OneNote on the web and the macOS do not have all the features of the Windows version.

Draw with a Surface pen, an Apple Pencil, or a mouse.

Create richer notes by adding audio and video to your notes.

Automatically insert source links for anything copied and pasted from the web.

Use optical character recognition to import images and make the text searchable.

Collaborate and share your notes with a team or family members.

OneNote supports freeform text - enter and position it anywhere.

OneNote is one of the best note taking apps for students because of its focus on educational features. OneNote for Windows 10 is a universal app that comes with every Windows install.Ī Microsoft 365 subscription opens up more advanced features like the Math Assistant. OneNote 2016 is free and is available from the Microsoft Store and the Mac App Store. OneNote is available in two flavors and it is important to understand their differences.

It is available for macOS, Android, iOS, and in the cloud. Microsoft OneNote is organized like a digital three-ring binder with notebook, sections, and pages.

Does not work independently on other devices without OneNote.Ĭost: Free, Premium features with Microsoft 365 subscription.

Use the Microsoft account to sync all notes to other devices via OneNote.

Enable Cortana Insights to automatically set reminders, call phone numbers, send email messages, go to a web address, check stock prices, and more.

Format your notes with keyboard shortcuts and the formatting toolbar.

Write or draw on the notes with touch compatible devices.

Just like Google Keep, it looks spartan but it gives you a few features to play around with. If you don’t find it, then install the free app from the Microsoft Store. Windows 10 users don’t have to download Sticky Notes because it is available as a default app.

It may not be the first choice if absolute privacy is a must.

There is no option to format the notes.

There is no complex organizational feature.

Collaborate and share notes with others.

Use a single level of labels to organize notes.

Drag and drop notes from Keep to Google Docs.

Color code notes to find them faster with a glance.

Keep on the web can transcribe text from inserted images.

Draw and sketch ideas on notes and share it with others.

Dictate notes and automatically transcribe them.

Use on all platforms via your Google account.

It offers great features for the minimalist and it is free. Google Keep is part of the Google ecosystem. Its simplicity makes it the perfect choice for those who need a basic and quick tool to capture inspiration in an instant. It is barebones and cross-platform as it is a cloud app. Google Keep resembles Post-It notes and the utility is almost the same for your digital note-taking needs. Platforms: Web, Browser extensions, Android, iOS

The best note taking apps for Windows and macOS 1.

Android note taking app source code