $9.99

13. Confluence

Another Microsoft OneNote alternative on our list is Atlassian’s Confluence, a remote-friendly note-taking tool that also serves as a knowledge management and project collaboration workspace.

Users can begin by developing a project plan from scratch or by using one of the 100+ accessible templates.

Work organization features such as roadmaps, Jira issues, and Trello boards may be added to Confluence documents.

Organizations with large staffs would benefit the most from Confluence. When compared to OneNote, however, this tool would be too much for personal use or with a small number of team members.

Features

• Open &linked structure.
• All work is centralized.
• Compatibility with over 3,000 Marketplace applications

Pricing

• Confluence has free
• Premium options start at $5.50 per user per month.

14. Typora

Typora is an editor/markdown reader created specifically as a markdown editor alternative to popular editors like Microsoft Word, yet more powerful than some standard markdown readers like Simplenote due to its support of additional code format languages (like LaTeX). 

Typora provides multiple levels of the organization, allowing users to create rich content while managing headers and footers, among other elements within their documents, accurately ensuring everything looks correct at first glance. 

To further simplify things, every heading in Typora can be collapsed using a simple keyboard shortcut leaving just headings visible so that only important elements within each document stand out amongst the sea words giving accessibility even for those unfamiliar with coding languages. 

Additionally, these headings have customizable colors, making differentiating between sections effortless!

The result is an elegant piece of work featuring readable copy instead of long codes, making tedious editing tasks much simpler without having advanced programming skills required beforehand, helping streamline workflow significantly when editing large documents accurately and quickly simultaneously 

Key features 

• Minimalistic User Interface 
• Live Preview and 
• In-Line Images and Videos 
• Custom Themes 
• Syntax Highlighting 
• Table of Contents 
• Integrated File System Browser 
• Multi-Platform Support 
• Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts 
• Export to Various File Formats 

Pricing:

• It is priced at $14.99 for a license

15. Nuclino

Nuclino is an excellent choice for teams that are looking for a simpler and more modern alternative to Microsoft OneNote. Compared to OneNote, Nuclino’s interface is lightweight and clutter-free, making it easy for users to navigate and access information quickly. And while OneNote is primarily designed for personal note-taking, Nuclino is built with team collaboration in mind.

Another notable aspect of Nuclino is how versatile it is. While it can be used exclusively for note-taking, Nuclino’s capabilities extend far beyond that. You can use it to build an internal knowledge base, manage tasks and projects, onboard new team members, and more, replacing not only OneNote, but also tools like Trello, Confluence, and Airtable.

Key Features

• Real-time collaboration
• List, Board, and Graph views
• Task assignments
• Markdown commands
• Drag-and-drop editor
• Comments and @-mentions
• Version History
• Access rights management
• API
• Integrations with 40+ apps, including Slack, Google Drive, and Figma

Pricing

• Basic free plan
• Paid subscriptions start from $5 per user, per month

16. Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper – formerly known as Hackpad – is another excellent choice when taking care of notes quickly yet efficiently. 

Thanks to its extensive list of innovative features focused on simplifying tasks, this free application goes beyond traditional note-taking by providing extra relevant services needed frequently both inside businesses and schools alike. 

These services include adding conversations, threaded comments, identity verification, password protection, versioning, access control, link previews, inviting others to collaborate, third-party integrations, and custom themes, depending on needs. 

Of course, these possibilities could vary greatly, especially when considering companies against smaller groups. Yet, these possibilities should never limit an organization’s potential. Thus, Dropbox Paper guarantees success regardless.

Its sleek, minimalistic design helps keep distractions away while preserving usability, given how easy handling should always remain a priority.

Key Features 

• Cloud storage 
• File syncing 
• File sharing 
• Collaborative workspace 
• Remote access 
• Backup and recovery 
• Automatic organization 
• Mobile device compatibility 
• Two-factor authentication 
• Version History 
• File request feature 
• Password-protected links 
• Integration with other apps and services

Pricing:

• It is a free product for Dropbox users

Bonus Alternative: GoodNotes

Another great application that is very different from all of the applications that we discussed in the article is GoodNotes. The application is primarily an iPad note-taking tool that provides support for the Apple Pencil that you get with the iPad.

The application provides many different features to its clientele like handwriting recognition for feasibility and security, PDF annotation, and document scanning to make sure that you can make copies of the notes that you want to keep with you.

The application also provides different templates for creating documents and other files that you might need to work on in your project development process.

If you are an Apple ecosystem fanatic, then you would love this application because it provides support for all of your different Apple devices. So, if you are working on your iPhone or Mac, you can access the GoodNotes application and work on all of your notes easily without opening your iPad.

How to Choose a Microsoft OneNote Alternative?

When searching for an alternative program to replace commonly used applications such as the widely known MS Office suite software- several alternate programs instantly come into consideration. 

This is due purely because each option comes packed full of beautiful designs and convenient shortcuts, immediate access online, cloud backups, and above all, dependability.

Although opting for the right angle is becoming a daunting task, here are tips, guides, and insights to prioritize the process, potentially saving lots of valuable time/money. 

Hoping to ease decision-making, the next step is finding the ideal Microsoft Onenote alternative. 

First, determining the type of task and thought process behind the purpose going to want to complete is a key factor impacting choice. 

Hence, suggest identifying goals associated with deciding to stick to their order and eliminate non-essential sets accordingly, ensuring whatever you choose is as efficient as possible. 

Secondly, review the efficiency of existing technology to find what effectively best meets identified needs. 

Finally, carefully compare top contenders’ side cover touch to ensure the greatest bang for the buck. 

Rather than run a few tests, ensure the chosen click team prioritizes long-term satisfaction. The question of missing tosses aside a tough once completed journey, easily simplified.

Conclusion

These were our top picks for the best Microsoft OneNote alternatives on the market right now. If you think that we missed something, or if you think that we mentioned something in the article that is factually incorrect, then do write to us, and we will get back to you ASAP.