Abstract

• Apple Notes has a easy interface and fundamental note-taking options. It may be accessed by means of Mac and iPhone or iPad apps, and synced throughout Apple units.
• OneNote provides a free-form interface, extra textual content formatting choices, various attachments, and pocket book group. It has Android and Home windows variations accessible too.
• Each apps are evenly matched in lots of areas, which one you select will possible rely in your strategy to note-taking and the units you utilize (and there is nothing mistaken with utilizing each).

On the hunt for a note-taking app on your Mac? You do not have to look exhausting since Apple Notes is a superb place to begin. However how does Apple’s app maintain up in opposition to a note-taking behemoth like Microsoft’s OneNote? The place do these apps converge and diverge, and what’s greatest for you?

Apple Notes Has a Less complicated Interface

Apple Notes carries Apple’s signature minimalist interface, making it easy to navigate. The paper-style background might be fundamental, nevertheless it additionally makes it straightforward to take and browse notes with out distractions. You will must depend on the menu bar on the prime of the display for a lot of features, with fast choices for observe group, formatting, new observe creation, and deletion accessible within the navigation bar.

OneNote has an online app model and a desktop app that you need to use in your Mac. The note-taking app’s interface differs from Notes with its free-form really feel. Creating notebooks on OneNote can typically really feel like you’re utilizing a web page designer, and on condition that its ribbon has the identical format you’ll see in a Microsoft 365 utility comparable to Phrase, navigation is straightforward in case you are acquainted with the Microsoft 365 suite.

OneNote’s sidebar, with navigation for notes, search, and historical past, might help you shortly discover what you’re in search of. The desktop app additionally comes with menu bar choices in your Mac, together with “Format”, “File,” and “Pocket book.”

Of the 2, Apple Notes feels easier and extra user-friendly whereas OneNote has a extra exhaustive really feel that feels highly effective (with the chance of being overwhelming).

Apple Notes has a basic feature set to get you began with easy and hassle-free notes. By Management+clicking (right-clicking) the textual content, you’ll be able to entry formatting choices, together with totally different font types. Notes allows you to create easy checklists (which I discover straightforward to make use of for procuring or to-do lists) and easy tables. The app’s textual content types, which you’ll entry from the ribbon, embrace a monostyle that may deliver a typewriter really feel to your notes.

You may leverage native Apple options like Math Notes and Apple Intelligence writing tools whereas note-takiong. Notes additionally has a Quick Notes option, which you’ll entry out of your Mac’s bottom-right nook.

With OneNote, you might have a wider vary of textual content formatting choices, much like Phrase. Like Apple Notes, it provides drawing instruments, with extra to select from past pen and highlighter instruments, comparable to lasso and ruler. You may insert components comparable to checklists, math equations, bullet lists, code, stickers, and tables, or select from fascinating templates (like a voting desk, process checklist, or Kanban board), which assist make your notes versatile.

Certainly one of my favourite options of OneNote is observe types: you’ll be able to change your pocket book from regular textual content to a handwritten fashion, or change your paper fashion to incorporate grid or rule strains. This feeds into the “pocket book” feeling, which might be helpful in case you are a scholar in search of a very good digital note-taking app.

You may obtain any Apple Notes and OneNote observe or pocket book as a PDF doc, or immediately print them.

OneNote Has Home windows and Android Apps

You should utilize Apple Notes’ pre-installed, native app from the consolation of your Mac. It will also be used by means of iCloud.com if you’d like an online model, however this solely means that you can work with notes saved in iCloud. To make use of the Notes app, it’s good to have an Apple system since it’s unavailable on Android and Home windows. The online model can, nevertheless, be used if you don’t personal an Apple system however have an Apple account.

Microsoft’s OneNote has a desktop app which you could obtain from the Mac App Retailer. You can too use the online model for straightforward entry by means of your Microsoft 365 account. OneNote additionally has a local Android model accessible, in addition to a Home windows app; Apple Notes solely has devoted apps for Mac or iPhone and iPad.

Each Apps Provide Stable Group Options

Apple Notes has a folder administration system that’s straightforward to navigate. You may type notes into totally different folders, together with iCloud notes, Math Notes, and Fast notes, or create your personal work or challenge folders. Smart folders allow you to filter your notes by tag, making it straightforward to shortly discover particular notes that you just need to reference. Collapsible sections deliver group inside a observe.

OneNote organizes your notes as notebooks and additional breaks them down into separate sections. You may create a number of notebooks with a number of sections and pages inside them for higher categorization.

Each apps have tags: Apple Notes allows you to tag notes with hashtags that set up them into totally different classes, whereas OneNote helps you categorize totally different sections or notes inside a pocket book utilizing tags like “Deal with,” “To Do Precedence,” and “Thought.”

Each Assist Collaboration

Apple Notes allows you to ship a replica of a observe to a collaborator. You may collaborate in real-time on notes or folders with different iCloud customers, and set solely invited folks to edit or view. You may even give them permission to ask others or limit their entry. The @Mentions feature elevates the best way you collaborate.

A serious benefit that you just get with Apple Notes is the sync: you’ll be able to sync your iCloud notes throughout your Apple units, which makes entry a cakewalk. Sketching by means of your iPad with an Apple Pencil might be simpler than in your Mac, and with sync, you need to use the most effective of every Apple system you personal to make the most effective notes.

When you save a pocket book to a OneDrive or SharePoint website, you’ll be able to share a OneNote collaboration hyperlink for enhancing or viewing. Notes saved on OneDrive or SharePoint are additionally routinely synced, so you’ll be able to see real-time adjustments throughout units the place you might have signed in.

Each Are Free, With Paid Upgrades Out there

Each Apple Notes and OneNote are free to obtain and use. Nonetheless, you do pay the worth for the Notes app by means of any Apple system you personal, on condition that it’s an unique Apple app. Past your system, Notes will also be saved on iCloud, so in case you want extra storage, you might need to contemplate an iCloud+ storage plan. Plans vary between $0.99 (50 GB) and $59.99 (12 TB).

OneNote’s supported variations are free to obtain, however there are specific premium options, comparable to Ink Replay (recording of your note-taking historical past) and Researcher, which require a Microsoft 365 subscription to entry. For notebooks saved by means of OneDrive or SharePoint, you would possibly want additional cupboard space past the 5 GB you get totally free. Plans vary from $2 to $10 per thirty days, with storage starting from 100 GB to six TB (for a household plan).

Voice Notes, Transcription and Attachments Options are Matched

Past textual content, you’ll be able to add information or media to your observe/pocket book. Apple Notes allows you to connect media like photographs, movies, and sketches (or insert them out of your iPhone). Audio recordings and PDFs might be simply inserted, and in case you use notes saved in your Mac or upgraded iCloud notes, you’ll be able to even add map areas and webpage previews from one other app like Safari, Maps, or Preview. Hyperlinks to different notes, or exterior webpages will also be added to a observe.

Apple Notes additionally helps voice notes with automated transcription, which integrates with the voicemail function on an iPhone.

OneNote allows you to insert media comparable to photos, scanned pictures, display clippings, and Visio diagrams. You may add a Word document, PDF file attachment or file printout, Excel spreadsheet, and Microsoft Varieties. Recording and transcribing audio is one other function that may assist for collaborative notebooks. You can too use Workplace add-ins by means of OneNote, so it positively provides a big number of attachments.

There are Wonderful Privateness Options Throughout the Board

Privateness might be crucial for notes that may include delicate info. You may lock your notes behind a customized password, or use your login password or Touch ID to guard your Apple Notes.

OneNote allows you to password-protect sections of your notebooks, however not whole notebooks. You can too defend and lock a number of sections of your notebooks by means of a novel password. Passwords might be modified and eliminated whenever you need.

For each apps, your Mac’s login password or Contact ID is one other safety measure you’ll be able to take if you find yourself leaving your work unattended.

The Verdict

Each note-taking apps include their very own host of benefits. I exploit Notes and OneNote for various functions: Apple Notes is greatest suited in case you are deeply immersed in the Apple ecosystem given its native strategy, and the flexibility to make use of Apple options comparable to Math Notes and Apple Intelligence.

Nonetheless, if you wish to take detailed notes with entry to extra formatting and attachment choices, that may make it easier to create organized notebooks, OneNote is the best way to go. I discover OneNote to be higher for productivity-related notes and research notes that contain components like Excel spreadsheets and Varieties for a extra complete note-taking expertise. The desktop app is straightforward to navigate and use. In case you have an current Microsoft 365 subscription, you can even entry premium options.

OneNote is a greater note-taking app in case you recognize the flexibility to design your notes with a web page designer, dragging components onto the web page like textual content containers, pictures, and attachments. Apple Notes is a straightforward and simple note-taking app: you sort such as you would write on a notepad and also you add pictures and attachments in-line.

Total, think about using each apps since they’re accessible totally free and excel in several areas. What works greatest for me is compartmentalizing my notes by app, relying on what I’m seeking to get out of them.