Google Keep vs Microsoft OneNote: Which is different and which is better?

Google Keep vs Microsoft OneNote: Which is different and which is better?.When it comes to office software, Microsoft and Google are two powerful providers. But one aspect of their platform that often goes unnoticed is their note-taking app—Microsoft OneNote or Google Keep.In this article, we will explain which is better in a head-to-head comparison between Google Keep and OneNote.

A quick overview of Google Keep and OneNote

Microsoft OneNote is a fairly comprehensive note-taking program with powerful text editing features. It also supports creating and storing pictures, tables and passwords.By comparison, Google Keep is a relatively simple app that lets you store text notes, checklists, pictures, voice recordings, and drawings.

Google Keep and OneNote: Accessibility

Google Keep and OneNote offer different ways to access and use each app.Users can access Google Keep through:

Google Keep website (keep.google.com).
A special mobile application is available on Android, iPhone and iPad.
Supports applications such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides and Google Calendar.

Users can access Microsoft OneNote through:

Dedicated desktop app available for free in the Microsoft Store.
Web version for a web browser, such as Google Chrome.
Mobile applications for Apple iOS, Mac and Android devices.

Google Keep and OneNote: features

Both Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote support a variety of note-taking features. Here’s what you can expect from each app:

Google Keep

Google Keep’s main function is note-taking. For notes you can add:

Text formatting options
Reminders and notifications
Collaborators
Color schemes
Images < /li>
Shortcuts (for better organization)

The mobile app expands the experience by allowing you to take photos that are uploaded directly to your notes. You can also add images, drawings, notes and ticks. These features are not available in the web app.You can also pin notes so they appear at the top of your website or mobile app.

Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote features are more or less the same across versions. To each you can add:

Text formatting options, fonts, tables, checklists, and links
Images and screenshots
Audio
Drawings
Tags (for example, Keep labels)
Collaborators
Styles

One of the benefits of drawing support in a desktop app is that if you have a stylus, you can easily add annotations to your notes or meeting notes.You can also link Microsoft OneNote to Office to integrate its features or link it to other documents.

Google Keep and OneNote: ease of use

Both Keep and OneNote are easy-to-use and intuitive note-taking apps. In both cases, the mobile app seems to have received the most love in development, and this is reflected in how easy they are to use.Here’s what to expect:

Google Keep

In the web version of Google Keep, digital notes appear in a “feed” or list, with the most recently created note at the top. To add a note, simply select the Take a Note… section and start typing. Google Keep notes in the mobile app appear on a sort of home page, with the newest note appearing in the top left corner. You can add a note by selecting the “+” symbol in the bottom right corner. You can also add other forms of media by selecting the appropriate icon at the bottom of the screen. To organize your notes, you can add tags. Then, in the Keep sidebar, you can select that shortcut to only see notes in that category. You can also add a color-coded background so you can see at a glance which category your notes fall into. Google Keep also lets you pin a note to the top of the screen for easy access.Here are some additional features:

Save to save. This option allows you to save text and images from a Google Docs document to Google Keep.
Google Calendar support. The reminders you set in Google Keep will appear in your Google Calendar.

Microsoft OneNote

OneNote works almost exactly like Google Keep. The only difference is that they are organized into notebooks, where each individual note acts like a page in a book. In web and desktop apps, you first select which notebook you want to log into. Once you’re signed in, you’ll be able to add and edit notes, add tags, and customize your notebook the way you want. The desktop app displays notes as a list on the left side of the window. When opened, the note appears in a panel that takes up most of the screen. Text formatting features work the same as in other Microsoft applications, such as Microsoft Word.The mobile app is a little different (and more similar to Google Keep), displaying all your notes on a sort of “home page.” You can select other notebooks at the top of the screen if needed. A new note can be easily added by selecting the “+” symbol in the bottom right corner of the screen. To organize your notes in Microsoft OneNote, you need to move them to different places in your notebook. You can divide your notebook into sections (which act like chapters), but this will take some time and isn’t as easy as just adding a label. This is one place where Google Keep really beats OneNote and organization becomes much easier.Here are some additional features:

Handwriting mode. Automatically enable drawing when the stylus is removed from the holder (on Note devices).
OneNote icon. On Android devices, a floating icon can always be present on the screen. Just click this button to start a new note.
Import a web page. Import a web page from your web browser into OneNote.
Notes. Create a note that appears at the top of the page.

Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote: collaboration

Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote approach collaboration a little differently. Here’s how they work:

Google Keep allows you to add collaborators to individual notes. All collaborators can work on notes in real time and see updates as they happen.
Microsoft OneNote allows you to share entire notebooks with other users. They can see every note in this notebook and can create and edit their own notes.

Both of these approaches work well, but Microsoft OneNote may be better for larger teams or projects that require multiple lines of thinking at once.

Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote: prices

Google Keep is completely free to use without a premium subscription. You just need a Google account. If you use it for work, you may need to invest in more storage on Google’s servers (especially if you use other workspace apps like Google Drive, Gmail, etc.).The Microsoft OneNote app has a free version that can be used in browser and mobile versions. However, to access all of its features (including integration with other Microsoft tools and additional OneDrive space), you’ll need to buy a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Which is better: Google Keep or Microsoft OneNote?

At the end of the day, every note-taking app has its own strengths and weaknesses.If you’re looking for a basic note-taking app that prioritizes ease of use, choose Google Keep. It’s a great addition to Google Workspace and has all the features you need to create to-do lists, shopping lists, and basic notes.If you want a more feature-rich note-taking tool, try Microsoft OneNote. Collaboration capabilities and integration with Microsoft Office applications, as well as additional note-taking features, mean it’s great for both work and personal use.