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

Microsoft OneNote vs Google Sheets

Microsoft OneNote 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Microsoft OneNote
Google Sheets 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65

For general note-taking and organization, Microsoft OneNote is the better choice, offering robust features and cross-platform accessibility, while Google Sheets excels for collaborative spreadsheet work, despite its mobile app limitations.

Full reviews: Microsoft OneNote · Google Sheets

Microsoft OneNote is praised for its comprehensive organization, versatility in note-taking, and cross-platform synchronization, though it faces recent issues with crashing and bugs. Google Sheets is valued for its collaborative spreadsheet capabilities and ease of use for simple tasks, but its mobile app is frequently criticized for missing features and instability compared to its web version.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: Microsoft OneNoteR2R8R10R11
Microsoft OneNote OneNote users appreciate its robust organizational tools, ability to combine drawing, typing, and images, and its utility for various personal and professional needs R2R8R11R23. However, some users note missing features from the desktop version on mobile, such as font size changes, bold/underline without rotating the screen, and fountain pen options R18R21R53. There are also complaints about poor speech-to-text dictation and the inability to alphabetize notes R10.
Google Sheets Google Sheets is lauded for its utility in creating timetables and managing finances, and its real-time collaboration features . However, a significant number of users report that the mobile app lacks many essential features available in the web version, such as paste special, sort options, drop-downs, and the ability to import CSV files . Users also find it difficult to resize rows/columns and change print orientation .
Ease of Use tieR5R17R25R29
Microsoft OneNote Many OneNote users find it easy and simple for quick notes, lists, and general organization R5R17R29. However, some recent reviews indicate difficulty with basic functions like creating new notebooks, deleting notes, and navigating the interface R25. There are also complaints about confusing password prompts and a lack of clear support R25.
Google Sheets Google Sheets is described as easy and simple to use for basic information recording and timetables . However, many users find the mobile app massively unfriendly, not intuitive for beginners, and difficult for tasks like opening CSV files or finding formatting options . The user experience on iPad is particularly criticized as painful .
Reliability & Performance tieR1R3R6R7
Microsoft OneNote OneNote has significant recent issues with crashing, lagging, and bugs, particularly after updates R1R6R7R9. Users report notes not syncing or generating automatically, cursor jumping, and page conflicts R3R9R49. Some also experience issues with notes not transferring to new phones or displaying correctly .
Google Sheets Google Sheets also suffers from frequent crashing, especially after recent updates, making it unusable for some . Users report sheets not loading fully, data disappearing, and issues with the app quitting within seconds . There are also complaints about the app consuming too much RAM and pop-ups interfering with usage .
Cross-Platform Sync & Accessibility edge: Microsoft OneNoteR3R6R11R23
Microsoft OneNote OneNote is praised for its availability across devices (laptop, phone, iPad) and its ability to synchronize notes, making it a valuable cloud-based memory tool R6R11R23R26. However, some users experience sync issues between devices, particularly between desktop and mobile, or personal and business accounts R3R49.
Google Sheets Google Sheets is noted for its compatibility with many computing devices and its offline use . The immediate sync when multiple users work on the same sheet is a highly valued feature . However, the mobile app's limited functionality compared to the web version often forces users to switch to a browser or desktop for full features, undermining its cross-platform utility .
Support & User Experience tieR16R25R37R53
Microsoft OneNote OneNote users report a lack of support and frustrating experiences with the app, including constant review prompts that interrupt usage R16R25R37. Some also mention specific bugs that have persisted for years, like the text editor popping up when using Apple Pencil R53.
Google Sheets Google Sheets users are frustrated by intrusive review prompts and sign-in boxes that block content . There are also complaints about spellcheck being useless for scientific vocabulary and the lack of a help button . The overall user experience on iPad is frequently described as painful and buggy .
Pick Microsoft OneNote if

Pick Microsoft OneNote if you need a versatile, organized digital notebook for various types of content (text, drawings, images) across multiple devices, and value a robust filing system R2R11R23R54. It's particularly good for those who want to go paperless for business or personal notes R2R8.

Pick Google Sheets if

Pick Google Sheets if your primary need is collaborative spreadsheet work, especially for simple data recording, timetables, or finance tracking, where real-time multi-user editing is crucial . It's also suitable if you primarily use the web version and only need the mobile app for quick, basic updates .

Evidence note: Both apps have a high lifetime rating but recent reviews for both show a significant increase in negative feedback, primarily concerning app stability, bugs, and limited mobile functionality. The free-to-use nature of both apps means that some negative feedback might stem from users expecting full desktop functionality without paying for premium features, though the reviews don't explicitly mention IAP friction.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for organizing notes?
Microsoft OneNote is generally considered better for organizing notes, with users praising its 'fricking organized' structure and ability to keep thoughts, recipes, and various categories separated R8R44. It offers a solid filing system and the ability to combine different content types like drawing, typing, and pictures within a notebook R23R54.
Do these apps sync across devices?
Yes, both apps are designed to sync across devices, but users report mixed experiences. OneNote is valued for being available everywhere (laptop, phone, iPad) and for its synchronization R11R26. However, some users experience issues with notes not syncing automatically or page conflicts R3R49. Google Sheets offers fantastic immediate sync when multiple users work on the same sheet , but its limited mobile functionality often forces users to revert to the web version .
Which app has more features on mobile?
Microsoft OneNote generally offers a more comprehensive feature set on its mobile app for note-taking, including drawing, typing, and inserting pictures R23R54, though some desktop features like specific pen types or font controls are missing R18R21R53. Google Sheets' mobile app is widely criticized for lacking significant features available in its web version, such as paste special, advanced sort options, and drop-downs, making it less functional for complex tasks on mobile .
Are the apps stable and reliable?
Both apps have significant recent reliability issues, with many users reporting frequent crashes and lagging. OneNote users complain of the app crashing every few minutes while typing, lagging on newer phones, and various bugs affecting search and cursor behavior R1R6R9R28. Google Sheets users also report the app constantly crashing after updates, quitting within seconds, and sheets not loading fully .

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] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Life changing: I use for every note during business interactions to the point I am paperless now
  2. [R8] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Fricking organized: Amazing organization would pay for
  3. [R10] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Not easy to use: You can’t even alphabetize notes, really?
  4. [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.
  5. [R5] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Easy cheesy!: I live one note for quick things I think of and making lists!
  6. [R17] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Simple; Helpful: Using this app after prolonged inactivity. Useful for daily jotting notes!!
  7. [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
  8. [R29] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Easy to use: I can’t imagine going through school without it
  9. [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.
  10. [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
  11. [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
  12. [R7] Microsoft OneNote 2/5 · US Glitchy: It’s a great idea but has issues.
  13. [R23] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US Like having one place for notes: I have used OneNote for almost 10 years now. Having the ability to draw and type and insert pictures in a notebook with a solid filing system has been extremely helpful at work and home.
  14. [R16] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Let me use it first: Can’t use app because this survey pops up every 10 seconds
  15. [R37] Microsoft OneNote 1/5 · US Bugs: They big you a lot for reviews
  16. [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.
  17. [R44] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US The Best: This is always my favorite place to keep my thoughts, recipes, notes and everything I need to keep separated into different categories.
  18. [R54] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US The best notes app: An aunt recommended this app, stating that it was her favorite app for notes professionally, and then personally. She worked for General Mills her whole career, in their corporate offices. I have fallen in love with this app. I started using it, and it’s now essential professionally, as a food safety Auditor, and personally. It’s indispensable. To drop notes, pictures, screensh
  19. [R26] Microsoft OneNote 5/5 · US SO much better than before!: Finally an app that works GREAT in Windows and iOS!
  20. [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
  21. [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!
  22. [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.
  23. [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
  24. [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

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