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

Microsoft OneNote vs Microsoft Excel

Microsoft OneNote 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft Excel 4.8★ · Free to download 40

Microsoft OneNote is generally preferred for its robust note-taking and organization features, while Microsoft Excel, despite its powerful desktop reputation, struggles with significant usability and reliability issues on mobile.

Full reviews: Microsoft OneNote · Microsoft Excel

Microsoft OneNote excels as a versatile note-taking app, praised for its organization and cross-device availability, though recent updates have introduced stability and sync issues. Microsoft Excel, while powerful on desktop, faces widespread criticism on mobile for frequent crashes, data loss, and a lack of essential features compared to its full version.

Head to head

Features edge: Microsoft OneNoteR2R5R11R12
Microsoft OneNote OneNote users value its ability to combine drawing, typing, and inserting pictures into a well-organized notebook system, making it useful for both work and personal use R2. Users appreciate its flexibility for quick notes, lists, and storing various types of information R5R11. However, some users miss specific features available on desktop, like the fountain pen, or find basic formatting options difficult to access on mobile R53. There are also requests for better integration with other apps and export capabilities R12.
Microsoft Excel Excel is recognized for its core spreadsheet capabilities, including organizing, analyzing, and visualizing data with formulas and charts . However, the mobile app is heavily criticized for lacking many essential features found in the desktop version, such as AutoSum, the ability to insert columns and cells, and proper text loupes R77R85R95. Users also report issues with basic functions like cut and paste, and editing R63. The recent addition of a Copilot button that blocks cells is also a point of frustration .
Ease of Use edge: Microsoft OneNoteR5R6R9R17
Microsoft OneNote Many OneNote users find it easy and convenient for daily note-taking and organization R5R17. Its structured filing system is highly valued . However, some recent updates have made the app more difficult to use, with issues like the cursor jumping, difficulty selecting multiple words, and confusing navigation for finding and deleting notes R9. Users also report problems with search functionality not pinpointing exact locations R6.
Microsoft Excel Excel users praise its ease of use for organizing projects and simple data entry . However, a significant number of users find the mobile app difficult and inefficient to use, especially on iPhone or tablet . Specific complaints include broken right-click functionality, issues with selecting multiple cells, and a lack of customization for the recents page . Users also report annoying notifications and constant review prompts that disrupt usage .
Reliability tieR1R3R22R28
Microsoft OneNote OneNote's reliability has significantly declined with recent updates. Users frequently report the app crashing while typing or using text boxes R1R28R30. Syncing is a major pain point, with notes not generating or showing automatically, issues transferring notes to new phones, and frequent 'page conflicts' even when only one device is active R3R22R43R49. Some users also experience lag and unresponsiveness .
Microsoft Excel Excel suffers from severe reliability issues, particularly regarding data saving and syncing. Users report losing hours of work despite having auto-save enabled, and files disappearing or not being accessible R75. The app is prone to crashing every few minutes and users report it being 'broken' or not working at all, especially after updates R63. Problems with opening files and sharing are also noted .
Price/Value edge: Microsoft OneNoteR2R8R11R67
Microsoft OneNote OneNote is generally perceived as a free app, with many users expressing satisfaction with its value R2R8R11. Some users would even be willing to pay for its organizational features R8. The app is free to download and offers in-app purchases, but the core functionality is available without cost.
Microsoft Excel Excel is free to download but requires a subscription for full functionality on iPad and other devices, which frustrates many users R67R71R73R76. Users feel that a subscription should guarantee a working product and better features, but instead, they encounter numerous bugs and limitations R67R85. Some users who pay for subscriptions through Apple still face issues with the app recognizing their subscription across devices .
Support tieR6R25R53R63
Microsoft OneNote Reviewers mention a lack of support for OneNote, with one user stating "No support whatsoever" R25. Issues like persistent bugs (e.g., text editor popping up with Apple Pencil, search not working correctly) are reported to have existed for years without resolution R6R53.
Microsoft Excel Excel users report a lack of effective customer service, with one user stating "no help is actually given by customer service" when facing subscription recognition issues . The prevalence of long-standing bugs and data loss issues suggests a lack of responsive support or effective maintenance R63R75.
Pick Microsoft OneNote if

Pick Microsoft OneNote if you need a versatile, free note-taking app that allows you to combine text, drawings, and images in an organized manner across devices R2. It's ideal if you value a robust organizational system for personal and professional use and can tolerate occasional bugs or syncing quirks R8R11.

Pick Microsoft Excel if

Pick Microsoft Excel if you require the fundamental spreadsheet capabilities of Excel on a mobile device and are willing to pay for a subscription despite potential feature limitations and reliability issues . It might be suitable for basic data viewing and simple tasks, but be prepared for potential data loss and frequent crashes R75.

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative recent reviews, skewing their perception downwards despite high lifetime ratings. For OneNote, the negativity often centers on recent performance degradation and syncing issues. For Excel, the mobile app's limitations and subscription requirement are major pain points, leading to frustration among users expecting the full desktop experience.

Frequently asked

Is Microsoft OneNote reliable for syncing notes across devices?
Microsoft OneNote's syncing reliability has been a significant concern for users, with many reporting issues such as notes not generating or showing automatically, problems transferring notes to new phones, and frequent 'page conflicts' R3R22R43R49.
Does Microsoft Excel mobile app have all the features of the desktop version?
No, the Microsoft Excel mobile app significantly lacks many essential features found in the desktop version, with users reporting that functions like AutoSum, inserting columns and cells, and proper text editing tools do not work or are missing R77R85R95.
Are there frequent crashes or data loss issues with these apps?
Yes, both Microsoft OneNote and Microsoft Excel have received numerous complaints about frequent crashes and data loss. OneNote users report the app crashing every few minutes while typing R1R28R30, while Excel users frequently experience crashes and report losing hours of work despite auto-save being enabled R75.
Is Microsoft Excel free to use on mobile devices?
Microsoft Excel is free to download, but a subscription is required to access full functionality on iPad and other mobile devices, which has been a source of frustration for many users R67R71R73R76.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 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] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Life changing: I use for every note during business interactions to the point I am paperless now
  2. [R5] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Easy cheesy!: I live one note for quick things I think of and making lists!
  3. [R11] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Invaluable: I use OneNote to keep anything I’m going to need to access. Camping reservation. Vet reports for my dogs so prove vaccinations. Gardening ideas. It is available everywhere - laptop, phone, or iPad.
  4. [R12] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · US Let me export or connect: I have several databases I need to integrate or share information with. I need ability to export or share with other apps.
  5. [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
  6. [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
  7. [R17] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Simple; Helpful: Using this app after prolonged inactivity. Useful for daily jotting notes!!
  8. [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.
  9. [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
  10. [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.
  11. [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
  12. [R8] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Fricking organized: Amazing organization would pay for
  13. [R67] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Absolute Garbage: When your product is subscription based, there’s no incentive to fix the issues
  14. [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
  15. [R53] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · GB Let down by bugs and limited functionality on iPad: Text editor continually pops up when writing with Apple Pencil. This is a bug that has been reported for years but still plagues me. Also, the selection of pens available in other apps are not available here. Where’s the fountain pen for example? Writing directly to text is poor too.
  16. [R63] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Broken: Excel appears to be broken: cut and paste doesn’t work, and it’s impossible to edit because the cursor no longer functions properly. I’m currently searching for a different app that works properly. Excel has become an annoying waste of time.
  17. [R43] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Personal & business accounts & computer v iPad dont synch: Always have issues a OneNote
  18. [R49] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · GB Page conflict: March 2026. Page conflicts are getting ever more common. Today, with all notebooks in other devices up to date and switched off, I start a new page on my phone. Add some text. Switch apps, return, Page conflict. It’s happening all the time. A page conflict happening with its with itself?? Then I open two devices on the same we network and watch the sync. It takes 30 second
  19. [R77] Microsoft Excel 2/5 · US Lacks a lot of Features of Excel: Tried doing a spreadsheet in this software. AutoSum did not work, could not save it, formating lacked inserting columns and cells…not work the hassle. Back to laptops…
  20. [R85] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Bad on iPad: They removed so many options to things. It lacks a lot of features from the computer version onto this app especially on iPad you cant do nearly as much as on a computer
  21. [R95] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Excel has gone downhill: The Excel app for iPhone used to be great, but basic functional features (e.g. text loupes inside cells, moving rows and columns, etc.) don’t work properly if at all.
  22. [R30] Microsoft OneNote 3/5 · GB Oneonote: It’s good for storing classes materials in but text box’s make me crashout
  23. [R75] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Crashes and loses data: Using this app in the field without an internet connection leaves you at serious risk of data loss. Take a lot of screenshots.
  24. [R71] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Haha, for ipad you need to purchase: Used to de googlify my life now it’s de microsoftify
  25. [R73] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US It sucks: It sucks with sign in plan I hate it
  26. [R76] Microsoft Excel 5/5 · US Love excell: I love excel but i cant afford it

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store