Written by
Vain Rowe
Both Apple and Microsoft have built their computer lineups with a note-taking application for users to write down notes on the machines. However, some Mac users are curious about the note-taking app released by Microsoft as they start using the products of Microsoft Office for Mac on their workstations, and the Windows users wonder about the local note-taking on Mac also.
This post from iBoysoft introduces these two applications thoroughly and concentrates on the topic of Apple Notes VS OneNote so that vast users can choose the suitable one for further use. Let's get started then!
Apple Notes: Basics
Before we dive into the comparison, let's know Apple Notes first. Apple Notes is the local app configured with Mac by Apple for users to take notes since the release of OS X Mountain Lion in July 2012. From those years, Apple has made no effort to update this app to provide improved and enhanced features and functions to users.
It includes features like iCloud synchronization, sophisticated text formatting choices, several list styles, previews of rich web and map connections, support for additional file types, a dedicated attachment browser, a system share extension point for saving images and web URLs, and more.
Every update and enhancement makes this software more convenient and easier to use. It works as more than a note-taking app but also a collaborative utility that allows members to create a note together, just like you create a shared calendar on a Mac.
If you find Apple Notes impressive, why not share it with more people on your social platform?
Microsoft OneNote: basics
Microsoft OneNote is a note-taking app developed by the Microsoft group available for the Microsoft 365 suite and free on all platforms outside the suite after 2014. It gathers users' notes, drawings, screen clippings, audio commentaries as a multifunctional utility.
As a free and stand-alone app, it releases the different versions for Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. On top of that, you can also access your files stored in this app online. That's super considerate.
One of the most fascinating features of Microsoft OneNote is that users can change the notes they created before from normal text to handwritten style, which makes it more vivid, just like you are taking a note with a pen on a notebook. As an outstanding note-taking app, it attracts millions of users around the world and gains high user engagement for its impressive performance and handy functions.
Apple Notes VS Microsoft OneNote: Which one is more suitable?
Now that we have learnt both Apple Notes and Microsoft OneNote comprehensively, we can begin to compare these fascinating applications from the following aspects. Let's see in detail!
Compability
Apple Notes desktop version only supports Apple products like Macs, iPads, and iPhones, while its web server is available for all kinds of devices, including Windows, Linux, and Android. Users from non-Apple platforms can visit this service online, yet the desktop version is not provided.
Microsoft OneNote is highly compatible with loads of platforms, like Windows, macOS, Linux distributions, iPhones, Android, and other smartphones. With both desktop versions installed or online versions accessed, you can create and edit a note anytime with a good internet connection.
Layout design
To tell the truth, the layout designs of both applications have their advantages and strengths. As for the user interface, Apple Notes outweighs for it's more simpler and user-friendly. You can quickly open the note for edit or sharing in such a clean interface without any distraction.
While the interface of Microsoft OneNote tends to be more detailed, which helps users to gain more info of a note while it is a little bit distracting.
Although both have their features, the concentrated and open-and-shut interface undoubtedly enhances the user's experience in creating a note.
Password-protection
Both Apple Notes and Microsoft OneNote allow users to password-protect the notes they have created.
Apple always is known for its incomparability of user data security and safety around the world. For Apple Notes, users can set a password to protect the chosen note while using the user account password or Touch ID for protection also works fine. This guards against any access from untrusted or unidentified user or any potential info leak.
While Microsoft OneNote allows users to create a password of certain sections of the note instead of the whole note. And if you lose or forget the password, you have to farewell to the notes you created forever.
Media editing
Differentiating from the tradition note-taking app, Apple Notes and Microsoft OneNote allows users to add media files. For Apple Notes, you can add files like photos, videos, sketches, audio, PDFs, map locations, webpages previews, links, external webpages, txt files, numbers, etc.
On top of that, you can experience the remarkable feature of Apple Notes -- voice notes with automatic transcription on your machine without a hitch. This boosts the efficiency of note-taking greatly!
When it comes to Microsoft OneNote, you can add files like pictures, scanned images, screen clippings, diagrams, word documents, PDFs, excels, etc. It also involves the feature of recording and transcribing audio.
iCloud synchronization
Apple Notes and Microsoft OneNote can be synced across platforms comprehensively as if you activate the cloud server to do so on your machine.
On Apple Notes, it is iCloud Drive that syncs every change and modification you have made to the notes on sorts of Apple devices in real time with the prerequisite of a smooth network. If you create so many notes that you're notified by a message saying that iCloud storage is full, go to upgrade your subscription immediately.
For Microsoft OneNote on Windows, it's OneDrive that syncs the notes you have taken, as you enable this cloud server to sync your note files. Yet, mention that syncing doesn't mean backup. If you delete the notes locally, they will disappear from the cloud server simultaneously. For data security, you can adopt the 3-2-1 backup strategy in case any data loss happens in the future.
If this post helps you figure out which note-taking app suits you better, then share your conclusion with more people!
