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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Notion vs Microsoft OneNote

Notion 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Notion
Microsoft OneNote 4.7★ · Free + IAP 68

Notion is better for users seeking a highly customizable and flexible workspace for project management and organization, while Microsoft OneNote is better for those needing a reliable, straightforward note-taking app, especially within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Full reviews: Notion · Microsoft OneNote

Notion offers extensive customization and AI features for comprehensive project and life planning, but struggles with mobile app performance and frequent bugs. Microsoft OneNote provides a dependable platform for note-taking and organization, though it faces issues with syncing, mobile feature parity, and occasional glitches.

Head to head

Features & Customization edge: NotionR2R3R5R6
Notion Notion is praised for its extensive features, flexibility, and ability to serve as a 'second brain' for planning and organizing various aspects of life and business, including AI tools for generating lists and pages R2R5R20R29. Users appreciate its structured yet flexible nature and ease of sharing workspaces R5. However, some users dislike the pervasive AI features, finding them buggy, slow, and forced R3R6R10. A mind map feature and password protection for pages are requested R5.
Microsoft OneNote OneNote is valued for its ability to organize notes, folders, and IDs in one place, with tools for drawing and mapping concepts . Users find it handy for planning events and easy to navigate tabs . However, many users report missing features on mobile versions, such as a ruler on iPad, full desktop integration, and the ability to set default page styles . Some wish for better task management features like carrying over unfinished tasks or prioritizing them .
Ease of Use & User Experience tieR2R4R7R9
Notion Notion is described as intuitive and easy to use by some, especially for those with a tech background R2R20R29. However, many users find it confusing, hard to track items, and not mobile-friendly . Specific issues include mobile view problems when typing, inability to download templates on iPad, and difficulty with font size changes R7R9. Frequent forced updates are also a source of frustration R4.
Microsoft OneNote OneNote is generally considered easy to pick up and intuitive for organization . Users appreciate its friendly platform and ability to navigate through tabs . However, some find it not very intuitive initially and report issues like text box overlaps, poor spelling correction, and a frustrating experience with changing font sizes . The search function is criticized for being weak and not showing exact locations .
Reliability & Performance tieR3R7R13R14
Notion Notion's reliability is a major concern for many users. The app is frequently reported to be buggy, slow, crashing, freezing, and unresponsive, especially on mobile devices R3R7R13R15. Specific issues include long loading times for AI features, screen auto-adjusting when typing, documents not loading correctly on iPhone, and problems with voice-to-text R3R7. Some users, however, find it very reliable and fast R14R20.
Microsoft OneNote OneNote also faces significant reliability and performance issues. Users report the app being slow, glitchy, and constantly crashing on iPads and Windows laptops . Overheating on iPads is a recurring problem . Syncing issues are common, with notes not updating across devices or failing to sync to the cloud . Data corruption after updates is also mentioned . Some users find it dependable for jotting down important information .
Support & Pricing tieR11R59R60R85
Notion Notion users report difficulties contacting customer service, specifically with submitting support requests due to form issues R11. The pricing model is a point of frustration for some, particularly the per-member cost and the inability to grant view-only access without full workspace access R60. Some users appreciate the free version for its utility, even without a paid subscription R59.
Microsoft OneNote OneNote users express frustration with the lack of support for password retrieval, making the app useless if credentials are forgotten R85. There are also complaints about the sign-in and authentication experience, requiring frequent re-entry of credentials .
Pick Notion if

you need a highly customizable, all-in-one workspace for project management, personal organization, and creative planning, especially if you appreciate AI assistance and are comfortable with a learning curve R2R5R20R29.

Pick Microsoft OneNote if

you prefer a straightforward note-taking application, especially if you are already integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem and need a dependable digital notebook for general organization and simple drawing .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews related to mobile performance and bugs, despite their high lifetime ratings. Notion's recent negative reviews are heavily skewed by user dissatisfaction with AI features and mobile app instability. OneNote's recent negative reviews focus on syncing, mobile feature limitations, and general glitchiness. The free-vs-paid asymmetry is less pronounced as both offer free tiers with in-app purchases.

Frequently asked

Which app has better mobile performance?
Both Notion and Microsoft OneNote receive numerous complaints about mobile performance, including crashing, freezing, slowness, and specific bugs like typing view issues or documents not loading (R3, R7, R13, R15, , , , , for Notion; , , , , , for OneNote), making it a tie in this regard.
Do users like the AI features in Notion and OneNote?
In Notion, AI features are highly divisive; some users love them for productivity and assistance R2R29, while many others dislike them, finding them buggy, slow, forced, and a distraction R3R6R10. OneNote's AI integration is mentioned less frequently, with some users expressing hope that it indicates continued product development .
Which app is better for organizing complex information?
Notion is generally preferred for organizing complex information due to its highly customizable nature, flexibility in structuring projects, and ability to serve as a 'second brain' for various aspects of life and business R5R20R29R38. OneNote is also good for organization, allowing users to collect multiple thoughts and subjects with sub-folders, but it lacks some of Notion's advanced customization .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 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. [R2] Notion 5/5 · US Appreciation: Game changer app, especially with tech background and base AI knowledge
  2. [R3] Notion 3/5 · US AI chatbot feature is very buggy: Takes long to load, especially on long threads, to the point where i have to quit the app and download again.
  3. [R5] Notion 5/5 · US my notion is amazing: this is the best platform for planning and building your projects that you will ever use. it can be so structured but also has incredible flexibility, and sharing workspaces with others is fast and easy. I have been using this tool for years and will continue to do so. the only thing I wish there was is a mind map feature within pages to allow users a visual representation fo
  4. [R6] Notion 3/5 · US I love Notion, Not AI…: I use Notion everyday to help me stick to a schedule and plan my life. I despise AI, and the fact it’s even in the title name is repulsive. It’s painful to love this app due to them feeding into this.
  5. [R4] Notion 1/5 · US Are constant updates necessary??: Bug fixes and performance improvements. Bug fixes and performance improvements. Bug fixes and performance improvements. Bug fixes and performance improvements. Bug fixes and performance improvements. You guys are ridiculous and out of control. Please you don’t need to update your app this frequently. It’s obnoxious.
  6. [R7] Notion 1/5 · US Issue Mobile View when Typing: Great software, great usages for all sorts of people, BUT the mobile app just struggles with one critical bug that makes the whole thing unusable. When I’m typing, the screen auto-adjusts the view so that where I’m currently typing is just out of view. When this happens, I cannot see what I am typing, hence why the app becomes unusable. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FIX THIS!
  7. [R9] Notion 3/5 · US Templates not available: Overall wonderful app but I am frustrated by the non mobile friendly usage at times. I believe there may be a bug (at least when I’m on iPad) when trying to download a new template. I can find them, see them, but cannot download them or even view the product page for them.
  8. [R13] Notion 1/5 · US Latest updates are a problem: Notion has always been fantastic until it wasn’t. The last couple of releases it seems like it has gone downhill considerably. The screens seem to have a mind of their own now and it crashes more frequently than it ever has.
  9. [R14] Notion 5/5 · US Very reliable: Using it everyday
  10. [R11] Notion 4/5 · US I love notion but when I’m trying to contact costumer service: I’ve been using Notion for a while, and I really love the app. It’s been an amazing tool for staying organized. However, I’m disappointed with my recent billing experience. My subscription increased from $12 to $26, and I wanted to speak with a customer support representative to understand why. Unfortunately, when I try to submit a sup
  11. [R59] Notion 5/5 · US Best software for everything: This is the best software for all my work. I can’t find any like it. Even though I still use the free version because of a lack of funds, it serves. Imagine if I paid a subscription! Thank you, Notion!
  12. [R60] Notion 3/5 · GB Great except the subscription model: I really like that I can have everything in one place and everything is so customisable. There are a couple of things that are frustrating about the app - Paying per member when you might just want to give someone view access. Adding members to workspaces: They have to have access to an entire workspace. You might not want them to see everything under one wor
  13. [R85] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US God help you if you forget your password: This is literally the only app that I’ve ever heard of that becomes utterly useless because you forgot your password Seriously, in the 21st century, no way to retrieve it?
  14. [R15] Notion 3/5 · US Great App, Performance Issues: I work at a music studio, and this app is amazing at organizing music, students, and schedules. However, on both my iPhone 13 mini and 8th gen iPad, the app is just so slow that it really impedes my work. If they could release a performance optimization update, this review would be 5 stars.
  15. [R10] Notion 2/5 · US Pls cut back use of ai: Love notion, great app. Hate that ai is shoved down your throat at every turn. Can’t click a single thing without “ai can do this for you!!” I don’t want ai to do it for me. I am here because I want to do it. Ai sucks the fun out of everything. The second I find an alternative that does not use ai is the second I drop notion like a hot potato and switch over everything.
  16. [R20] Notion 5/5 · US It’s my second brain: I could not live without Notion. It’s like my second brain for my business, mindset, health. Everything. The app is so fast and easy to use. Well done team
  17. [R29] Notion 5/5 · US Amazing: Thank you for designing an intuitive intelligence system to manage my personal affairs and business.
  18. [R38] Notion 5/5 · US For busy moms and dads: I love putting everything I need to track in here

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store