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Microsoft OneNote vs Simplenote: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between Microsoft OneNote and Simplenote comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.

Bottom line: Microsoft OneNote wins this matchup. Our overall Note-Taking pick is Fathom. Our free Note-Taking pick is Fathom. Pick Simplenote if you need a fully free option.

··Methodology
Editor reviewed1 verified reviews comparedPricing checked Sep 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:

Microsoft OneNote

Digital notebook for organizing everything

Best for you if:

  • • You want completely free
  • • You want great handwriting/tablet support

Simplenote

The simplest way to keep notes, synced across all your devices.

Best for you if:

  • • You want completely free to use, including apps, backups, and syncing
  • • You want available on a wide range of platforms (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web)
At a Glance
Microsoft OneNoteMicrosoft OneNote
SimplenoteSimplenote
Starts at
FreeFree tier available
FreeFree tier available
Best For
Note-TakingNote-Taking
Rating
4.0/54.2/5
Free plan
 Yes Yes

Choose Microsoft OneNote or Simplenote?

Microsoft OneNote

Choose Microsoft OneNote if

Digital notebook for organizing everything

  • You want completely free
  • You want great handwriting/tablet support
Simplenote

Choose Simplenote if

The simplest way to keep notes, synced across all your devices.

  • You want completely free to use, including apps, backups, and syncing
  • You want available on a wide range of platforms (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web)
TOP RATED
Microsoft OneNote logo

Microsoft OneNote

Digital notebook for organizing everything

★ 4.0

1 reviews

Visit Website
Simplenote logo

Simplenote

The simplest way to keep notes, synced across all your devices.

Visit Website
FeatureMicrosoft OneNoteSimplenote
Pricing ModelFreeFree
User Rating
★4.0/5
3,864 reviews
★4.2/5
54 reviews
Categories
Note-TakingProductivity
Note-TakingProductivity

In-Depth Analysis

Microsoft OneNoteMicrosoft OneNote

Digital notebook for organizing everything

Starts at Free · 4.0/5 from 1 reviews
Great value

OneNote's pricing is exceptionally generous, as the core product is entirely free with unlimited notebooks and cross-platform sync.

Strengths

  • +Completely free
  • +Great handwriting/tablet support
  • +Deep Microsoft integration
  • +Unlimited storage (with M365)
  • +Good for visual thinkers

Weaknesses

  • -Can feel cluttered
  • -Sync issues occasionally
  • -Less structured than Notion
  • -Microsoft account required

Key features

Free-form canvasNotebook organizationHandwriting supportAudio recordingWeb clipperMicrosoft 365 integration

SimplenoteSimplenote

The simplest way to keep notes, synced across all your devices.

Starts at Free
Great value

Simplenote is free.

Watch out

There is no Simplenote subscription. Do not confuse it with WordPress.com or Notion prices.

Strengths

  • +Completely free to use, including apps, backups, and syncing
  • +Available on a wide range of platforms (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web)
  • +Simple and intuitive interface, promoting a distraction-free experience
  • +Instant synchronization ensures notes are always up-to-date everywhere
  • +Robust version history allows recovery of past note states

Weaknesses

  • -Lacks advanced formatting options beyond Markdown
  • -May be too simplistic for users requiring rich text editing or complex organization features
  • -No explicit mention of offline access capabilities, though implied by local apps

Key features

Automatic real-time syncing across devicesTagging for organization and quick searchingNote sharing and collaborationVersion history and backup of every changeMarkdown support for writing, previewing, and publishing

Pricing: Microsoft OneNote vs Simplenote

PlanMicrosoft OneNoteSimplenote
Tier 1
Free
Free
Free
Simplenote
Tier 2
$6.99 month
With Microsoft 365
N/A

Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Microsoft OneNote pricing and Simplenote pricing.

Who Should Use What?

On a budget?

Both are free. Compare plans on their websites.

Go with: Microsoft OneNote

Want the highest-rated option?

Microsoft OneNote: 4.0/5 (3,864 reviews). Simplenote: 4.2/5 (54 reviews).

Go with: Simplenote

Value user reviews?

Microsoft OneNote: 3,864 reviews (4.0/5). Simplenote: 54 reviews (4.2/5).

Go with: Microsoft OneNote

3 Questions to Help You Decide

1

What's your budget?

Both are free. Pricing won't help you decide here.

2

What's your use case?

Both are note-taking tools. Compare their specific features to decide.

3

How important are ratings?

Simplenote is rated higher: 4.2/5 vs 4.0/5.

Key Takeaways

Microsoft OneNote

  • Higher rating: 4.0/5 vs 0.0
  • Larger review base (3,864 reviews)
  • Completely free
  • Our pick for this comparison

Simplenote

  • Higher user rating: 4.2/5 vs 4.0/5

The Bottom Line

Microsoft OneNote wins this matchup. Our overall Note-Taking pick is Fathom. Our free Note-Taking pick is Fathom.

What Users Say

Microsoft OneNote Reviews

★★★★

Sticky notes are handy for research continuity.

View all reviews →

Simplenote Reviews

No reviews yet

View all reviews →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Microsoft OneNote or Simplenote better?

Microsoft OneNote is rated 4.0/5 in our evaluation. Both are free.

What are Microsoft OneNote and Simplenote used for?

Microsoft OneNote: Digital notebook for organizing everything. Simplenote: The simplest way to keep notes, synced across all your devices..

What does Microsoft OneNote cost vs Simplenote?

Microsoft OneNote is completely free. Simplenote is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.

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Microsoft OneNote AlternativesSimplenote AlternativesMicrosoft OneNote Full ReviewSimplenote Full Review
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