Goodnotes vs Onenote: Which is Better?

When it comes to note-taking apps, GoodNotes and OneNote are two of the most popular options. Both offer unique features, advantages, and capabilities that cater to different kinds of users. In this comparison, we’ll explore the strengths and weaknesses of each, and help you determine which app is the best for your note-taking needs.

Overview of GoodNotes and OneNote

GoodNotes:

GoodNotes is a digital note-taking app primarily designed for users who want to take handwritten notes on their Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, and Mac). It offers a variety of features such as handwriting recognition, the ability to annotate PDFs, customizable notebooks, and smooth Apple Pencil integration. It’s ideal for users who prefer the tactile experience of handwriting but also want the benefits of digital note management.
Target Audience: Students, professionals, and creatives who prefer handwritten notes and need advanced organization features for digital notebooks.

OneNote:

OneNote is Microsoft’s free note-taking app that is part of the Office 365 suite and works across multiple platforms (iOS, Windows, Mac, Android). OneNote is a versatile app, offering support for typed notes, handwritten notes, multimedia integration, and collaboration. It syncs easily across all devices, integrates with other Microsoft tools, and supports a wide range of note formats (text, images, audio, web clippings, etc.).
Target Audience: Users who need an all-in-one note-taking app for text and multimedia, as well as those looking for collaboration features and integration with Microsoft products.

Key Features Comparison

1. Handwriting Support

GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes is renowned for its handwriting capabilities, especially when used with the Apple Pencil. It offers a smooth writing experience, and its handwriting recognition feature can convert handwritten text into typed text. You can also annotate PDFs, create custom notebooks, and use a variety of pen types and colors.
- Pros:
  - Excellent Apple Pencil integration for precise writing.
  - Handwriting recognition for converting notes into text.
  - Customizable notebooks and paper templates (lined, grid, blank, etc.).
  - Smooth writing experience with different pen tools.
- Cons:
  - Handwriting features are best suited for users with Apple devices.
  - Lacks advanced text-based note-taking features like OneNote.
OneNote:
- OneNote also supports handwritten notes with the stylus (including Surface Pen for Windows and Apple Pencil for iOS devices). While it does have handwriting support, it is not as advanced as GoodNotes. Handwriting recognition in OneNote is available but not as accurate or versatile compared to GoodNotes.
- Pros:
  - Supports handwritten notes on all platforms.
  - Integrates well with Surface Pen and Apple Pencil.
  - Shape recognition for quick diagramming.
- Cons:
  - Handwriting recognition is not as powerful or accurate as GoodNotes.
  - Writing experience can feel less fluid than GoodNotes on some devices.

2. Organization and Structure

GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes offers an excellent organizational structure, allowing users to create notebooks, folders, and subfolders to keep their notes neatly organized. You can customize each notebook with different paper templates (e.g., lined, grid, dotted), making it ideal for students, artists, and professionals who require structure. GoodNotes also allows you to search through handwritten notes, making it easy to find specific content.
- Pros:
  - Advanced organizational tools with folders and notebooks.
  - Search functionality that works with handwritten notes.
  - Custom paper templates for various note-taking styles.
- Cons:
  - Slightly more complex organization system compared to OneNote.
  - Notebooks can become cumbersome for some users if they have a lot of them.
OneNote:
- OneNote offers a more flexible and informal organizational structure. It uses a notebook → section → page hierarchy, which can be highly effective for people who like a more loose, fluid structure. OneNote allows you to freely mix text, images, and other content within pages, and you can even tag important notes for easy reference later.
- Pros:
  - Flexible organization with the notebook-section-page structure.
  - Ability to tag notes and easily categorize them.
  - Syncs across multiple devices effortlessly.
- Cons:
  - Lacks the degree of customization that GoodNotes offers in terms of templates.
  - Search works well, but may not be as precise for handwritten notes.

3. Multimedia Integration

GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes supports basic multimedia integration like images, shapes, and diagrams. It allows you to import and annotate PDFs and other files, but it does not support audio recording or video embedding. The focus is more on handwritten notes and document annotation rather than multimedia content.
- Pros:
  - Supports images, shapes, and PDF annotations.
  - Handwritten diagrams and sketching are excellent.
- Cons:
  - Lacks advanced audio and video note-taking.
  - Limited support for other media types.
OneNote:
- OneNote stands out for its multimedia support. You can add audio recordings, images, videos, drawings, web clippings, and more. OneNote’s multimedia capabilities make it an ideal choice for users who need a comprehensive and versatile note-taking solution. Additionally, you can record lectures, meetings, or personal notes, and keep everything in one place.
- Pros:
  - Extensive support for audio and video notes.
  - Can include web clippings and scanned documents.
  - Easily integrates with Microsoft tools for collaborative work.
- Cons:
  - Can get cluttered if multimedia content is not well organized.
  - Handwritten notes are not as sophisticated as GoodNotes.

4. Sync and Accessibility

GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes syncs via iCloud, so all your notes are accessible across your Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac). However, its syncing process can be a little slower compared to OneNote, and the app is not available on non-Apple devices.
- Pros:
  - Syncs across Apple devices via iCloud.
  - Seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem.
- Cons:
  - iCloud syncing can be slow at times.
  - Not available on Windows, Android, or other platforms.
OneNote:
- OneNote syncs effortlessly across multiple platforms using OneDrive. It works on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web. This cross-platform compatibility makes OneNote an excellent choice for users who want to access their notes on any device, regardless of platform.
- Pros:
  - Cross-platform syncing via OneDrive (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web).
  - Seamless integration with Microsoft Office tools.
- Cons:
  - Syncing is dependent on OneDrive, which may not be as fast as iCloud in some cases.

5. Pricing

GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes is a paid app with a one-time purchase price. There is no subscription model, so you pay once and own the app indefinitely.
- Pros:
  - One-time payment, no subscription fees.
  - High-quality, feature-rich note-taking app.
- Cons:
  - Paid app with no free version.
OneNote:
- OneNote is free and comes as part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite (but does not require a subscription for basic use). You can access it across all platforms without paying for premium features.
- Pros:
  - Completely free to use.
  - No premium features locked behind a paywall.
- Cons:
  - Some advanced features are better with a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Conclusion

Choose GoodNotes if:

You’re an Apple user who wants an app that specializes in handwritten notes and PDF annotation.
You prefer Apple Pencil integration and want an app that’s optimized for drawing and sketching.
You’re willing to make a one-time purchase for advanced handwriting features and organizational tools.

Choose OneNote if:

You need a cross-platform solution that works across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.
You want a more flexible, multimedia-rich note-taking app with support for audio, video, and images.
You’re looking for a free note-taking app with strong collaboration and integration with Microsoft Office tools.

In summary, GoodNotes is the best choice for those who prefer handwritten notes and Apple-centric workflows, while OneNote is more suited for those looking for a multimedia-rich, cross-platform, and collaborative note-taking app.

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