Google Keep vs Microsoft OneNote
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Google Keep is the better app overall, scoring 8.3 to 8.1. Google Keep wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Microsoft OneNote on 1, with 1 tied.
Android users and families who want quick shared lists and simple notes
Students and tablet users who take handwritten or mixed-media notes
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Google Keep | Microsoft OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity & Notes | Productivity & Notes |
| Category rank | #15 of 17 | #16 of 17 |
| Developer | Microsoft | |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | — | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Google Keep better than Microsoft OneNote?
Google Keep is the better app overall, scoring 8.3 to 8.1. Google Keep wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Microsoft OneNote on 1, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Google Keep or Microsoft OneNote?
Google Keep: Free; uses your Google account's 15 GB of free storage. Microsoft OneNote: Free; Microsoft 365 adds Copilot features and more OneDrive storage. On value for money, Google Keep scores higher.
Do Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote work on the same devices?
Only Microsoft OneNote runs on Mac, Windows.
Which is more private, Google Keep or Microsoft OneNote?
Google Keep scores higher on privacy (7.0/10). App Store label: no tracking, but location, contacts, note content, search history, IDs, usage and diagnostics may be linked to you. Google Play says no data is shared with third parties.
Strengths and weaknesses
Google Keep
- Free, with no ads
- Works on Android, iPhone and any web browser
- Shared shopping lists update in real time
- No folders or tables, and only basic formatting
- Notes aren't end-to-end encrypted
- Keep Live is Android-only and needs a paid Google AI plan
Google Keep is the sticky-note wall of notes apps. Jot a thought, tick off a shopping list, snap a photo or record a voice memo, and it syncs to Android, iPhone and the web in seconds. Shared lists update live for everyone, and reminders pop up at the right time or place. It's free with no ads. Formatting is basic, there are no folders, and your notes aren't end-to-end encrypted.
Full Google Keep review
Microsoft OneNote
- Free on every big platform except Linux
- Great for handwriting and stylus pens
- Fits right in with Microsoft 365 and Teams
- Sync can be slow and sometimes clashes
- Looks and note structure feel dated
Microsoft OneNote works like a digital binder. Inside are notebooks, sections and pages. You can type, draw, paste and write by hand anywhere on a page. Pen support is excellent, and it can search text inside images. It's free on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and the web. Copilot features come with Microsoft 365. The downsides: it feels dated, sync sometimes clashes, and free-form pages get messy.
Full Microsoft OneNote review
