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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Better options than

Microsoft OneNote alternatives

Users often seek alternatives to Microsoft OneNote due to frequent app crashes, syncing issues across devices, and problems with search functionality. While OneNote is praised for its organization and versatility, its technical glitches and lack of specific features lead many to explore other options.

Why users look for alternatives to Microsoft OneNote

The alternatives

Microsoft Outlook
4.8★ · 9,055,624 ratings · Free

Microsoft Outlook is primarily an email and calendar application that offers fluid operation and no crashes for many users R52R58. It is praised for its ease of use and accessibility for communication, especially for school or work emails R61.

Better for: Outlook is better for users who need a reliable email client with good calendar and mail sorting options, particularly if they are part of an organization that uses Microsoft services R58R61R62. It suits those who prioritize a stable email experience over advanced note-taking features R52.

Head-to-head: Microsoft OneNote vs Microsoft Outlook
Google Docs
4.8★ · 3,149,789 ratings · Free

Google Docs is a cloud-based word processor that allows for collaborative document creation and editing. (Insufficient reviews to provide specific user-cited benefits or drawbacks for this alternative.)

Better for: Insufficient reviews to determine who it suits better.

Head-to-head: Microsoft OneNote vs Google Docs
Microsoft Word
4.7★ · 2,902,966 ratings · Free

Microsoft Word is a widely respected word processing software, considered the 'Gold Standard' for document creation R66. Many users find it helpful for various tasks and prefer it over Google's version R72.

Better for: Word is better for users who need to create formal documents, reports, or books and require a robust, widely compatible word processor R66R74. It is suitable for those who prioritize advanced formatting and editing capabilities over the free-form note-taking style of OneNote R33.

Head-to-head: Microsoft OneNote vs Microsoft Word
Google Sheets
4.8★ · 1,791,306 ratings · Free

Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet program that allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online. (Insufficient reviews to provide specific user-cited benefits or drawbacks for this alternative.)

Better for: Insufficient reviews to determine who it suits better.

Head-to-head: Microsoft OneNote vs Google Sheets
Microsoft Excel
4.8★ · 1,422,102 ratings · Free

Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application used for data organization, analysis, and calculations. (Insufficient reviews to provide specific user-cited benefits or drawbacks for this alternative.)

Better for: Insufficient reviews to determine who it suits better.

Head-to-head: Microsoft OneNote vs Microsoft Excel
Stick with Microsoft OneNote if

You should stick with Microsoft OneNote if you value its strong organizational capabilities, the ability to combine drawing, typing, and pictures in a single notebook, and its availability across multiple devices like laptops, phones, and iPads . It is particularly useful for quick thoughts, making lists, and keeping various types of information separated into categories .

Evidence note: Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Microsoft Excel have too few reviews to draw specific conclusions about their user experience or suitability as alternatives.

Frequently asked

Why do users find Microsoft OneNote difficult to use?
Users find Microsoft OneNote difficult to use due to frequent crashes and lagging, especially after updates R1R28R39. They also report issues with notes not syncing across devices R3R22, a buggy search function R6, and general confusion with the app's interface R25R31.
What are the common technical issues with Microsoft OneNote?
Common technical issues with Microsoft OneNote include the app crashing while typing R1R39, notes not syncing or showing automatically across devices R3R43, a search feature that doesn't show progress or exact locations R6, and problems with the cursor jumping randomly R9. Users also report issues with text displaying incorrectly and battery drainage on iPads R21.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 78 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Keeps crashing while typing notes: Since the last major update, OneNote crashes every few minutes while I an authoring notes.
  2. [R28] Microsoft OneNote 2/5 · US It keeps crashing and lagging: The maintenance gets worse since 2023. This needs to get fixed asap. It’s slow and crashes
  3. [R30] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · GB Oneonote: It’s good for storing classes materials in but text box’s make me crashout
  4. [R39] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · GB Crashes / Within App issues: You lot need to sort this app out it crashes and also sometimes the sentences get mixed up automatically and this has been happening for a few years i don’t ever write reviews but since i did used to like the app i thought id mention this. It gets really annoying so please fix this app!
  5. [R3] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · US Lost: My notes don’t generate or show automatically I need go to recents, if I do an update on my desktop and it doesn’t generate on my app and vise versa
  6. [R22] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US New Phone: I recently went to a new phone but my notes did not transfer. I can not find a good place to be able to fix that.
  7. [R43] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Personal & business accounts & computer v iPad dont synch: Always have issues a OneNote
  8. [R47] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Hard to use: When it works it works great but they’ve made it so difficult to just want to take some good note and sync them to use across platforms. The whole one drive system needs to be better
  9. [R6] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · US This is my memory in the cloud: Updated: 2026-06-10 - The search is still bugged: doesn’t show that it is still searching for the search term - it just looks like it stopped looking. Not improved since my last update. Updated: 2021-11-19 - Still mostly great! But the search feature on this app still only brings you to the page versus the exact location of the word. Updated: 2018-06-16 - the m
  10. [R10] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Not easy to use: You can’t even alphabetize notes, really?
  11. [R25] Microsoft OneNote 2/5 · US Confusing: Not as good as the competition. Confusing. Overly complicated. Constant password prompts like ever app in the paranoid world of MS. No support whatsoever
  12. [R31] Microsoft OneNote 2/5 · US Difficult to use: It’s not very friendly to use when you create notes and it hides them and you have to go manually open the notes. I find it very difficult to delete a note as well when you’re done with it.
  13. [R34] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Doesn’t work: I cannot create a new notebook with this app on iPhone or iPad no matter what I do I cannot interact with a new notebook creation area to create a new notebook. Looks like there’s more bugs to squash here.
  14. [R15] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · US Shpeek2tekz_offal: Your speak to text dictation is awful. It seems 5 to 10% of the time. No sentence. Makes any sense because you pick words that no one would use in a train of thought. and if you make any pauses while you’re thinking and talking, then who knows what kind of punctuation will be splattered throughout the sentences and paragraphs
  15. [R18] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · GB Good, but…: I moved over to OneNote from Evernote, and generally find it very good. One glaring omission is the inability to easily change font size. Also to use bold/underline you have to rotate the screen 90°. Please please fix these Microsoft!
  16. [R21] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · GB Missing Fountain Pen Feature & Battery Drainage: Overall I am happy with the performance of the OneNote in iPad OS. I am missing the fountain pen feature which is available in windows platform. Also when ever I use OneNote in my iPad the battery drains very fast and the screen becomes hot. Microsoft needs to fix these issues ASAP as this is open for very long time.
  17. [R36] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · GB Straight line issues on the IOS app: It’s a shame that an app so good at synchronising (what with being a Microsoft product) seems so unable to do basic straight line drawing on it’s IOS app. Everyone else can draw a line freehand, hold it for a second and the app straightens it. It does this on a Microsoft platform but sadly can’t manage it on an iPad. No paper textures either. Apart from that, i
  18. [R52] Microsoft Outlook 5/5 · US Great responsive email app: The app happens to operate fluidly and no crashes.
  19. [R58] Microsoft Outlook 5/5 · US Microsoft for years: Never had an issue
  20. [R61] Microsoft Outlook 5/5 · US School email address: This email system has been easily accessible for communication and access to the apps, I will continue to use this in the future as well
  21. [R62] Microsoft Outlook 3/5 · US Good email bad search: Outlook search is miserable. Calendar, mail sorting and options otherwise are fantastic.
  22. [R33] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · GB OneNote: Ok so OneNote is a bit mediocre cause like I prefer word but it’s better because you can draw better and you can write anywhere as well so that’s
  23. [R66] Microsoft Word 5/5 · US The Gold Standard: Respected everywhere
  24. [R72] Microsoft Word 5/5 · US Heh: I like word WAY better than the google version
  25. [R74] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US Trying to write book on lenovo and apple ipad: Hard to make two laptops talk to each other
  26. [R9] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · US Last Update: This is my go to app for a lot of my life and I normally love it and would give it 5 stars. But since the last update, it has not preformed well. The cursor jumps to random spots causing my new information to insert into previously existing information. With my understanding that I am using this app on an Apple product, it does move fluidly. When trying to copy it either highlight

Synthesized from 78 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store