
Microsoft OneNote
Last Updated
Key Takeaways
Generated from the text of customer reviews
Microsoft OneNote is a digital notetaking and organization tool used by educators, engineers, project teams, and other knowledge workers. Users value its organization, search, flexibility, and cross-device syncing. However, limited formatting options remain a concern among a few. Recent updates include the bug fixing related to its startup and copy pasting from a web page containing a tab with no attributes.
Our Verdict
Microsoft OneNote suits teams that need a flexible workspace for ongoing notes, research, and project documentation. Pricing is reasonable since it doesn't require separate charges, provided users already have a Microsoft 365 subscription. Overall, it is recommended for organizations prioritizing flexible note management over structured project management.
Overall Rating
Based on 11 users reviews
4.5
Rating Distribution
Positive
82%
Neutral
18%
Negative
0%
Starting Price
$9.99
per month
Microsoft OneNote Specifications
- Document Management
- Task & Project Management
- File Sharing & Management
- Mobile Accessibility
What Is Microsoft OneNote?
Microsoft OneNote is a note-taking app that gives users a digital space to capture ideas, organize projects, and keep notes accessible across devices. Its searchable notebooks can hold lesson plans, written notes, sketches, diagrams, and other information. Similarly, teachers can use them to organize teaching materials and create shareable content libraries. OneNote also includes smart features and AI capabilities to support everyday notetaking and productivity.
What Is Microsoft OneNote Best For?
The platform stands out for including “Copilot” with its notes. It can summarize meeting notes, pull out tasks, organize ideas, draft plans, and suggest new content. Additionally, it also has the capability to rewrite text when something needs to sound clearer or more polished. Users can also chat with Copilot to ask questions about their notes or get help with a specific task.
How Much Does Microsoft OneNote Cost?
Microsoft OneNote price comes included with a plan starting at $9.99/month for the overall Microsoft 365 Personal plan. Suitable for 1 person, it enables users to sign into 5 devices simultaneously and includes features like 1 TB storage, advanced Copilot, and data and device security.
Other plans where OneNote is included are as follows:
- Microsoft 365 Family - $12.99/month
- Microsoft 365 Premium - $19.99/month
The vendor also offers a 30-day free plan. Besides the aforementioned base subscription, users should also budget for the potential additional expenses discussed below:
- Storage Overage - $1.99/100GB/month
- Migration - $1,500–3,000 one-time
- Training/Onboarding - $500–1,000 one-time
- Compliance/Security Upgrade (If Needed) - +$10.50/user/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Microsoft OneNote Integrations
The platform integrates with apps within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
How Does Microsoft OneNote Work?
Follow the steps below to start using Microsoft OneNote:
- Sign in with a Microsoft account to open OneNote
- Organize content using sections and pages within a notebook
- Capture information by typing, handwriting with digital ink, recording audio, or inserting images, files, and web clippings directly into a page
- Search across notebooks using built-in search to find specific notes, tags, or handwritten content without manually scrolling through pages
- Share a notebook with others to give them view or edit access for collaborative notetaking
- Co-edit pages in real time, with changes from multiple users reflected in the same notebook
- Use Copilot within OneNote to draft plans, generate lists, or organize existing notes based on a prompt
Who Is Microsoft OneNote For?
Microsoft OneNote is mainly suitable for:
- Education
- Information technology (IT)
- Digital marketing
- Financial services
Microsoft OneNote Use Cases
Based on our analysis of user reviews and Microsoft OneNote features, we have identified the following business scenarios where it is well suited:
1. Education Teams Organizing Lesson Plans And Teaching Materials
Teachers can use OneNote to keep lesson plans, classroom notes, diagrams, and teaching resources organized by subject or class. It can also support shared content libraries when multiple teachers or staff members contribute to the same materials. Users particularly appreciate how they can easily find the desired information even if they don’t remember which page or tab it was stored on.
2. Project Teams Managing Meeting Discussions And Follow-Ups
Microsoft OneNote can be used by project teams to document discussions, decisions, and action items from their meetings. As they are able to keep this information together and easily accessible, this creates a consistent reference point for team members as projects move between different phases. User reviews highlight how it enables them to take notes during meetings and training sessions, and keep them organized in separate sections.
3. Research And Consulting Teams Organizing Large Amounts Of Information
Researchers and consultants often gather information from meetings, interviews, documents, and other sources. OneNote gives them a place to organize these notes by project, topic, or client and search through them when needed. This can be useful when information is collected over several weeks or months and needs to be referenced later.
4. Remote Teams Sharing Notes Across Locations
Remote and hybrid teams can use OneNote to keep meeting notes, project details, and working information accessible to all team members. They can refer to the same notes even when they are working from different locations or devices. This helps teams maintain continuity when several people contribute to the same project.
Is Microsoft OneNote Right For You?
Microsoft OneNote may be a good fit if you want a flexible workspace for capturing information without having to follow a fixed note-taking format. It works well for people who move between typed notes, handwritten content, sketches, and reference material. Microsoft 365 users, in particularly, can benefit the most from this app.
Its ability to access notebooks across different devices also makes it practical for users who do not always work from the same computer.
Still doubtful if Microsoft OneNote is the right fit for you? Connect with us at (661) 384-7070 for further guidance.
Microsoft OneNote Features
Voice Transcript
This feature lets users turn spoken content into written notes. It can help capture ideas or discussions without requiring users to type everything as they go. Transcribed content can then be reviewed and referenced later.
Digital Ink
OneNote supports digital handwriting and drawing with a compatible pen or stylus. Users can sketch ideas, annotate content, or create diagrams directly on the page. This offers a more natural way to capture visual thoughts alongside typed notes.
Share And Collaborate
The platform allows multiple people to work together on shared notebooks and contribute their ideas. Team members can add, edit, and review content as a project develops. This makes it useful for collaborative planning, brainstorming, and shared notetaking.
Pros And Cons of Microsoft OneNote
Pros
Syncs notes across desktop and mobile devices
Supports text, images, tables, checklists, and links in the same note
Offers flexible layout works well for brainstorming and planning
Makes it easy to share notes with colleagues
Supports large volumes of notes without running out of space
Cons
Sharing with people who do not use OneNote may require exporting content
Keeping extensive notebooks organized requires consistent naming and cleanup
User interface can feel cluttered at times
Microsoft OneNote Reviews
Total 11 reviews
4.5
All reviews are from verified customers
Rating Distribution
5
Stars73%
4
Stars9%
3
Stars18%
2
Stars0%
1
Stars0%
Share your experience
Not Specified, N/A employees
“flexible notes and strong search function”
Pros
One thing I really appreciate is how well the search works especially when I need to find something I wrote months earlier. I usually take notes on my computer, then check them on my phone or another device without any trouble. It also gives me a lot of freedom to organize everything the way I want which makes it feel very flexible.
Cons
Interface can feel a bit cluttered at times especially when I'm dealing with a large number of notebooks and sections. There have also been moments when syncing took longer than I expected.
Rating Distribution
Ease of use
10
Value for money
10
Customer Support
10
Functionality
10
Not Specified, N/A employees
“Great for notes on the go”
Pros
Right from the start, the app feels simple to use and the layout stays clean and uncluttered. It works really well for quickly jotting down notes, keeping thoughts organized and syncing everything across devices. It's especially handy for capturing ideas whenever they come up while I'm on the go.
Cons
One thing that can be confusing is the noticeable UX inconsistency between the 2016 version and the newer releases. Depending on which platform I'm using some features also feel split up, inconsistent or missing altogether.
Rating Distribution
Ease of use
10
Value for money
10
Customer Support
10
Functionality
9
Not Specified, N/A employees
“class notebook is a lifesaver”
Pros
For a subject like Law, where rules and regulations change all the time, the biggest advantage is definitely Class Notebook. It lets you share updated materials with the whole class instantly. You can set up a read-only Content Library and upload lecture notes, commented court decisions or the latest case studies and students will find everything automatically on their devices. It really cuts out the hassle of dealing with photocopies that get lost or email attachments that end up forgotten in random folders.
Cons
Biggest downside is how complicated the initial setup can be, both for you and for the students. If the class is not already familiar with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, the first phase can be pretty frustrating. Setting notebook permissions, handling file sync across PCs, tablets and phones and teaching students how to organize the sections in their personal notebook all takes time. At the beginning, there is a real chance that part of the lesson gets eaten up by access issues or "sync pending" problems instead of focusing on the Law curriculum.
Rating Distribution
Ease of use
9
Value for money
10
Customer Support
10
Functionality
10
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Microsoft OneNote offer an API?
Yes, it offers API access.
What languages does Microsoft OneNote support?
Microsoft OneNote is available in multiple languages, including English, German, and French.
What other apps does Microsoft OneNote integrate with?
Microsoft OneNote software integrates with apps within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Does Microsoft OneNote have a mobile app?
Yes, it offers a mobile app.
What types of pricing plans does Microsoft OneNote offer?
Microsoft OneNote is part of Microsoft 365 plans. These include Microsoft 365 Personal ($9.99/month), Microsoft 365 Family ($12.99/month, and Microsoft 365 Premium ($19.99/month). Get in touch for a tailored Microsoft OneNote cost estimate.
What level of support does Microsoft OneNote offer?
Microsoft OneNote offers support via help desk, live chat, FAQs, self-help documentation, and admin center.
Who are the typical users of Microsoft OneNote?
The platform is used by businesses across different industries and sectors, such as IT, education, and digital marketing.


