Evernote vs. OneNote

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Evernote
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Evernote is a suite of software and services designed for notetaking and archiving. A "note" can be a piece of formatted text, a full webpage or webpage excerpt, a photograph, a voice memo, or a handwritten "ink" note. Notes can also have file attachments. Notes can be sorted into folders, then tagged, annotated, edited, given comments, searched and exported as part of a notebook. Evernote supports a number of operating system platforms (including OS X, iOS, Chrome OS, Android, Microsoft…
$7.99
per month
OneNote
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft's OneNote is a digital note-taking app, supporting photos, annotating, web page clipping, emailing, and synchronizing notes across devices.N/A
Pricing
EvernoteOneNote
Editions & Modules
Premium
$7.99
per month
Business
$14.99
per month
Microsoft OneNote
Free
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
EvernoteOneNote
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
EvernoteOneNote
Considered Both Products
Evernote
Chose Evernote
I think it is better than OneNote overall and less costly for full-featured versions. EverNote is great at taking rough notes on your smartphone and then after synching tidying them up on the pc version. Search functionality and ability to search for words within images is …
Chose Evernote
Comparing Evernote and OneNote is like comparing an orange with the proverbial apple. I use Apple products (iMac, MacBook, iPad Pro and iPhone). OneNote did not play friendly with the MacBook. Evernote, on the other hand, is agnostic. I used to use it on my iPad, iPhone and …
Chose Evernote
Evernote is a superior product if you are a Mac user (due to the program working on an iPad and/or iPhone), however, if you are using Office 365, OneNote is included at no additional monthly cost. Since most companies have moved to O365 you have a better chance of being able to …
Chose Evernote
As hard as it was to get Evernote set up to my liking until I took a course, I felt like OneNote allowed too much freedom. It aspired to be a true digital notebook, letting you place text and images wherever you want on a page. I prefer more structure, so Evernote felt right to …
Chose Evernote
Evernote is a very simple collaboration tool. It was first in the market and provided a great cross-platform solution to share notes. However, other tools like OneNote, Slack, Dropbox, and Box provided easier solutions. Evernote could not keep up with the trends and innovation. …
Chose Evernote
Evernote and OneNote are two platforms I use interchangeably for note taking and organization. OneNote is great for Microsoft users and department-wide communication and file sharing. I prefer using Evernote for quick note taking and meeting jotting during phone calls in …
Chose Evernote
OneNote feels a bit outdated and appears to work preferably within the Microsoft spectrum solely, whereas Evernote has a more robust system and compatibility.
Chose Evernote
Overall visibility and control are there. The ability to collaborate is important and key. We used to use MS OneNote but had a lot of issues with tracking. And hence when we evaluated Evernote as well, the whole perspective of notes changed.
Chose Evernote
Eleven years ago, nothing stacked up to Evernote and it's capabilities. I did test out OneNote a few times since it's inception but have never really liked the software. Microsoft's OneNote interface is far too large and bulky for my low-resolution TabletPC. OneNote's …
Chose Evernote
Evernote has a nicer UI that makes taking notes really easy and pleasant. We do use OneNote for cases where we need MS Teams integration, but for personal note-taking, many individuals across the organization will use Evernote to organize their meeting notes as well as …
Chose Evernote
I stuck with Evernote as I started using and liked it. I think OneNote is also great but I don't like the fact that it is tied to your corporate account which sometimes has a risk of losing data when you change firms. Also, exporting notes is easier in OneNote.
Chose Evernote
The most similar program I have used is OneNote by Microsoft, and other note taking programs exist like Notepad and Microsoft Word but those programs do not offer syncing like Evernote does. There are newer programs in the space like Dropbox Paper and Google Docs which would be …
Chose Evernote
Microsoft OneNote is very similar to Evernote, and I think that the free version of OneNote is even better, but the users in our company preferred to use Evernote. You might check if Microsoft OneNote free version is good enough for your needs, it might save you some money.

Googl…
Chose Evernote
Evernote is a better product than OneNote because it is not attached to an organization with other apps. Evernote allows the user freedom to create notes without looking cluttered. Although it does not have features to clip notes from websites that I have seen, the sleek design …
Chose Evernote
Previously, I worked on OneNote a few times since it has released but have never really liked the software. Microsoft's OneNote interface is far too big and cumbersome for my low-resolution on tablets. OneNote's UI takes up about half the screen with wasted space between …
Chose Evernote
Google Keep does not require 15GB of storage and stores notes in small files. OneNote works well with Microsoft Office apps like Outlook and PowerPoint. In addition to supporting handwritten, the web clipper functionality of Evernote distinguishes it from other note-taking …
Chose Evernote
Evernote's simplicity far exceeds OneNote's. OneNote is clunky when entering information into a note. It is hard to position your cursor and format your notes. Also, the search is not as intuitive as Evernotes, the results are very messy and hard to sort through. It has …
Chose Evernote
Honestly, Trello is my favorite now that I've been using it, but Evernote is a strong close contender. It is an easy to use program and has premium features for a price. I think that there are now really good competitors in the market and they should ensure that they are able …
Chose Evernote
I have also used Google Keep; they are both similar products although Google Keep is more web-based and lends itself to being more portable than Evernote. However, when it comes to the richness of features, Evernote certainly wins out and can do a lot more than Google Keep. …
Chose Evernote
We migrated to Evernote whenever our office started using macs. The user functionality was roughly the same - and we found it easy to understand and use.

We use Notion.so more frequently now - this allows our office to have an internal hub, a place for journal entries/lists/ …
Chose Evernote
Google Drive is what I used to use for note-taking. It was good because it has good collaboration, but it is not nearly as organized, and it not aesthetic. Evernote is also better on mobile devices. I would use Evernote because it takes care of most of the organization.
Chose Evernote
Compared to the other applications I've used to make notes, Evernote has more built-in features and versatility made specifically for making notes and organizing them. Rather than using documents and keeping up with your finder organization, you can do that all within one app. …
OneNote
Chose OneNote
When I'm on my Mac I use Evernote - but when I'm on my Surface Pro I use OneNote. I feel that for my specific needs, the two programs complete the same two jobs. However, I like the visual format of Evernote a bit better than OneNote. Evernote I use more for creative notes, and …
Chose OneNote
  • OneNote has better integration with Outlook and Word.
  • OneNote keeps improving but Evernote seems [to have] stopped updating.
Chose OneNote
OneNote's tight integration into the devices and services I used meant that it presented a stronger value than Evernote. Furthermore, OneNote uses an account that I already make heavy use of (Microsoft Account) and did not require me to establish yet another account.
Chose OneNote
As stated earlier, Evernote is a little better at mobile and list making. Especially when doing things like needing to record different media types [written, photos, audio recording]. That being said, if Evernote shut its doors tomorrow, I'd just download all of that content …
Chose OneNote
Evernote and OneNote are very similar. Mac users may be more comfortable with Evernote as it has been the standard on Mac for many years, but OneNote has definitely caught up in terms of feature/functionality. Personally, I bounce back and forth between them as I have many …
Chose OneNote
I don't like Evernote's privacy policy. Plus, they were hacked and I don't think they're paying enough attention to their security. Evernote is decent for a consumer experience or a college student, but I think when it comes to an enterprise use case, it's really important to …
Chose OneNote
OneNote provides better integration into the Microsoft platform. It also excels over Evernote due to OneNote being ad-free and offline supported.
Chose OneNote
As far as I'm concerned, OneNote is the 'go-to' note-taking application. Evernote is not helpful and it's also confusing. OneNote has so much more functionality, putting Evernote to shame. Once I started using OneNote, Evernote became a thing of the past.
Chose OneNote
OneNote has quickly become my notetaking software of choice. It integrates seamlessly with the programs I use on a daily basis for work. Perhaps if I didn't have the program through Office 365 I would still consider Evernote. I find that OneNote has decent search functionality. …
Chose OneNote
OneNote is best for business needs. Evernote tends to be better for individual needs in my experience. If I am taking notes in a meeting or on a call, Evernote serves the purpose just fine. OneNote is a better platform for "meatier" projects and workbooks which is what our …
Chose OneNote
OneNote is great if you enjoy the Office suite. It integrated well into the already established workflow of the Office suite. It is a bit lacking in the app side of things, but that might be due to the ingrained idea of having a keyboard while using Office products and making …
Chose OneNote
I chose OneNote on the recommendation of a colleague. I found that OneNote is more useable than Evernote, although both are very good. Both products organize your notes in the same way, so it could also just come down to familiarity with OneNote, but I really like how the …
Chose OneNote
The only real product that I can directly hold in juxtaposition to OneNote is Evernote. OneNote ultimately wins that battle because of its zero cost. It compares like for like in most other ways to Evernote, with the exception of its organizational system. If you intend to …
Chose OneNote
Evernote is also a great product that I had used for years. However Evernote limits you with many various things when you don't have a premium subscription. So this makes one note really great for many use cases, and for many various teams. I think one note is a clear choice …
Chose OneNote
Evernote worked really well for this - Better than OneNote, but no Pabbly integration which I was switching to. Google Keep is ok, but more for doing sticky-note type notes (even if big ones) rather than sorting a large number of notes. I've also used Nimbus Note - This …
Chose OneNote
Mostly chose OneNote because it comes for free with the Microsoft suite. Google Keep is easier but I use it for personal, not a business.
Chose OneNote
OneNote has more features and capabilities, where most organizational-related apps are nothing more than to-do lists with little room for details or follow-up.
Chose OneNote
OneNote has its strength rooted in the ability to create and manage notes whereas some of the other players in the market address more niche needs, such as Notion. OneNote absolutely can facilitate note taking, semantic organization, sharing and collaboration, but if you are …
Chose OneNote
Both applications have excellent/good mobile apps that will handle document scanning, pictures, and the like, so it's largely the same there. Overall, I'll continue to use OneNote because it is free.

Chose OneNote
I tried organizing various online hard drive storage products like Dropbox, iCloud and Google Drive and One Drive. However, I like the visual aspects of OneNote when I save a document or webpage. It's simpler and I am able to know immediately if I have found the item I am …
Chose OneNote
Integration with other Microsoft Office products is much better with OneNote than any other note-taking tool. It's also crucial to have cloud-based syncing because I have used other products that only do local storage and you lose a lot of important information if that software …
Chose OneNote
OneNote is so easy to learn especially for users that have worked in Excel and Word. The ability to quickly hyperlink and post documents into OneNote is why we selected it. OneNote is already part of Office 365 so it made financial sense as well to utilize the product. OneNote …
Chose OneNote
Because many of our organizations use Windows and Microsoft Office suite as business tools, it makes sense to choose OneNote for notetaking and storing information. Other tools don't integrate as well with the Office desktop.
Chose OneNote
For me, OneNote is way simpler and easier to use. Furthermore, the storage options was one of the key factors that I choose OneNote. Since it's a software for my PC, I can just store all the documents on my computer and I will never have the fear of running out of space and …
Chose OneNote
OneNote is by far the easiest to get familiar with for our end users as well as its integration into the Microsoft suite has made adoption much easier with our employees. OneNote allows for Active Directory setting internally which help us administer and deploy the product …
Top Pros
Top Cons
User Ratings
EvernoteOneNote
Likelihood to Recommend
6.3
(106 ratings)
8.1
(70 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.3
(35 ratings)
10.0
(13 ratings)
Usability
7.6
(13 ratings)
9.5
(10 ratings)
Availability
8.9
(2 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Performance
8.9
(2 ratings)
8.8
(3 ratings)
Support Rating
8.9
(27 ratings)
8.7
(10 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.8
(8 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
EvernoteOneNote
Likelihood to Recommend
Evernote
Evernote is an excellent tool for keeping track of client relationships and taking notes. The indexing is excellent, with text in images and text. However, a Wiki might be better for large-scale collaboration. It is a perfect use case for it, and it is hard to beat. To-do lists that need to be tracked or have due dates assigned do not work well in Evernote. It's almost like a library that anyone can add to, edit, tag, and reference. Evernote has a limited checklist function in terms of tasks meant to be kept in one place rather than reviewed and organized over time.
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Microsoft
In my opinion OneNote is a must for anyone who does business. It’s versatile, stable and sustainable. It can keep private information private - like passwords. It can be used for collaborative work - like standard operating procedures. It is fairly easy to use and far superior to pen and paper. When used for meeting notes, it can be flagged with icons that are searchable - like ideas or important items. You can even create Outlook tasks on the fly
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Pros
Evernote
  • Ability to share meeting notes with others (like that it works well with Rocketbook).
  • The To-Do list helps with organization and project deadlines.
  • Able to sync to multiple devices so you can use it in the office or in the field.
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Microsoft
  • Because of its flexibility and ability to hold different types of content (text, images, tables), it is a great tool for collecting content from different resources and organizing it in one place.
  • Technical support analysts are using sections for their support case analysis; they paste pieces of logs, screen-shots, document their steps in troubleshooting etc., all in one section, to get the full picture yet stay organized.
  • The logic of content structure; Notebook>Section>Page>Paragraph, allows you to manage and collect all needed information by the areas of the user's responsibility. For example; each of my projects has its own section, in which each page is a task.
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Cons
Evernote
  • The free application's feature will meet most users needs, but the Premium plan is expensive.
  • Though Evernote lets you create and manage notes effortlessly, its basic plan supports sync between two devices and does not support offline mode.
  • Can't export data easily to other applications.
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Microsoft
  • The table editing tools are too simplistic and lack the features found in other Office products.
  • Some content loses its rich text formatting when being pasted into OneNote. A workaround is to paste the content first into Outlook or Word and then copy/pasting that into OneNote.
  • Microsoft is moving away from a local install of OneNote, which means notebooks have to be in the cloud in Office 2019. This will actually reduce the usefulness of OneNote in some environments and opens the door to competitor products.
  • Update: Microsoft has now announced that it will continue to support OneNote 2016 through 2023. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Office-365-Blog/Your-OneNote/ba-p/954922
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Likelihood to Renew
Evernote
I can't really imagine how much they'd have to charge me to make me quit Evernote. I can't really think of any technology that has changed my life as much without going back to email in the 90s, or the introduction of the iPhone. I know I sound ridiculous, but it would be really tough for me to live without it. If I were forced to choose between my smart phone (and keep in mind that I get lost in my driveway) and my Evernote, I'd probably choose my Evernote.
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Microsoft
As this is not a compulsory tool in our organization, I would say all depends on the decision makers, however since this is a part of MS Office, I am sure we will have it for as long as we will possibly need it. However, I would not be so sure, if it was a separate product
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Usability
Evernote
  • Basic visual organization - ability to create a notebook and store user notes inside of it.
  • Basic easy navigation - You can quickly move in and out of files and notes.
  • User intuitive addition - whatever you need to add to your document, it's relatively easy to understand and use.
  • We find overall that we still want some functionality in creating better task lists, boards, and other things that we find in Notion - which is the tool that we use as a team notebook/storage space.
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Microsoft
I find OneNote incredibly usable. I'm fairly middle of the road when it comes to tech savvy-ness. The platform was very easy to learn and explore. I like that OneNote is no clunky and offers a clean interface. This is important when it comes to deciding if a tool is usable for multiple people.
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Reliability and Availability
Evernote
Generally issues are by connectivity and not Evernote availability but I have had issues in the past with cross-client consistency of data which Evernote Support has ID'd as bugs that are still unresolved as far as I know
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Performance
Evernote
Fast and clean interface. Just upgraded to Evernote 5
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Microsoft
Overall, I rate OneNote's performance highly. In general, notebooks, sections and pages load quickly. OneNote integrates with other apps and info ca easily be shared/copied to and from the tool to other tools. Moreover, Notebooks tend to sync quickly meaning shared notebooks are up to date almost immediately provided there are no syncing issues.
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Support Rating
Evernote
I bet you won’t even need to call their support. Their product has never failed me. Simply put. But if you were to email them to gather some details or help, I bet they won’t disappoint you. Don’t worry about the support, it’s the last thing you should worry about this product.
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Microsoft
Since it is part of Microsoft Office and used across the globe there are a lot of support options available. It's quickest to just do a google search which will have plenty of articles to help you since there are so many OneNote users but as an Office customer you also have access to Microsoft support and I have had good experiences with their support (probably because I'm with a large company who is a large customer to them).
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Implementation Rating
Evernote
Make sure you think about your tags. If you end up with multiple similar tags then things aren't grouped together as you might prefer. For instance if you have a tag called Disney and Walt Disney, this will split up your articles. Evernote makes it simple to correct, but I suggest you make sure your users look closely at the existing tags before creating new ones.
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Evernote
The most similar program I have used is OneNote by Microsoft, and other note taking programs exist like Notepad and Microsoft Word but those programs do not offer syncing like Evernote does. There are newer programs in the space like Dropbox Paper and Google Docs which would be on a list of ones to consider.
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Microsoft
I tried using Evernote and it is an equally usable tool, however, I prefer the interface and capabilities of OneNote. OneNote seems much easier to use and understand. I think that may primarily be because OneNote is a Microsoft application and I am very used to using Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, etc. I also use OneNote to keep my grocery list. It does as good of a job as the grocery list applications out there, only I like the flexibility I have with OneNote and how I specifically do my shopping.
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Return on Investment
Evernote
  • Evernote has allowed our school's over 3000 students and staff members to work more efficiently instead of spending time on making physical notes, clicking pictures, and uploading them to the cloud in order to share them
  • The investment in Evernote Premium has also allowed for heavier files to be attached in each note such as student work that allows teachers to be certain that students have followed deadlines and finished assigned tasks
  • Evernote has allowed our school to smoothly transition in and out of online learning as the local COVID-19 protocols change and student work requires one platform to be based on throughout
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Microsoft
  • OneNote has become our organizational standard method of taking electronic notes (though some still prefer pen and paper.) It has been a zero cost outlay due to its freely available nature.
  • Its integration with other Microsoft Office products makes it easy to share notes and content between products, allowing for easy collaboration where needed.
  • OneNote's integration with OneDrive ensures that individual's notes are always safe and secure, taking away the tedious responsibility of backup from the user, and makes it happen seamlessly in the background.
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ScreenShots