Choosing a note-taking app shouldn't be this hard, but here we are. I've tried almost every popular note app over the past few years, and I'm going to break down how Notion compares to the biggest competitors. This will help you pick the right tool without wasting months testing everything yourself.
Why Comparing Note Apps Matters
The note app you choose becomes a big part of your daily life. I've lost notes before because I picked the wrong app and had to switch. Trust me, you don't want to move hundreds of notes from one app to another. It's painful.
So let's look at how Notion compares to the major players: Evernote, OneNote, Apple Notes, Google Keep, and Obsidian.
Notion vs Evernote: The Old King vs The New Guard
Evernote used to be the go-to note app for everyone. I used it for years before switching to Notion.
Where OneNote Wins: Evernote is simpler to learn. You create notebooks, add notes, and that's mostly it. The web clipper is also fantastic - better than Notion's in my opinion. If you save a lot of articles from the internet, Evernote makes this super easy.
Evernote also has better offline access. You can access all your notes without internet, which is helpful if you travel a lot or work in places with spotty wifi.
Where Notion Wins: Notion is more flexible. You can build databases, create custom dashboards, and connect information in ways Evernote just can't handle. When I was using Evernote, I still needed other apps for project management and task tracking. With Notion, I don't.
Notion is also better for collaboration. Sharing and working together on notes is smoother and more powerful in Notion.
My Take: If you want simple note-taking and web clipping, stick with Evernote. If you want a workspace that does more than just notes, go with Notion.
Notion vs Microsoft OneNote: Feature-Rich Options
OneNote comes free with Microsoft Office, so many people already have it. I used OneNote throughout college.
Where OneNote Wins: OneNote gives you unlimited free storage if you use OneDrive. Notion's free plan has a 5MB upload limit per file, which can be annoying for large images or PDFs.
OneNote also has better handwriting and drawing tools. If you use a tablet with a stylus, OneNote feels more natural.
The search in OneNote can find text inside images (OCR), which is pretty cool.
Where Notion Wins: Notion's organization system is cleaner. OneNote uses notebooks, sections, and pages, which can get messy fast. Notion's page-within-page system makes more sense to me.
Notion also has databases, which OneNote doesn't. This means you can create content calendars, project trackers, and habit logs that actually work well.
Notion looks better, too. Let's be honest - OneNote looks like it's from 2010.
My Take: If you're already deep in the Microsoft ecosystem and use a stylus often, OneNote is solid. For modern organization and better looks, Notion wins.
Notion vs Apple Notes: Simple vs Powerful
Apple Notes comes free on every Apple device. It's improved a lot over the years.
Where Apple Notes Wins: Speed. Apple Notes opens instantly and syncs faster than Notion. When I need to jot something down quickly, I sometimes still use Apple Notes.
It's also deeply integrated with iOS and macOS. You can ask Siri to create notes, share things to Notes from any app, and it just works seamlessly.
Apple Notes is completely free with unlimited storage for Apple users.
Where Notion Wins: Notion works on Windows, Android, and web browsers. Apple Notes only works well if you're all-in on Apple products.
Notion has way more features. Apple Notes is growing, but it's still basic compared to what Notion can do with databases, templates, and advanced formatting.
Notion is better for work collaboration. Apple Notes sharing works, but it's not built for teams the way Notion is.
My Take: Apple Notes is perfect for quick captures and simple personal notes if you use Apple devices. Notion is better for everything else, especially if you work across different devices or with other people.
Notion vs Google Keep: Different Goals
Google Keep is super simple. It's basically digital sticky notes. I use it for shopping lists and quick reminders.
Where Google Keep Wins: It's the fastest note app I've ever used. Create a note in literally two seconds. Perfect for grocery lists and random thoughts.
The widget for Android and iOS is great for seeing your notes without opening the app.
Location-based reminders are unique to Keep. "Remind me to buy milk when I'm at the grocery store" actually works.
Where Notion Wins: Notion can do everything Keep does and a thousand more things. Keep is intentionally simple, which is good and bad.
You can't organize complex information in Keep. There are no folders, just labels. For anything beyond simple lists, Keep falls apart.
My Take: Keep and Notion aren't really competitors. Keep is for quick captures, Notion is for organized information. I actually use both - Keep for instant notes, Notion for everything I want to keep long-term.
Notion vs Obsidian: Power User Territory
Obsidian is newer but has a passionate following. It's for people who really care about owning their data and linking notes together.
Where Obsidian Wins: Your notes stay on your computer as plain text files. With Notion, your notes live on their servers. Some people strongly prefer Obsidian's approach.
Obsidian is faster and works better offline. It's a local app first, which means no lag.
The linking between notes (bidirectional links) is more powerful in Obsidian. If you want to build a "second brain" with heavily connected notes, Obsidian is designed for this.
Where Notion Wins: Notion is easier to use. Obsidian has a steeper learning curve and requires more setup.
Notion's databases don't exist in Obsidian. You can't easily create project trackers or content calendars that actually function like databases.
Notion has built-in collaboration. Obsidian requires plugins and workarounds for teamwork.
Notion looks better out of the box. Obsidian needs themes and customization to look modern.
My Take: Obsidian is for power users who want local storage and don't mind complexity. Notion is for people who want power features with a friendlier interface.
What About Cost?
Let's be real - price matters.
- Apple Notes, Google Keep, OneNote: Free
- Notion: Free plan available, $10/month for Plus
- Evernote: Free is very limited, $15/month for Premium
- Obsidian: Free for personal use, $50/year for commercial
Notion's free plan is generous enough for most people. I used it for months before needing to upgrade.
Which One Should You Pick?
Here's my honest recommendation based on different needs:
Choose Notion if: You want an all-in-one workspace, work with teams, need databases and advanced features, and you're willing to learn something powerful.
Choose Evernote if: You mainly clip web articles and want reliable offline access.
Choose OneNote if: You use Microsoft products, need unlimited free storage, and use a stylus frequently.
Choose Apple Notes if: You only use Apple devices and want something simple that just works.
Choose Google Keep if: You need super quick note capture and location-based reminders.
Choose Obsidian if: You want complete control over your data and love connecting notes together.
My Personal Setup
Want to know what I actually use? Notion is my main workspace for 90% of things - projects, notes, tasks, and knowledge management.
But I also keep Google Keep on my phone for shopping lists and quick captures. And I still use Apple Notes occasionally for super-fast thoughts.
You don't have to pick just one. Use what works best for each situation.
Making the Switch
If you're currently using another app and thinking about switching to Notion, take it slow. Don't try to move everything at once.
Start by using Notion for new stuff while keeping your old app for reference. After a month, you'll know if Notion is right for you.
Most note apps have export features, and Notion has importers for Evernote, Word, and other formats. The migration isn't as scary as it seems.
The Bottom Line
There's no perfect note-taking app for everyone. Notion is the most flexible and powerful, but that comes with complexity. Simpler apps like Apple Notes or Google Keep work better if you want simplicity.
I landed on Notion because I got tired of using five different apps. Having everything in one place was worth learning something new.
Think about what you actually need. If you're just taking simple notes, you probably don't need Notion. But if you want to organize projects, track tasks, build a knowledge base, and collaborate with others, Notion is tough to beat.
Try the free versions of a few apps and see what feels right. Your notes are too important to trust to something you don't enjoy using.
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