Apple Notes vs Microsoft OneNote
Apple Notes: The free notes app built into every Mac, iPhone and iPad, synced with iCloud. Microsoft OneNote: Microsoft's digital notebook, free to use and bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
| Apple Notes | Microsoft OneNote | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, included with Apple devices | Free to use, Microsoft 365 plans from $9.99 per month |
| Free option | Notes is free on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Syncing uses your iCloud storage, and iCloud+ storage plans start at $0.99 per month for 50 GB | Microsoft advertises OneNote as free ("Take notes anywhere for free") |
| License | Proprietary, included with Apple devices | Proprietary |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Web (icloud.com) | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac |
| Notes stored as | iCloud or on-device notes, with Markdown import, export and Copy as Markdown on the Mac | Microsoft cloud notebooks, synced across your devices |
Choose Apple Notes if
- you use only Apple devices and want something that just works
- you want quick notes, lists, sketches and audio with no extra cost
- you only need Markdown occasionally, through export or Copy as Markdown
Strengths
- Already installed on every Apple device, nothing to set up
- Drawings, audio recording with live transcripts, inline math, and attachments (per the Apple Notes User Guide)
- On the Mac you can import Markdown, export a note as Markdown, and use Edit > Copy as Markdown
- Optional end-to-end encryption for Notes with Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
Limits
- No native app for Windows, Linux or Android; other devices use icloud.com in a browser
- Notes live in Apple's library, not as a folder of Markdown files, so other editors cannot open them directly
- No plugin system or linked-note graph
Pricing details
- Notes itself costs nothing. It ships with macOS, iOS and iPadOS and works on the web at icloud.com
- iCloud+ storage plans listed on apple.com/icloud: 50 GB $0.99, 200 GB $2.99, 2 TB $9.99, 6 TB $29.99, 12 TB $59.99 per month
Choose Microsoft OneNote if
- you already use Microsoft 365 and want notes next to Word and Outlook
- you take handwritten or annotated notes with a pen
- you want a free notebook that works on every device
Strengths
- Sketch, annotate and highlight freely, which suits handwriting and pen input
- Share and collaborate on notebooks
- Voice transcription, and Copilot to draft plans and organize notes on paid plans
- Part of the Microsoft 365 set alongside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Limits
- Proprietary and tied to a Microsoft account
- Microsoft does not describe Markdown or plain file storage for OneNote, so moving notes to other tools usually means exporting
- Copilot features need a paid Microsoft 365 plan
Pricing details
- Microsoft 365 Personal: $9.99 per month, 1 person, 1 TB cloud storage, OneNote desktop app with Copilot
- Microsoft 365 Family: $12.99 per month, 1 to 6 people, 2 TB shared storage
- Microsoft 365 Premium: $19.99 per month, adds more extensive Copilot and agentic AI usage
- All three plans include a 1 month free trial. Prices checked on the Microsoft OneNote page and may vary by region
Apple Notes
The free notes app built into every Mac, iPhone and iPad, synced with iCloud.
Proprietary
- Price: Free, included with Apple devices
- Platforms: macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Web (icloud.com)
- Storage: iCloud or on-device notes, with Markdown import, export and Copy as Markdown on the Mac
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft's digital notebook, free to use and bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Proprietary
- Price: Free to use, Microsoft 365 plans from $9.99 per month
- Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac
- Storage: Microsoft cloud notebooks, synced across your devices
See all options: Apple Notes alternatives · Microsoft OneNote alternatives · Markdown tools directory
Details come from each vendor's own website and were checked on 2026-11-15. Confirm current prices on the vendor page.