After months of bouncing between note-taking apps, from the minimalist appeal of Keep Notes to the evergreen Evernote and the privacy-first approach of Standard Notes, I found myself in the same familiar place. Each new tool promised to be the ultimate solution. Yet, despite my efforts to integrate them into my daily routine, none truly met my needs.
Time and again, I found myself coming back to OneNote. It proves that sometimes, the most popular tools earn their status for a reason. Here is why, after exploring alternatives, OneNote remains my undisputed champion in the crowded world of note-taking.
Related
8 OneNote features that Google Keep and Google Docs needs to steal immediately
Microsoft’s free note-taker doesn’t disappoint
OneNote covers the basics
OneNote nails the fundamentals. From the start, it feels familiar and intuitive. Its editor is a powerhouse of simplicity and capability. I can click anywhere on the page and start typing, instantly creating a text box.
OneNote on Android offers a dedicated home page where I can access my frequently used notes instantly. Instead of digging through endless notebooks and sections or relying on search queries, I immediately see the notes I have been working on and pick up where I left off on my desktop.
Unlike Notion and other modern tools, there isn’t a learning curve or a complex block editor to deal with. For a newcomer, the number of options, databases, and block types can be overwhelming. Also, OneNote offers native apps on all the major platforms. In contrast, tools like Notion and Evernote have web-based apps that often fall short of native performance.
Here is where OneNote stands out, especially for someone like me who frequently uses a stylus. On my HP convertible laptop, which I often use in tablet mode, or with my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and its S Pen, OneNote transforms into a limitless digital notepad. I can pick up the stylus and jot down quick notes, sketch diagrams, or brainstorm ideas in a freeform way that feels natural. The pen fidelity is excellent, with virtually no lag, making the experience akin to writing on actual paper.
I can use a selection of pens, pencils, and highlighters, which can be customized in terms of thickness, color, and texture. The Ink to text functionality is accurate as well. It converts my messy handwriting into searchable text with a tap.
Similarly, I can draw a rough circle, square, or triangle, and OneNote snaps it into a perfect, clean shape. This is brilliant for creating quick flowcharts, mind maps, and more without relying on a dedicated drawing app.
I also like several page options that OneNote bundles with its desktop app. I can change the page style and page background color to fit my preferences.
I prefer OneNote’s organization method
Among all the note-taking apps, I prefer OneNote’s organization method the most. The combination of notebooks, sections, subsections, and pages allows me to create a hierarchy of information that mirrors how my brain categorizes things.
I created notebooks for categories, such as Personal, Freelancing, Financial, Quotes, Projects, Web Design, No Code tools, and more. Within each notebook, I added sections and subsections. For instance, in the Web Design notebook, I added sections like Wireframes, Framer, Figma, WordPress, Wix, and more.
This structure allows me to zoom in on specific details when I need to. I know exactly where I need to navigate to find a note. Unlike Evernote and Standard Notes, I don’t need to deal with dozens of tags to organize my notes. For quick notes, I prefer the built-in Sticky Notes. Later, I can organize the information manually on specific pages.
Support for math formulas is a hidden gem
This is another crucial feature for me that’s missing from tools like Keep Notes, Evernote, Standard Notes, and Bundled Notes. For someone like me, who frequently needs to crunch numbers or deal with simple equations on the fly, OneNote’s built-in math capabilities are a subtle but powerful productivity booster.
Whether I’m calculating quick travel expenses, monthly income, yearly EMIs, or the number of words for a client, I can type the entire equation, and type = at the end to get the final answer. I no longer need to open a separate calculator app for such calculations. This might not seem like a headline feature, but the convenience it offers is immense.
OneNote also supports a range of functions and operations and Math Assistant. If I write a complex equation, especially with my stylus, I can use the Lasso Select tool to circle it and then access the Math Assistant pane. Many note-taking apps are fantastic for text and organization. However, they often leave a gap when it comes to quick on-the-fly calculations.
Related
Microsoft Loop vs. OneNote: Which productivity tool is better for you?
The new kid on the block meets a classic
OneNote works seamlessly with existing Microsoft apps and services
Source: Microsoft
I have an active Microsoft 365 subscription, which comes with 1TB of OneDrive storage. This is more than enough to accommodate my OneNote notebooks and pages. Besides, I use an HP Spectre x360 as my primary machine, and OneNote is neatly integrated into the Start menu. For example, if I start writing a note on my Galaxy S23 Ultra, I can access the same from the Start Menu on Windows.
The same goes for Sticky Notes. I can create sticky notes on Android and check them out from the desktop. There is also a one-click solution to save my Outlook emails into OneNote notebooks. OneNote also offers a floatie, where I can display an app shortcut on my Android home screen. That way, I can open the editor window from any screen and take a note without breaking a sweat.
The future is bright for OneNote
Although OneNote is one of the oldest note-taking apps, its future seems bright. Recently, Microsoft announced Copilot notebooks in OneNote, where you can add research materials and use AI to generate summaries and insightful information. It looks and sounds similar to Google’s NotebookLM, and I’m eager to try it.
The OneNote team is also rumored to be working on a much-awaited tasks feature. OneNote isn’t going away anytime soon, and I can depend on it to store all my thoughts and work notes.
Efficiency, simplicity, and stability
Picking a note-taking tool is a personal choice. While some prefer Evernote’s web clipper, the simplicity of Keep Notes, or the privacy add-ons of Standard Notes, OneNote ticks all the boxes for me. Still, it isn’t perfect. I would love to see better sync speeds, Material Design, more widgets, and better Copilot integration. If you are starting out with OneNote, check out this guide to use Microsoft’s note-taking app effectively.
