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7 Microsoft OneNote Alternatives for Mac, Ranked (2026)

Explore 7 alternatives to Microsoft OneNote — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Compare 7 top Microsoft OneNote alternatives at a glance

Quick answer

Our top note taking software alternatives to Microsoft OneNote are Zoho Notebook, Nimbus Note and Bear. Zoho Notebook ranks first with a SpotScore of 9.1 and 4.54★ from real users. The table below compares all 7 on score, rating, and pricing.

If Microsoft OneNote isn't pulling its weight, this list points you to better options. These 7 note taking software alternatives are ranked by SpotScore (verified satisfaction and market presence), ratings, and pricing model, with editorial review on every entry. Compare them in the table, then read the detail for each pick below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
Zoho NotebookOrganize your thoughts effortlessly.9.1★★★★★ 4.54(45)FreeFreemiumteams of all sizes
Nimbus NoteCapture ideas, collaborate effortlessly, simplify your life.9★★★★★ 4.88(27)Freefrom $3.99teams of all sizes
BearEffortlessly manage notes with secure productivity.9★★★★★ 4.61(42)Freefrom $2.49 per monthteams of all sizes
MilanoteStreamline your note taking, effortlessly.8.9★★★★★ 4.67(36)Freefrom $9.99/mosmall & mid-size businesses
GoodNotesEffortless note-taking made simple.8.4★★★★★ 4.76(36)Freefrom $7.99teams of all sizes
NotesnookOrganize, sync, and secure your notes hassle-free.8.4★★★★★ 5(1)Freefrom $4.16/mosmall & mid-size businesses
NotabilityCapture, organize, and create with ease.8.2★★★★★ 4.61(40)Quotation Basedsmall & mid-size businesses

9.1

SpotScore

Zoho Notebook - Note Taking Software

Zoho Notebook

Organize your thoughts effortlessly.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.5

45 verified reviews

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What is Zoho Notebook?

Zoho Notebook is a personal note-taking app best suited for individuals already within the Zoho ecosystem -- CRM, Mail, or Docs users -- who need a simple digital notebook for capturing ideas, lists, and tasks across devices. The free tier caps storage at 1 GB, while paid plans remove the ...

Read more about Zoho Notebook

9.0

SpotScore

Nimbus Note - Note Taking Software

Nimbus Note

Capture ideas, collaborate effortlessly, simplify your life.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.9

27 verified reviews

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What is Nimbus Note?

Nimbus Note is a software application that helps you to write quickly and store your ideas for later use. The application is very simple, friendly to use and convenient. The program's modern interface provides you with a variety of search, retrieval, tagging, collaboration and sharing options ...

Read more about Nimbus Note

Nimbus Note offers custom pricing plan

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9.0

SpotScore

Bear

Bear

Effortlessly manage notes with secure productivity.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.6

42 verified reviews

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What is Bear?

Bear is a dynamic software platform that empowers users to effortlessly generate, manage, and transfer their notes with ease. Whether it's creating documents swiftly and securely or encrypting them for heightened security, Bear offers a comprehensive toolkit to enhance productivity. Seamlessly ...

Read more about Bear
Free TrialTry Free →

8.9

SpotScore

Milanote - Note Taking Software

Milanote

Streamline your note taking, effortlessly.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

4.7

36 verified reviews

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What is Milanote?

Milanote is a visual workspace designed to help creative professionals organize ideas, projects, and content in an intuitive, flexible way. Built for designers, marketers, writers, agencies, and startups, it enables teams and individuals to brainstorm, plan, and collaborate visually. With ...

Read more about Milanote
Free TrialTry Free →·

Milanote offers custom pricing plan

8.4

SpotScore

GoodNotes - Note Taking Software

GoodNotes

Effortless note-taking made simple.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.8

36 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is GoodNotes?

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 has even featured it in their iPad Pro videos and websites. Make GoodNotes ...

Read more about GoodNotes

8.4

SpotScore

Notesnook - Note Taking Software

Notesnook

Organize, sync, and secure your notes hassle-free.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

5.0

1 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Notesnook?

.""" Introducing Notesnook - the ultimate solution for note keeping. Explore this cross-platform, private notes application designed to keep your notes organized and secure. Utilize the advanced text editor with markdown support to categorize your notes with books, colors, and tags. With a ...

Read more about Notesnook
Free TrialTry Free →

8.2

SpotScore

Notability - Note Taking Software

Notability

Capture, organize, and create with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Get Pricing Details

4.6

40 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Notability?

Experience a new level of convenience and efficiency with Notability. Our all-in-one note-taking app allows you to seamlessly combine handwriting, photos, and typing in one place, bringing your projects to life. With a wide range of tools for note-taking and sketching, you can capture every ...

Read more about Notability

Notability offers custom pricing plan

Microsoft OneNote vs its closest competitors

Across Note Taking Software, 7 products compete directly with Microsoft OneNote. The strongest overlap is with Zoho Notebook, Nimbus Note and Bear. Each is compared against Microsoft OneNote on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

What else works like Microsoft OneNote?

Searches for "sites like Microsoft OneNote" and "apps like Microsoft OneNote" land on the same set of options as "Microsoft OneNote alternatives" — the 7 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

What each Microsoft OneNote alternative is best known for

Zoho Notebook9.1Best for teams of all sizes

Easy to use and navigate, suitable for both personal and professional needs.

Watch for: Limited integration with external platforms like Google Drive, which could enhance file accessibility.

Nimbus Note9Best for teams of all sizes

Streamlined project and deadline management, enhancing organization and workload handling.

Watch for: Waiting for new versions and additional features like dark mode can be a drawback for some users.

Bear9Best for teams of all sizes

Supports markdown for writing, blogging, and exporting, with syncing across devices.

Watch for: Some users may find the app overwhelming due to its rich feature set and customization options without sufficient guidance.

Milanote8.9Best for small & mid-size businesses

Milanote offers a highly visual and intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it ideal for organizing ideas, mood boards, and creative projects with ease.

Watch for: Milanote has limited integrations compared to some project management competitors, which can restrict workflow automation for larger enterprises.

GoodNotes8.4Best for teams of all sizes

User-friendly interface, suitable for individuals of various ages and levels of experience.

Watch for: Limited selection in the Marketplace for additional apps and connectors, restricting advanced functionalities.

Notesnook8.4Best for small & mid-size businesses

Cross-platform support

Watch for: Limited advanced features

Notability8.2Best for small & mid-size businesses

Combines handwriting and typing

Watch for: Limited to Apple devices

Why teams look for a Microsoft OneNote alternative

The decision to move off Microsoft OneNote usually rests on a few known weak spots:

  • Feature parity across platforms is inconsistent, affecting cross-device experience.
  • Some users find the formatting and customization options challenging, especially for new users.
  • Limited third-party connectors and marketplace options restrict advanced use cases.
  • Exporting notes to other formats and applications is cumbersome.

How to find the right Microsoft OneNote replacement

Here's how the 7 alternatives compare at a factual level: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2.49–$9.99, with Bear the cheapest entry point; and Notesnook is the highest rated at 5★ across 1 reviews.

How each tool earns its spot.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Microsoft OneNote are Notesnook (5.0★), Nimbus Note (4.9★), GoodNotes (4.8★). Compare all 7 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Microsoft OneNote, prioritize: To-do List, Share Link, File Sharing, Real-time Collaboration, Templates, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Microsoft OneNote is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to choose the right Microsoft OneNote alternative for you

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Zoho Notebook, Nimbus Note and Bear let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Notesnook has the strongest star rating (5★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: Zoho Notebook has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.1) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Moving off Microsoft OneNote

Before retiring Microsoft OneNote, take the cautious route. Export your data, make sure the new tool accepts it, and confirm the workflows you rely on transfer. Pilot on a free tier or trial, then go all in, leaving Microsoft OneNote active until migration finishes.

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