GoodNotes vs Microsoft OneNote: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, GoodNotes leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
GoodNotes
Capture, organize, and elevate your ideas with AI-powered digital note-taking.
Best for you if:
- • You want highly flexible input methods cater to diverse note-taking styles
Microsoft OneNote
Digital notebook for organizing everything
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (GoodNotes requires payment)
| At a Glance | GoodNotes | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $0.99/mo, billed yearly Essential plan | Free plan, paid from $6.99/mo, billed monthly With Microsoft 365 plan |
Category | Note-Taking Productivity | Note-Taking Productivity |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.5 · Trustpilot 4.0 263 reviews | 4.0/5 Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.5 · Trustpilot 1.8 3,864 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | AI Pass+ is a significant monthly add-on. | n/a |
Choose GoodNotes or Microsoft OneNote?
Choose GoodNotes if
- You want highly flexible input methods cater to diverse note-taking styles
- You want powerful AI features significantly enhance productivity and understanding
Choose Microsoft OneNote if
- You want a fully free tool (GoodNotes requires payment)
- You want completely free
- You want great handwriting/tablet support
In-Depth Analysis
GoodNotes
Capture, organize, and elevate your ideas with AI-powered digital note-taking.
GoodNotes offers a generous Free tier, but the Essential ($11.99/year) and Pro ($35.99/year) tiers are quite affordable for the features provided.
Watch out
AI Pass+ is a significant monthly add-on.
Strengths
- Pro: Highly flexible input methods cater to diverse note-taking styles.
- Pro: Powerful AI features significantly enhance productivity and understanding.
- Pro: Seamless real-time collaboration makes it great for teams and education.
- Pro: Comprehensive search functionality, including handwritten content.
- Pro: Available across multiple operating systems.
Weaknesses
- Con: Some advanced AI features and cross-platform sync are limited or in beta.
- Con: Certain features like audio transcription and presentation mode are currently iOS-only.
- Con: Free plan has significant limitations on file count and AI usage.
Key features
Microsoft OneNote
Digital notebook for organizing everything
OneNote's pricing is exceptionally generous, as the core product is entirely free with unlimited notebooks and cross-platform sync.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free
- Pro: Great handwriting/tablet support
- Pro: Deep Microsoft integration
- Pro: Unlimited storage (with M365)
- Pro: Good for visual thinkers
Weaknesses
- Con: Can feel cluttered
- Con: Sync issues occasionally
- Con: Less structured than Notion
- Con: Microsoft account required
Key features
Plans and prices: GoodNotes vs Microsoft OneNote
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GoodNotes |
| goodnotes.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Microsoft OneNote |
| onenote.com read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on GoodNotes pricing and Microsoft OneNote pricing.
Key Takeaways
GoodNotes
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.0/5
Microsoft OneNote
- Choose if you want digital notebook for organizing everything
What the data shows
On the data below, GoodNotes leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- GoodNotes has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 263 reviews for GoodNotes, 4.0/5 from 3,864 reviews for Microsoft OneNote).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: GoodNotes $0.99/mo, billed yearly; Microsoft OneNote $6.99/mo, billed monthly.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
What Users Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How do GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote compare in 2026?
On the data below, GoodNotes leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. GoodNotes has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 263 reviews for GoodNotes, 4.0/5 from 3,864 reviews for Microsoft OneNote). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: GoodNotes $0.99/mo, billed yearly; Microsoft OneNote $6.99/mo, billed monthly. Both have a free plan.
What are GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote used for?
GoodNotes: Capture, organize, and elevate your ideas with AI-powered digital note-taking. Microsoft OneNote: Digital notebook for organizing everything.
What does GoodNotes cost vs Microsoft OneNote?
GoodNotes's cheapest paid plan is Essential at $0.99/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Microsoft OneNote's cheapest paid plan is With Microsoft 365 at $6.99/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between GoodNotes and Microsoft OneNote?
GoodNotes's main strength: highly flexible input methods cater to diverse note-taking styles. Microsoft OneNote's main strength: completely free.