Microsoft OneNote review
8.2/10★★★★★Free freeform notebook with ink, voice transcription and Copilot with Microsoft 365
- Best for
- Students and Microsoft 365 users who want free notes with optional Copilot
- Price
- Freemium · from $9.99/month
Free: OneNote is free with 5GB of OneDrive storage - Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
- Made by
- Microsoft, Redmond, USA · since 1975
- App store ratings
- iOS 4.7★ (1.07M) · Android 4.5★ (1.5M)
What it is
OneNote is a free, freeform notebook for typed notes, digital ink, images and audio, with voice transcription. With a Microsoft 365 plan the OneNote desktop app includes Copilot, and Copilot Notebooks let you chat with AI about your files.
What the AI does
- Copilot in the OneNote desktop app (Microsoft 365)
- Copilot Notebooks for AI chat over your files
- Voice transcription
- Quick Capture of text, voice, ink or images
Pros and cons
- Free app on every platform
- Excellent digital ink and freeform canvas
- Copilot comes with a Microsoft 365 plan many people already have
- Copilot requires a paid Microsoft 365 plan
- Freeform pages can get messy and feel corporate
How it scores
A free, cross-platform notebook with strong ink; AI depends on a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Feature checklist · 6 of 9
- Ask AI questions about your own notes (yes)
- AI writing help (draft, rewrite or summarise) (no)
- Records and transcribes audio or meetings (yes)
- Handwritten notes with a pen or stylus (yes)
- AI organises notes or surfaces related notes automatically (no)
- Web clipper or quick capture from other apps (yes)
- Works offline (no)
- Useful free plan (yes)
- Apps for iPhone, Android and desktop (yes)
Alternatives
See all Microsoft OneNote alternatives, ranked →
- Notion 8.1/10People and teams who want notes, docs and projects in one AI-powered workspace
- Craft 8.1/10Apple users who want polished, well-structured notes and docs with AI
- Goodnotes 8.0/10Students and tablet users who take notes by hand
- Obsidian 7.9/10Power users who want local, private notes and full control over which AI they use
Microsoft OneNote vs NotionMicrosoft OneNote vs CraftMicrosoft OneNote vs GoodnotesMicrosoft OneNote vs ObsidianMicrosoft OneNote vs Apple NotesMicrosoft OneNote vs CapacitiesMicrosoft OneNote vs EvernoteMicrosoft OneNote vs MemMicrosoft OneNote vs Reflect