Google Keep vs Microsoft OneNote
Google Keep: Google's free sticky-note style app for quick notes, lists, photos and reminders. Microsoft OneNote: Microsoft's digital notebook, free to use and bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
| Google Keep | Microsoft OneNote | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free with a Google account | Free to use, Microsoft 365 plans from $9.99 per month |
| Free option | Free with a Google account. Keep is also part of Google Workspace for business accounts | Microsoft advertises OneNote as free ("Take notes anywhere for free") |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | Web, Android, iOS | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac |
| Notes stored as | Google account cloud, synced in real time | Microsoft cloud notebooks, synced across your devices |
Choose Google Keep if
- you want fast capture of lists and reminders on your phone
- you already live in Gmail, Docs and Drive
- you share shopping lists or to-dos with other people
Strengths
- Notes, lists, photos, drawings and audio, with reminders
- Real-time sync across phone, computer and watch, and real-time shared editing
- Export a note to Google Docs to turn it into a full document
Limits
- On a computer Keep runs in the browser; Google says offline access is only in the mobile apps
- Google does not describe Markdown support on the Keep pages, and notes are not stored as files
- Built for short notes and lists, with no nested notebooks or linked notes
Pricing details
- Keep has no separate paid plan. It uses the storage of your Google account
- Business users get Keep as part of a Google Workspace subscription
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
Google Keep
Google's free sticky-note style app for quick notes, lists, photos and reminders.
Proprietary
- Price: Free with a Google account
- Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
- Storage: Google account cloud, synced in real time
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: Google Keep 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.