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GoodNotes vs Microsoft OneNote Comparison

Last updated:

GoodNotes

Starting at $7.99

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

GoodNotes is the perfect app for taking hand-written notes on your iPad or iPhone. Our team created it to free users from the hassle of taking clear, legible, and reusable notes. It's helped millions of people, and Apple…

Microsoft OneNote

4.2(2,454 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Microsoft One note - The Microsoft onenote is a powerful notetaking software for online collaboration. Users can always capture inspiration and organize thoughts with onenote, supported by a large selection of apps for m…

Microsoft OneNote leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 2,454 reviews.

GoodNotes vs Microsoft OneNote — at a glance

FeatureGoodNotesMicrosoft OneNote
Rating4.2 / 5
Reviews2,454
Starting price$7.99Contact for pricing
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryNote Taking SoftwareNote Taking Software
PlatformsMobile - iOS, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
API
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
Data residencyUSGlobal

Key differences between GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote

  • Pricing: GoodNotes starts at $7.99. Microsoft OneNote pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Microsoft OneNote offers a free trial; GoodNotes does not.
  • Deployment: GoodNotes supports Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac; Microsoft OneNote supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

GoodNotes vs Microsoft OneNote — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Note Taking Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

GoodNotes - Note Taking Software
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Microsoft OneNote - Note Taking Software
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Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

GoodNotes

Best for handwritten note-taking on iPad and iPhone with smooth, customizable writing.

Choose if
  • You need an intuitive app optimized for handwritten notes and handwriting recognition.
  • You are a student, educator, or creative professional focused on personal productivity.
  • You want a simple, streamlined setup without complex integrations or collaboration needs.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team requires advanced collaboration and workflow automation features.
  • You need extensive integrations with other enterprise software and app connectors.

Microsoft OneNote

Best for collaborative teams needing seamless Microsoft Office integration.

Choose if
  • You require real-time collaboration with shared notebooks across devices.
  • Your team uses Microsoft Outlook and Office 365 tools extensively.
  • You need flexible organization of diverse data types and media.
Consider alternatives if
  • You need advanced note-taking features and extensive customization options.
  • Your team depends on robust third-party integrations outside the Microsoft ecosystem.

GoodNotes: Best for handwritten note-taking on iPad and iPhone with smooth, customizable writing. Microsoft OneNote: Best for collaborative teams needing seamless Microsoft Office integration.

Description

GoodNotes is the perfect app for taking hand-written notes on your iPad or iPhone. Our team created it to free users from the hassle of taking clear, legible, and reusable notes. It's ... Read More about GoodNotes

Microsoft One note - The Microsoft onenote is a powerful notetaking software for online collaboration. Users can always capture inspiration and organize thoughts with onenote, supported by ... Read More about Microsoft OneNote

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $7.99
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.4/10

8.6/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
Small BusinessLarge Enterprises
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Software Demo

Demo

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How do GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote Compare on Features?

Total Features

4 Features

5 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $7.99
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      GoodNotes pricing
      Microsoft OneNote pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✓ Yes

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      ISO 27001

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🌐 Global

      GoodNotes User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      No reviews available for the product

      Rating Distribution

      34

      2

      0

      0

      0

      1288

      421

      83

      26

      12

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Users consistently praise GoodNotes for its intuitive interface and excellent handwriting features, though some find the feature set overwhelming and desire more integrations.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Handwriting recognition
      • Writing smoothness and customization

      Common complaints

      • Limited integrations
      • Complexity for new users

      Buyer sentiment

      Users generally appreciate OneNote’s integration and collaboration features but note limitations in advanced functionality and customization.

      What buyers like

      • Integration with Microsoft Office
      • Collaboration and real-time editing
      • Ease of note organization

      Common complaints

      • Limited advanced features
      • Formatting and customization difficulties

      Pros and Cons

      • User-friendly interface accessible to all ages and experience levels

      • Excellent handwriting recognition and search capabilities

      • Smooth writing experience with extensive customization options

      • Limited marketplace for additional apps and connectors restricts advanced functionality

      • Feature richness can be overwhelming without sufficient guidance

      • Seamless integration with Microsoft Outlook and Office 365 tools

      • Real-time collaboration through shared notebooks

      • Versatile organization of various data types and media

      • Inconsistent advanced functionality across platforms

      • Challenging formatting and customization for new users

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Overview

      2 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, GoodNotes or Microsoft OneNote?
      Microsoft OneNote edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote offer a free trial?
      Microsoft OneNote offers a free trial. GoodNotes does not.
      What is the starting price of GoodNotes vs Microsoft OneNote?
      GoodNotes starts at $7.99. Microsoft OneNote starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to GoodNotes?
      Top alternatives to GoodNotes include Evernote, Notes.io, Microsoft OneNote, UpNote, Notability.
      What are the top alternatives to Microsoft OneNote?
      Top alternatives to Microsoft OneNote include Evernote, Zoho Notebook, Amanote, Notes.io, Google Keep.

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