6 Best Apps Similar to OneNote: Great Alternatives
- Why You May Need a Free Alternative to Microsoft OneNote
- 6 Best Free OneNote Alternative Options: In-depth Exploration
Why You May Need a Free Alternative to Microsoft OneNote
Before exploring the six featured OneNote replacement options, you can first look into the reasons why users seek an alternative to OneNote. As mentioned earlier, although OneNote offers great features for creating, organizing, and sharing notes, it is not exempt from various shortcomings. Here are some of them:
- It requires you to sign in to a Microsoft account to sync notes before you can use it.
- The interface can be overwhelming for those who just need a basic note-taking app.
- It may experience performance issues, especially on older or low-end devices.
- Offers limited export options.
- It requires a Microsoft 365 subscription for full functionality.
- Not suitable for users who value open-source or offline tools and prefer options without cloud tie-ins.
6 Best Free OneNote Alternative Options: In-depth Exploration
Now that you’ve explored the reasons for seeking a free OneNote alternative, it’s time to check out this post’s 6 best recommendations! Go through each one to see which suits your preferences and addresses OneNote’s drawbacks. Start exploring now.
1. RecCloud – Best for turning videos or audio into searchable, organized notes
Supported Platform: Web, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Pricing: Free version and pricing starts at $4/month (Basic Yearly).
If you’re looking for a free OneNote alternative that addresses all of OneNote’s drawbacks, then RecCloud is a solid option. This multi-platform tool provides a convenient and high-quality note-taking service. It is equipped with a Free AI Speech to Text that allows you to accurately convert various recorded videos and audio into text. It offers you a polished, original, and summarized version of the input, all of which can be copied and saved. In addition, it includes an audio recorder to capture discussions you want to transcribe. Moreover, the mobile version of this feature allows you to take notes manually and save them to the cloud for access anytime, anywhere, on any device. With this tool, you can enjoy a convenient and efficient note-taking experience.
Key Features of RecCloud:
- Transcribe video and audio files into a summarized version with key points.
- Allows you to edit the transcribed text for personal modifications or improved accuracy.
- Accurately translates text into French, Portuguese, Spanish, German, and more.
- Supports an AI chatbot that generates accurate answers to various queries about the transcribed text (you can ask it to create notes, meeting minutes, and more).
- Enables you to export the transcribed text as a docx and text file.
2. Lark – Best for real-time team collaboration with built-in chat and docs
Supported Platform: Web, Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Pricing: Free plan and pricing start at $12/month (Pro).
If you’re looking for a OneNote replacement that supports collaboration, Lark is one of the best options available. This is a great alternative, especially for teams needing a collaborative workspace, as it integrates communication and project management features. While OneNote is primarily designed as a note-taking tool, Lark offers a more comprehensive set of functionalities that can streamline your workflow. It supports AI-powered features that assist with tasks like summarizing documents, generating ideas, and providing live transcription during meetings. However, this is more expensive for teams of over 50 people compared to OneNote.
Key Features of Lark:
- Supports document collaboration and editing tools.
- Infused with live transcription and translation.
- Equipped with supplementary tools like video, sheets, chat, minutes, and more.
3. Evernote – Best for capturing all types of notes.
Supported Platform: Web, Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Pricing: Free trial and pricing starts at $14.99/month (Personal).
Another worthy OneNote substitute that you must also try is Evernote. Although Evernote is one of the oldest solutions available, it has set the standard for what a note-taking tool should be. This tool prioritizes simple and quick note-taking operations, which is evident from its clean interface and user-friendly note organization. Evernote enhances your notes more useful because it allows you to add images, text, audio, scans, and PDFs to your notes. Additionally, it can turn spoken words into searchable and organized notes! Unfortunately, despite having those features, the tool’s free plan only allows you to sync two devices and has a low monthly upload limit.
Key Features of Evernote:
- Supports offline mode to continue taking notes with no internet connectivity.
- It automatically syncs notes across all devices to access information anytime, anywhere.
- Infused with AI-powered Search, which helps you get the right information from your notes quickly.
4. Notion – Best for an all-in-one workspace combining notes, tasks, and databases
Supported Platform: Web, Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Pricing: Free trial and pricing start at $12/month (Plus).
The next software like OneNote for this list is Notion. This tool is one of the most flexible and modern alternatives available on the market. It combines note-taking with databases, collaboration, and management tools. Similar to Evernote, Notion also allows you to create notes that can include images, text, to-do lists, calendars, and more. Unlike OneNote, however, Notion doesn’t use the traditional notebook setup; instead, it uses blocks that you can arrange and move however you like. However, it doesn’t support offline mode.
Key Features of Notion:
- DIY customization through databases and table formulas for personal modifications.
- Offers a vast library of community-made templates to get started quickly.
- Support collaboration features that are suitable for teams to work together on sharing notes, projects, and documents.
5. Google Keep – Best for quick, colorful sticky-note-style reminders and lists
Supported Platform: Web, Android, and iOS.
Pricing: Free
If you’re looking for a completely free OneNote alternative, Google Keep is the one for you! Aside from being a completely free alternative, this tool is also one of the lightest and uncomplicated options available on the market. Creating notes with it is easy, allowing you to type text or use voice input. Additionally, you can organize your notes using color labels and tags, making it easier to find what you need. Moreover, if you use other Google products, you can access Keep directly within them, as it is tightly integrated with the Google ecosystem. As one of the lightest tools available, you might find it lacking in advanced features.
Key Features of Google Keep:
- Allows you to create to-dos and list-type notes and organize them into notes.
- Enables you to add reminders to your notes to prevent deadline slippage.
- Let you pin the most important notes to access them quickly.
6. Obsidian – Best for building a personal knowledge base with linked notes
Supported Platform: Web, Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Pricing: Free version and pricing starts at $5/month (Sync).
The last free OneNote alternative for this list is Obsidian. Unlike OneNote and other note-taking applications, this tool is designed for users who want to create and connect ideas in more advanced ways. It works offline, saves all your notes on your device, and lets you link notes together so you can easily see how your thoughts are connected. In that case, Obsidian becomes a great alternative if you enjoy organizing your ideas in your own way and want full control over your notes. However, this tool may not be for you if you’re not comfortable with tools that have a slightly steep learning curve.
Key Features of Obsidian:
- Allows you to link notes and connect ideas, people, books, places, etc., with Obsidian.
- Supports a graph view to visualize how your created notes link together.
- Enables you to brainstorm, research, and create diagrams on its canvas.
Conclusion
With so many free OneNote alternatives available, finding the right one can be challenging. Luckily, this post has helped you explore the top options. RecCloud is ideal for turning audio and video into notes. Lark is a great option for team collaboration. Evernote handles all types of notes with ease. Notion combines notes, tasks, and databases in one place. Google Keep is perfect for easy note-taking, while Obsidian offers offline note-taking with powerful linking. Choose the one that best matches your needs and preferences!
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