Alternatives
Best Microsoft OneNote alternatives in 2026
Microsoft OneNote is digital notebook for free-form notes, drawings and web clips. These 8 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
Obsidian
Also runs on Linux. Keeps notes as plain Markdown files on your disk, with the deepest plugin ecosystem in this list. Sync and publishing cost extra, and the app is not open source, unlike Joplin and Logseq.
Best for Local-first notes and personal knowledge bases
WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 2
Notion
The strongest hosted workspace here, with pages, databases and team sharing in one place. Notes live on Notion's servers, and paid plans charge per member, unlike the local tools above.
Best for Team workspaces with notes, databases and tasks
WebmacOSWindowsiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 3
Joplin
Is open source; also runs on Linux. The open-source choice here, AGPL-licensed, covering desktop, mobile and terminal with end-to-end encrypted sync. Its interface is plainer than the commercial apps, and sharing runs through Joplin Cloud.
Best for Open-source notes with end-to-end encrypted sync
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 4
Apple Notes
Free and built into Apple devices, with iCloud sync, scanning and audio transcription. It runs only on Apple platforms and has fewer organizing tools than Obsidian or Logseq.
Best for Quick notes across Apple devices with iCloud
macOSiOS, iPadOSFree
- 5
Logseq
Is open source; also runs on Linux. An open-source outliner for linked notes and a daily journal, released under AGPL-3.0. Its README marks the database version and mobile app as beta or alpha, so Obsidian and Joplin are steadier for daily notes.
Best for Linked outlines and daily journals on the desktop
WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source
- 6
Bear
A focused Markdown editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad, with tags and inline sketches. The free tier stays local, and iCloud sync needs PRO, unlike Apple Notes where iCloud is part of the built-in app.
Best for Markdown writing on Mac, iPhone and iPad
macOSiOS, iPadOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 7
Evernote
Clipping, document scanning and search are strong, and the apps cover most platforms. The free plan is capped at 50 notes and one synced device, which limits it more than the free options here.
Best for Clipping and scanning in a notebook app
iOSAndroidWebWindowsmacOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 8
Google Keep
Fast capture of notes, lists and voice memos, free with a Google Account. It organizes with labels rather than folders and is built for short notes, so it ranks below the apps with deeper organization.
Best for Quick notes, lists and reminders on any device
WebAndroidiOS, iPadOSFree
Narrow the alternatives
Open-source alternatives to Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote alternatives for Linux
About Microsoft OneNote alternatives
- What is the best alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
- On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is Obsidian, followed by Notion. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
- Is there a free alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
- Yes. Free options include Obsidian, Notion, Joplin.