Goodnotes VS OneNote Comparison: A Full Review of Popular Note-Taking Apps #2

With the pandemic raging, students often have to attend classes using electronic devices at home. Finding the right note-taking app can boost learning efficiency and help you achieve twice the results with half the effort! Last time, we compared Goodnotes and Notability, two popular note-taking apps, and the response was great. So, we've decided to help you analyze the pros and cons of different note-taking apps again! This time, it's a big comparison between Goodnotes and OneNote. We hope this helps you find the perfect note-taking app to create your own essential study notes.

Goodnotes vs. OneNote Basic Information

Goodnotes vs. OneNote Basic Information Comparison

In terms of price, OneNote is truly a godsend for students. (It's worth noting that the iPadOS, iOS, macOS, and Android versions of OneNote are all free. However, the Android version is limited to creating 500 notes. To upgrade to the full version and enjoy unlimited usage, you'll need to purchase it for $40 within the app.) However, Goodnotes doesn't fall short on features either. Want to know which app is more suitable for you? Below, we've compared the two apps from various angles so you can choose based on your needs!

Round 1: Goodnotes vs. OneNote Page Design Comparison

1.1 Page Styles

Goodnotes resembles a real-life notebook. You can freely design or download other images for the cover. The templates are also very rich, including A3 to A7 paper sizes, letter templates, and three paper colors to choose from.

Goodnotes Page Style Illustration (Image from Goodnotes official website)

OneNote resembles a binder, with a hierarchical, tree-like note classification. Different sections are displayed with different colored labels, and each section can have a custom number of pages, making it very clear to find the topics you want to review.

OneNote Page Style Illustration (Image from OneNote official website)

1.2 Page Management

Goodnotes has a fixed page size limit. If you run out of space, you need to add another page. However, adding a new page is very simple, so there's no need to worry.

OneNote allows for infinitely extendable pages. No matter how long your lesson notes are, you will never run out of space.

Round 2: Goodnotes vs. OneNote Pen Features Comparison

Goodnotes vs. OneNote Pen Features Comparison

Tip 1: The ballpoint pen in Goodnotes has no variation in thickness. So, if you're taking notes in class, it's best to choose the ballpoint pen to avoid unclear handwriting. The fountain pen and brush pen will vary in thickness based on pressure, which may not be ideal for quickly taking clear notes. However, it's perfect for Art or Bio students who need to draw diagrams! OneNote only has one pen type, which also varies in thickness based on pressure, so you'll need to pay special attention when writing.

Tip 2: OneNote will automatically adjust dark ink colors when you use a dark mode page template, while Goodnotes will retain the original color.

Round 3: Goodnotes vs. OneNote Overall Features Comparison

3.1 Types of Non-text Elements that Can Be Added

Goodnotes vs. OneNote Comparison of Non-text Elements that Can Be Added

Goodnotes and OneNote both allow adding images and geometric shapes. Both apps only support common geometric shapes (including circles, lines, and polygons). Additionally, both apps can embed PDFs, but only Goodnotes can import single files like PDFs.

3.2 Text Search Function Comparison

Goodnotes' text search function is very powerful. It can easily search computer fonts and even recognize handwritten text with high accuracy and precision! This is perfect for those with many notes who want to quickly find a specific topic for revision.

OneNote's text search function is relatively weaker. It cannot perform fuzzy searches, and Chinese search results sometimes have omissions. However, it can still quickly search computer fonts, which is convenient.

3.3 Special Features Comparison

Goodnotes and OneNote both have unique special features. Goodnotes has a built-in magnifier for easy viewing. Additionally, Goodnotes also has a built-in laser pointer that you can use when giving project presentations.

As for OneNote, you can search for text within PDFs and images, making it easy to search content by keywords. At the same time, you can add extra features to OneNote's "Research Tools."

Round 4: Goodnotes vs. OneNote Note Organization Comparison

4.1 Export Options

Goodnotes vs. OneNote Export Options Comparison

Both apps can export to PDF for easy reading and use. Goodnotes also has a screen sharing function, which is convenient for discussions and presentations.

4.2 Backup Function

Goodnotes vs. OneNote Backup Function Comparison

It's worth noting that OneNote has an automatic saving function. It automatically saves to your account, so you don't have to worry about your hard-earned notes disappearing due to going offline or a system crash.

Conclusion

The two apps compared in this review each have their own advantages. The most important thing is to choose based on your habits and needs. I personally believe that if you're a "handwriting party," accustomed to handwriting, or want to make good use of your Apple Pencil to unleash your creativity and design personalized notes, Goodnotes' features and support will be more suitable for you, giving you a perfect handwriting experience every time you create notes. For the "typing party," who rarely needs to add illustrations to notes, or for those who are a bit lazy, you can make good use of OneNote's audio recording, image insertion, and other "must-have lazy features" to create concise notes.

Note-taking apps can not only categorize notes neatly but also make it easy to share with friends/junior students. (If you have useful and well-designed notes, consider registering to become part of the flowsophic note-sharing platform to help other students!)

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