OneNote and Evernote: The Battle for the Title of Best Note-Taking App
When it comes to note-taking apps, there are two frontrunners competing for the crown: Microsoft’s OneNote and the independent Evernote. OneNote, which was launched in 2003 and added to the Microsoft Office suite in 2007, is now bundled with Windows 10 and 11, and is offered for free as a standalone product. Evernote, on the other hand, was launched in 2008 and boasts 225 million users worldwide.
Both OneNote and Evernote are available on all major desktop and mobile operating systems, offering syncing capabilities across devices and the web. They both claim to be the only note-taking app you’ll ever need. However, there are distinct differences between the two, especially when it comes to business users.
As a long-time user of both apps, I have examined the latest versions of each for Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, and Android. This is not an in-depth review, but rather a personal assessment of what I like and dislike about each app, as well as the key differences between them. While I primarily use the Windows versions, I will also highlight similarities and differences in other versions.
It’s important to note that after many years of confusion caused by Microsoft’s three different versions of OneNote, there is now only one version that the company will continue to update, known as OneNote for Windows. This review is based on OneNote for Windows.
OneNote: The Ultimate Organizational Tool
OneNote is a comprehensive application that allows you to create and organize simple or complex notes, sync them across platforms, and search through them with ease. Its note-creation features, such as drawing tools, audio and video recording, and image scanning, are more extensive than Evernote’s.
The organization structure of OneNote is particularly appealing for users who value structure and logic. You can create individual notebooks, section groups within each notebook, and further divide them into sections and pages. This makes it ideal for organizing content in a logical hierarchy.
OneNote is also becoming more integrated with the rest of the Microsoft 365 suite, making live collaboration easy for enterprise users. It seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Teams, allowing for shared access and collaboration within Teams channels.
Web Clipping: Evernote’s Edge
While OneNote excels at note creation and organization, it falls short in terms of web clipping compared to Evernote. OneNote does offer a browser add-on called the OneNote Web Clipper, available for Microsoft Edge, Chrome, and Firefox. However, clipping content from the web can be hit or miss. Sometimes, it only captures a headline, subhead, and a link, resembling a bookmark rather than the full article. Additionally, the clipper can be temperamental and display error messages or overlay content in a disordered manner. Clipping an entire page or a region of a page saves it as a graphic image, rendering any links or multimedia elements non-functional.
On the other hand, Evernote is renowned for its web-clipping capabilities, allowing users to easily capture content from the internet. This feature sets it apart from OneNote in terms of gathering and organizing online information.
OneNote for Windows: The Powerhouse
OneNote truly shines on Windows, where it offers its full suite of note-creation tools. Its interface is reminiscent of other Microsoft Office applications, utilizing the familiar Office Ribbon to provide easy access to features. OneNote for Windows has eight Ribbon tabs, each offering a plethora of options for file management, formatting, inserting objects, drawing, and collaboration.
In conclusion, both OneNote and Evernote have their strengths and weaknesses. While OneNote excels in note creation and organizational capabilities, Evernote has the edge when it comes to web clipping. The Windows version of OneNote offers the most comprehensive set of features, making it a powerhouse note-taking app. Ultimately, the best choice between the two will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the user.
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