At first, Microsoft OneNote was the only app we used for taking notes and getting work done. We really liked how easy it was to figure out how to use this app. The fact that it was free was another thing we really liked about it. You can put your subject in a folder in OneNote, and then you can put other subjects in the folder. And you can have your notes for each subject. We really like this set-up because you can have multiple notes in one subject without making a new subject each time.
One bad thing about OneNote is that when you download a PowerPoint or PDF, it looks like a long piece of paper. For example, if you download a 60-page PowerPoint, OneNote will just think of it as one long document. We also had a hard time trying to find my notes. The search options are very sensitive, so you’d have to spell the word exactly as it appears in the document you want to find for it to come up. Listen, we tried really hard to like GoodNotes, but we just couldn’t. It has a strange layout and wasn’t very easy to use.
GoodNotes has a lot more ways to write and edit than OneNote, so it’s definitely a step up. The layout, on the other hand, is very different from what I’m used to. There are folders like in OneNote where you can put your pages of notes, but that’s about it. You don’t have a lot of options for filing, which is really annoying when you need to store a lot of documents. The only way to stop multiple documents from being too much is to start a whole new subject.
Onenote vs Goodnotes Pricing
OneNote is free on all platforms, but you can also pay for a subscription called Microsoft 365 that gives you extra features. With the free version, users can access most of OneNote’s most important features, like making notes, organizing them, and syncing them across devices. Some advanced features, like version history, password protection, and more storage space, are only available with a Microsoft 365 subscription. The price of a subscription depends on which plan you choose and includes other Microsoft Office apps and services.
On the other hand, GoodNotes is a paid app that does not work like a subscription. GoodNotes can be bought from the App Store, and the price may change depending on where you live and what device you use. Once you’ve bought the app, you’ll have access to all of its features and updates at no extra cost. It’s important to know that GoodNotes is mostly made for iOS and iPadOS, so it might not be available on other platforms.
Onenote vs Goodnotes Comparison table
| Features | Microsoft OneNote | GoodNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web | iOS, iPadOS |
| Handwriting Support | Yes | Yes |
| Note-taking Features | Text, images, drawings, audio recordings, attachments | Text, images, drawings, PDF annotation, audio recordings |
| Organization | Notebook-based organization | Notebook and folder-based organization |
| Syncing | Syncs across devices and platforms | Syncs across devices via iCloud |
| Collaboration | Real-time collaboration, shared notebooks | Limited collaboration features, no shared notebooks |
| Search | Powerful search functionality | Basic search capabilities |
| Exporting | Export to PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Evernote, and more | Export to PDF, images, email, cloud storage |
| Templates | Customizable templates and page designs | Customizable templates |
| Cost | Free with limited features, Premium subscription | Paid app with no subscription model |
Display & User Interface
The user-friendly interface of GoodNotes makes it easy for users to move around and find their notes. They can focus on their work without being bothered by other things. GoodNotes has a more straightforward appearance that highlights the notes themselves. You can view all of your notebooks, pages, and templates in the sidebar of GoodNotes. Additionally, GoodNotes has a search feature that makes it simple to locate specific notes.OneNote, on the other hand, has a lot of tabs and sections, which can make it more challenging to use.
Using the app’s hierarchical structure, users can organize their notes into notebooks, sections, and pages. Even though this level of organization may be helpful for some users, it can also make the interface more cluttered and hard to use. It has a less flexible user interface that makes it harder to change things. Even though OneNote is good at reading handwriting, it often needs help with longer or more complicated words, which makes the notes less dense. A ribbon toolbar is used by OneNote to show the different tabs and tools. Users can switch between tabs to get to other functions like formatting, drawing, and adding media.
Onenote vs Goodnotes Features
OneNote is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and the web, among other platforms. It has a lot of features for taking notes, including the ability to use text, images, drawings, audio recordings, and attachments to make and organize notes. It can be used by people who like to write or draw directly on their devices because it works with handwriting.
OneNote is organized by notebooks. You can make notebooks and organize your notes inside of them. It also has a strong search feature that makes it easy to find notes or information. OneNote lets people work together and share notebooks in real time, so more than one person can work on the same notebook at the same time.
On the other hand, GoodNotes is mostly made for iOS and iPadOS devices. It also lets you write by hand and lets you take notes with text, images, drawings, PDF annotations, and audio recordings, among other things. GoodNotes is an organization system that is based on notebooks and folders. Users can make notebooks and put them in folders.
It lets you search for notes within the app in a simple way. GoodNotes lets you export your notes to PDF, images, email, and the cloud. Even though it has templates that can be changed, it may not have as many options as OneNote. Also, GoodNotes is a paid app that doesn’t work like a subscription.
Onenote vs Goodnotes Platforms
Microsoft OneNote is a flexible app for taking notes that can be used on a wide range of devices. It can be used on both Windows and Mac computers, so users who switch between these operating systems won’t notice any difference. OneNote also has apps for iOS and Android devices that let users access their notes from their phones and tablets while they are on the go. OneNote also has a web version that can be accessed from any device with a browser. This makes it easy for people to access their notes from different devices.
On the other hand, GoodNotes is mostly for iOS and iPadOS devices. It is optimized for Apple’s operating systems, so iPhone and iPad users can take notes in a way that works best for them. GoodNotes uses the special features and abilities of these devices, like the Apple Pencil, to make writing on them easy and natural. GoodNotes might not be available on other platforms, such as Windows or Android, though.
Onenote vs Goodnotes Collaboration
OneNote has great features for working together. It lets people work together in real time, so more than one person can work on the same notebook at the same time. This is especially helpful for groups working on projects together or students who need to share notes. With OneNote, you can make shared notebooks and let other people read and change the information in them. Changes made by one user are immediately synced and shown to others, which makes it easier for people to work together. OneNote also has a version history that lets you keep track of changes and go back to older versions if you need to.
Because of these features, OneNote is good for group work and taking notes with other people. On the other hand, GoodNotes has fewer ways to work with others. You can export and share notes with other people, but you can’t work together in real time or share notebooks like you can with OneNote. GoodNotes is mostly made for one person to use, with the goal of making note-taking more personal and flexible. This makes it a good choice for people who like to work alone and don’t need a lot of tools for working together.
Onenote: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web)
- Comprehensive note-taking features (text, images, drawings, audio recordings)
- Real-time collaboration and shared notebooks
- Powerful search functionality
- Free version available with a subscription option
Cons
- Some advanced features require a paid subscription
- User interface can be overwhelming for new users
- Limited customization options for templates
Goodnotes: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Tailored for iOS and iPadOS devices, optimized for Apple Pencil
- Handwriting support and note-taking features (text, images, drawings, PDF annotation)
- Personalized note-taking experience
- One-time purchase with no ongoing subscription costs
Cons
- Limited platform availability (not available on Windows or Android)
- Limited collaboration features compared to OneNote
- Basic search capabilities
- Paid app without a subscription model
Which one should you consider?
Both Microsoft OneNote and GoodNotes are powerful note-taking programs, but there are some important differences between the two. OneNote works on multiple platforms, has advanced features for working together, and has a free version with a subscription option. GoodNotes, on the other hand, makes it easy to take notes on iOS and iPadOS devices, with a focus on personal use and a one-time purchase. Which one you choose depends on your preference for platforms, your need for collaboration, and your willingness to pay for extra features.
FAQs
One big difference between the two apps is the space for writing and working. In GoodNotes, you can only use the space where you write or work. In OneNote, you can write all over the canvas, which makes it a space for notes that never ends.
OneNote is very flexible when it comes to taking notes, which means it can be changed to fit your needs. Each Notebook is shaped like a ringbinder, so it has sections with smaller parts called pages.
