Onenote Vs Evernote Which Note Taking Software Wins In 2025 Selecthub

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 2, 2026, 6:36 AM

onenote vs evernote which note taking software wins in 2025 selecthub

Our analysts compared OneNote vs Evernote based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Note-Taking Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform. Is Microsoft OneNote really worth taking note of, or is it just another note-taking app lost in the shuffle? User reviews from the past year reveal a mixed bag, but one thing is clear: OneNote's generous free plan and robust features make it a strong contender in the note-taking arena. Users consistently praise its versatility in handling various media types, like seamlessly integrating graphs, pictures, and even audio recordings into notes. This flexibility sets it apart from more restrictive competitors like Evernote, which often lock such features behind paywalls. However, OneNote's interface is a common point of contention.

Some users find it less intuitive than rivals like Evernote, particularly when navigating through extensive notes. This clunkiness can be a hurdle for those seeking a streamlined, minimalist experience. Another drawback is the limited local storage option available only on Windows, a potential dealbreaker for users prioritizing offline access on other operating systems. Despite these drawbacks, OneNote shines with its comprehensive organizational tools. Users appreciate the ability to structure notes into a hierarchy of pages, sections, and subsections, making it a breeze to manage even the most unwieldy amounts of information. This granular control, coupled with seamless cross-device syncing and tight integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, makes OneNote a compelling choice for students, professionals, and anyone seeking a powerful, free-to-use note-taking solution.

Are you still jotting down notes the Ever-way instead of Ever-now? In the past year, Evernote has received a mixed bag of reviews from its user base. On the positive side, many users continue to praise its intuitive interface and powerful search capabilities, which make organizing and retrieving notes a breeze. The cross-platform syncing remains a strong point, allowing seamless access across devices, and the structured organization through Notes and Notebooks appeals to those who prefer a methodical approach to information management. However, a significant number of users have voiced frustrations following the 2023 acquisition by Bending Spoons, which led to a doubling of subscription costs. This price hike has made the free version feel notably restrictive, especially when compared to more generous offerings from competitors like Microsoft OneNote and Notion.

Additionally, performance issues such as slow loading times and frequent intrusive upgrade prompts have detracted from the overall user experience. These drawbacks have made Evernote appear less flexible and more expensive, causing many to reconsider their loyalty. Users emphasize that while Evernote still offers reliable synchronization and a solid foundation for note-taking, the elevated costs and diminishing returns have pushed them towards alternatives that provide better value and evolving feature sets. Ultimately, Evernote seems best suited for individuals and professionals who heavily rely on its structured organization and are willing to invest in its premium features despite the higher price. For those seeking more flexibility and affordability, exploring other note-taking applications might be a more favorable option. OneNote has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 4694 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

Evernote has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 3698 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites. Important thing to know about Evernote on Android phones after 2021: when you’re placing or moving a note into a notebook, the list of notebooks no longer shows up as alphabetized, but random. I’ve used this app for many years, and this change makes it so cumbersome for me (I have over 100 notebooks), I’m probably going to jump ship. Who pays for a note taking software or locks themselves into M$ walled garden? Use Emacs+Orgmode, blows both of these bloated overrated software into water. Or there are so many good open source alternatives like Joplin.

Why pay? Because there is security in paying for a product made by stable companies with deep pockets. Joplin could disappear any day This can happen to companies and their products as well, and a lot open source projects have a longer lifetime then many companies out there. Some may argue that support could be an argument, but with some open source projects this is also the case. Evernote may have the worst customer support ever.

I have paid for premium for 8 years, but my notes suddenly all disappeared. When I log in with email and password, I’m told that unless I have Premium (I do, but it doesn’t recognize me), I can’t chat. No way to ask a person what happened, and the “help” doesn’t. I’m switching to OneNote, but I’ve lost a lot of info. OneNote vs Evernote: Discover which note-taking app fits your workflow in 2025. Get expert insights on features, pricing, integrations, and real-world productivity use cases.

Digital notes are no longer just about jotting things down. In 2025, they’re your second brain, organising everything from lecture notes and meeting recaps to web clippings, PDFs, and creative ideas. Two apps are huge in this space: Microsoft OneNote and Evernote. But which one’s actually worth your time, attention, and (possibly) money? This guide goes beyond the basics to help you choose the best note-taking app for your unique workflow, whether you’re a student, executive, creative, or entrepreneur. Think of OneNote as your digital binder.

It’s free, flexible, and works seamlessly with Microsoft 365. You can mix typed text with handwritten notes, voice memos, drawings, and files—all on the same page. When it comes to choosing the best note-taking app for productivity, two giants dominate the conversation: Evernote and OneNote. Whether you're a student juggling assignments or a professional organizing your workflows, selecting the right tool can make a serious difference in how efficiently you capture and retrieve information. In this article, I break down Evernote vs OneNote—based on real use cases, features, and value—for anyone wondering which is truly the best free note-taking app in 2025. With AI integration, cross-device syncing, and cloud storage becoming standard, note-taking apps have evolved far beyond simple sticky notes.

You’re no longer just choosing an app—you’re choosing a digital brain. Whether you want to clip web articles, store handwritten notes, or collaborate with your team, the feature sets of Evernote and OneNote differ more than you might think. Evernote has been around since 2008 and is praised for its intuitive tagging system and clean interface. It's perfect for users who: As a marketer at a fast-paced agency, I would be terrible at my job if I didn't take good notes. You know—project deadline reminders, priority lists, links to resources, research notes—all the things that, if unkempt, could turn into a pile of colorful sticky notes and paper mountains on my desk.

There are a lot of .css-19a5n3-Link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']{color:var(--zds-text-link, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']:hover{outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #2b2358);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']:hover{color:var(--zds-gray-warm-5, #a8a5a0);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']:focus{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);outline-color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']{color:var(--zds-text-link, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #2b2358);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:var(--zds-gray-warm-5, #a8a5a0);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);outline-color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;}note-taking apps out there that solve this... Evernote went to pot for a few years, losing its edge, but it's made a comeback. OneNote, however, has consistently held its ground, especially for those already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem. I downloaded both apps and spent several days using each one to better understand their nuanced features. Read on for an in-depth look at Evernote vs. OneNote, and decide which app is right for you.

.css-19a5n3-Link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']{color:var(--zds-text-link, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']:hover{outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #2b2358);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']:hover{color:var(--zds-gray-warm-5, #a8a5a0);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']:focus{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);outline-color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']{color:var(--zds-text-link, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #2b2358);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:var(--zds-gray-warm-5, #a8a5a0);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);outline-color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;}Evernote vs. OneNote at a glance .css-19a5n3-Link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']{color:var(--zds-text-link, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']:hover{outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #2b2358);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']:hover{color:var(--zds-gray-warm-5, #a8a5a0);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']:focus{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);outline-color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']{color:var(--zds-text-link, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #2b2358);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:var(--zds-gray-warm-5, #a8a5a0);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);outline-color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;}What's not different between Evernote and OneNote As digital productivity tools continue to evolve, choosing the right note-taking app in 2025 is more crucial than ever. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, remote worker, or creative professional, the right platform can greatly enhance how you capture, organize, and retrieve information. This year, Evernote, Notion, and OneNote emerge as the top contenders in the digital note-taking space.

While each offers robust features, their differences can significantly impact your workflow. Below, we break down their strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases to help you make the best choice. Evernote has long been a cornerstone in the note-taking world, known for its classic notebook interface and structured organization. It remains a go-to for users who favor simplicity and a clean user experience. Evernote supports text, images, audio clips, checklists, and attachments—all synchronized across devices. While its free plan has notable restrictions, premium plans unlock offline access, calendar integrations, and more advanced organizational tools.

Limitations: Evernote can feel rigid compared to more flexible platforms, especially for users looking to build custom workflows.

Onenote Vs Evernote Which Note Taking Software Wins In 2025 Selecthub

People Also Search

Our Analysts Compared OneNote Vs Evernote Based On Data From

Some Users Find It Less Intuitive Than Rivals Like Evernote,

Are You Still Jotting Down Notes The Ever-way Instead Of

Additionally, Performance Issues Such As Slow Loading Times And Frequent

Evernote Has A 'great' User Satisfaction Rating Of 85% When