In today’s fast-paced digital world, having a reliable note-taking tool is essential for personal productivity and organization. Two popular choices in the market are Amplenote and OneNote, both offering unique features that cater to different users’ needs. Comparing these two applications can help potential users make an informed decision when choosing the best tool for their specific requirements.
Amplenote, a relatively new player in the note-taking field, emphasizes its rich tagging and task management capabilities. Designed to improve efficiency, it allows users to prioritize tasks seamlessly and connect notes through a bi-directional linking feature. Meanwhile, OneNote, developed by Microsoft, is a well-known and widely-used application offering a variety of features such as handwriting recognition, multimedia embedding, and seamless integration with the entire Microsoft ecosystem.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the key differences, strengths, and weaknesses of Amplenote and OneNote while considering various user perspectives. We will explore their user interface, organization, collaboration features, and more to provide a comprehensive comparison, allowing readers to make an educated decision in choosing the most suitable note-taking tool for their needs.
Amplenote Overview
Amplenote is a powerful note-taking app that combines various features, allowing users to seamlessly manage their notes and tasks within a single platform. The application supports markdown, a popular lightweight markup language, for formatting the text, making it easy to style and structure your content.
One standout feature of Amplenote is its efficient task management capabilities. Users can create tasks within their notes and organize them using tags, enabling easy visualization and management of their to-dos. Moreover, the built-in calendar feature allows users to schedule tasks and plan their days effectively.
Amplenote’s search functionality makes it incredibly easy to find specific notes or tasks within the application. The powerful search engine combined with the tag system ensures that users can efficiently locate and navigate their content.
Collaborating and sharing notes is also a breeze with Amplenote, thanks to its intuitive design. Users can invite others to collaborate on their notes through sharing links, and the real-time syncing means that everyone stays on the same page.
Daily notes are another handy feature offered by Amplenote. Each day, a new note is created for the user in the sidebar, making it simple to track and document daily thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
Accessibility is not an issue with Amplenote, as it offers mobile apps for both Android and iOS, along with its web app. This cross-platform presence ensures that users can access their notes and tasks from anywhere, at any time.
Organizing notes is effortless with Amplenote’s folder system, while customizable themes provide an aesthetically pleasing and personalized user experience. Security is also taken seriously by Amplenote, as they encrypt user data to ensure privacy and protection.
Here’s a summary of Amplenote’s key features in a table:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Markdown | Lightweight markup language for formatting |
| Tasks | Efficient task management built into the notes |
| Tags | Organize notes and tasks for easy navigation |
| Search | Powerful search engine to find content quickly |
| Calendar | Schedule tasks and plan ahead with ease |
| Collaboration | Easily share and collaborate on notes with others |
| Daily Notes | Create daily notes for tracking thoughts and ideas |
| Mobile Apps | Access your content on the go with Android and iOS apps |
| Design | Intuitive interface with customizable themes |
| Folders | Organize your notes in a structured manner |
| Security | User data is encrypted for privacy and protection |
As you can see, Amplenote offers a well-rounded, feature-rich experience for note-taking and task management, making it a strong contender in the productivity app market.
OneNote Overview
OneNote is a popular note-taking app that comes with a wide range of features to help users create, organize, and share notes easily. It is available on multiple platforms, including mobile apps and has a sleek design that offers a user-friendly experience.
One of the key features of OneNote is its comprehensive search functionality, which allows users to quickly find specific information within their notes. Users can implement tags to further refine their organization and quickly locate essential information. Tags are also beneficial for task management, as they can be used to indicate tasks, deadlines, and priorities within your notes.
In addition to note-taking, OneNote provides a convenient Sidebar with various tools and options for organization, such as folders and sections for grouping notes, allowing you to keep everything neat and accessible. Moreover, OneNote supports various themes to customize the appearance according to your preferences, ensuring a comfortable, personalized user experience.
OneNote enables users to collaborate in real-time, making it an excellent option for team projects or group assignments. This feature allows multiple users to work on notes simultaneously, fostering effective communication and collaboration. Sharing notes with others is simple and secure – you can share entire folders or individual notes depending on the level of access required, and OneNote’s built-in security features protect your data.
For those requiring a daily note-taking solution, OneNote’s calendar integration offers a great way to combine your calendar events with notes, enabling easy access to important information associated with scheduled events. The ability to create daily notes for specific dates ensures your schedule remains organized and up-to-date.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Search | Comprehensive search functionality to find specific information within notes quickly. |
| Tags | Enhance organization and assist with task management. |
| Collaboration | Real-time collaboration on notes for effective communication and teamwork. |
| Sharing | Securely share notes with others, allowing access to entire folders or individual notes. |
| Daily Notes | Integration with calendar events to streamline note-taking for specific dates and events. |
| Sidebar & Organization | Use folders and sections to group notes, enhancing organization and accessibility. |
| Design & Themes | Customizable appearance with various themes for a personalized user experience. |
| Security | Built-in security features to protect your data and privacy. |
| Mobile Apps | Availability on multiple platforms, including mobile devices. |
Core Features Comparison
Tasks and Scheduling
In Amplenote, tasks are created using a simple task syntax, and can be added to notes or the built-in task manager. Users are able to set priorities, due dates, and recurring tasks. On the other hand, OneNote relies on integration with Microsoft To-Do for task management, allowing users to create tasks within their notes and sync them with the To-Do app.
Notes Organization and Hierarchy
OneNote allows users to create notebooks, sections, and pages to organize their notes in a hierarchical structure. It also offers rich text formatting, multimedia embedding, and drawing capabilities. Amplenote uses a different approach with their bidirectional linking structure called [Rich Footnotes]. It also supports rich text formatting and multimedia attachments, but doesn’t have native drawing capabilities like OneNote.
Search and Tags
OneNote’s search feature is powerful, enabling users to search within notebooks, sections, pages, and even within text embedded in images. They also provide advanced search filters. Amplenote utilizes hashtags to categorize notes and offers a search feature that can search across all notes at once. Users can filter their search by tags, time, and other criteria.
Calendar and Events
While OneNote doesn’t have a built-in calendar, it integrates well with Microsoft Outlook to create events or appointments directly from a note. Amplenote, on the other hand, has a built-in calendar feature that displays tasks and events, which is useful for users who prefer an integrated approach.
Collaboration and Sharing
Both Amplenote and OneNote offer collaboration and sharing options. OneNote leverages Microsoft’s collaboration infrastructure, allowing users to share notebooks and pages with other Microsoft-users and work together in real-time. Amplenote provides a similar collaboration experience by allowing users to share notes with others and view real-time updates.
| Feature | Amplenote | OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks and Scheduling | Built-in task manager, priorities | Integration with Microsoft To-Do |
| Notes Organization | [Rich Footnotes], bidirectional linking | Notebooks, sections, pages |
| Search and Tags | Hashtags, search filters | Advanced search, text and image recognition |
| Calendar and Events | Built-in calendar | Integration with Microsoft Outlook |
| Collaboration & Sharing | Real-time collaboration, note sharing | Real-time collaboration, notebook sharing |
In conclusion, while both Amplenote and OneNote excel in different aspects, they each provide a range of tools for note-taking, task management, and collaboration.
Writing and Publishing
Markdown Support
Amplenote and OneNote offer different levels of support for Markdown, a lightweight markup language for writing and formatting text. Amplenote has built-in support for Markdown, allowing you to easily format your text using familiar syntax such as headings, bold, italic, and more. This makes it a strong choice for users who prefer writing in Markdown and want seamless integration within their note-taking app.
On the other hand, OneNote does not natively support Markdown, opting instead for a rich text editor with various formatting options. While this may not be ideal for those who are used to Markdown, OneNote’s editor still provides a variety of options for formatting and organizing your content.
| Feature | Amplenote | OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Markdown | Yes | No |
| Rich Text | No | Yes |
Blog Publishing
In addition to Markdown support, both Amplenote and OneNote have different approaches to blog publishing. Amplenote allows users to directly publish their notes as blog posts with its built-in blog hosting feature. This enables you to create, edit, and publish your content all within the same platform, ensuring a seamless workflow. With Amplenote, you can focus on writing and organizing your content without needing to switch between multiple tools.
OneNote, on the other hand, does not have a built-in blog publishing feature. To publish your OneNote content as a blog post, you may need additional tools or platforms to convert your notes for online publishing. While this may require extra steps, OneNote still offers a powerful and flexible note-taking system that can be beneficial for various writing and publishing tasks.
| Feature | Amplenote | OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Blog hosting | Yes | No |
| Publish notes | Yes | No |
Integrations and Platforms
Mobile Apps and Desktop Compatibility
Amplenote and OneNote both offer mobile apps for users, available for iOS and Android devices through their respective app stores. OneNote provides a seamless experience across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms, with full-featured desktop apps for both Windows and macOS. Amplenote, on the other hand, currently only offers a web app for desktop access, relying on mobile apps for native compatibility on iOS and Android devices.
| Platform | Amplenote | OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Web app | Desktop app |
| macOS | Web app | Desktop app |
| iOS | Mobile app | Mobile app |
| Android | Mobile app | Mobile app |
Browser Extensions
Amplenote does not currently offer a browser extension for any browser. OneNote, however, provides users with the OneNote Web Clipper browser extension. This extension is available for popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. This allows users to quickly save content from web pages directly to their OneNote notebooks.
Third-party Integrations
Although Amplenote does not presently offer any native integrations with productivity tools such as Google Docs or Google Sheets, it supports the import of Markdown and HTML content from other platforms. This enables users to import content from other note-taking apps, but may not provide seamless integration with cloud-based document editing tools like Google Workspace.
OneNote, on the other hand, integrates with Microsoft Office Suite, allowing users to effortlessly create and edit documents using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Additionally, as part of the Microsoft Suite, OneNote works seamlessly with tools like Microsoft Teams and Outlook, for better team collaboration and organization.
In conclusion, while both apps have their own unique features and capabilities, users should consider their preferences and required platform compatibility when choosing between Amplenote and OneNote.
Similar Software Comparisons
Amplenote vs Evernote
Amplenote and Evernote are both popular note-taking applications, but they cater to different user needs. Amplenote focuses on a task-centric approach and offers features like bi-directional linking and a focus meter. Evernote, on the other hand, is more of a digital filing cabinet with features like web clipping, OCR, and device-syncing. Evernote users often prefer its user-friendly interface and built-in search capabilities.
Amplenote vs Notion
Notion is a comprehensive productivity app that combines note-taking with project management and team collaboration. While Amplenote excels at organizing tasks and notes, Notion provides a more extensive set of features, such as databases, kanban boards, and calendars. However, Amplenote’s simplicity may be preferred by users who want a dedicated note-taking app without additional complexity.
Amplenote vs Obsidian
Obsidian is a markdown-based note-taking app with a strong emphasis on linking notes using bi-directional links, which allows for the creation of a personal knowledge management system. Amplenote shares this emphasis on linking but also includes additional productivity features like tasks and inline tags. Both are powerful tools, but Obsidian might appeal more to users who prioritize knowledge management while Amplenote is better suited for task-oriented users.
OneNote vs Other Alternatives
Many Evernote alternatives exist in the market, including Roam, Bear, and Apple Notes. While OneNote excels at providing a familiar Microsoft Office experience, these alternatives offer unique features:
- Roam: A popular choice for users seeking to create a network of interconnected notes, Roam’s bi-directional linking makes building a personal knowledge base simple.
- Bear: Bear is an Apple-exclusive note-taking app with a sleek interface, tagging system, and markdown support, making it a popular choice for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users.
- Apple Notes: A built-in option for Apple devices, Apple Notes provides basic note-taking functionality and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.
| Application | Focus | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|
| Amplenote | Task-centric | Bi-directional links, focus meter |
| Evernote | Digital filing cabinet | Web clipping, OCR, device-syncing |
| Notion | Productivity | Databases, kanban boards, calendars |
| Obsidian | Knowledge management | Markdown, bi-directional links |
| OneNote | Microsoft Office | Familiar interface |
| Roam | Interconnected notes | Bi-directional linking |
| Bear | Apple devices | Sleek interface, tagging system, markdown support |
| Apple Notes | Basic note-taking | Integration with Apple ecosystem |
Pricing and Plans
Amplenote Pricing
Amplenote offers a variety of pricing options to cater to different users’ needs. They offer a free tier called the Basic plan, which includes basic note-taking and task management features. For more advanced functionality and collaboration features, they offer a Pro plan at $9.99/month (billed annually) or $12.99/month (billed monthly). The Pro plan includes features such as unlimited notes, file attachments, and priority support.
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | Basic note-taking, task management |
| Pro (annual) | $9.99/month | Unlimited notes, file attachments, priority support |
| Pro (monthly) | $12.99/month | Unlimited notes, file attachments, priority support |
OneNote Pricing
OneNote stands out as a free note-taking app that’s available across various platforms and is included in Microsoft’s Office suite. There is no separate pricing for OneNote, as it comes bundled with the Microsoft 365 subscription, which starts at $6.99/month for a Personal plan. The Microsoft 365 subscription also offers additional productivity tools such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. OneNote is also available as a standalone app on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android without any subscription, offering functionality for note-taking, drawing, and basic organization.
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone | Free | Note-taking, Drawing, Basic Organization |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $6.99/month | OneNote + Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft tools |
Both Amplenote and OneNote offer suitable pricing options and features for different user requirements. While Amplenote provides a Pro tier for advanced users with extensive note-taking and task management needs, OneNote is an excellent choice for those seeking a free app that integrates well with other Microsoft productivity tools.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Amplenote and OneNote both have their unique features that cater to different user needs.
Amplenote excels at providing a productive environment for taking notes and managing tasks. Its focus mode is designed to minimize distractions, helping users concentrate on what really matters. This can be further enhanced with dark mode to reduce eye strain. Amplenote also supports transclusion, which allows users to reference content from one note in another. In terms of security, it offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that user data remains confidential.
On the other hand, OneNote is a comprehensive note-taking application that allows for rich multimedia integration and real-time collaboration. OneNote provides versatile features such as OCR search for scanned images, drawing tools, and note merge capabilities. However, OneNote does not support end-to-end encryption like Amplenote does.
Amplenote boasts a transparent roadmap, showcasing its commitment to continuous improvement and user feedback. Its domains feature allows users to organize notes based on specific criteria, and it supports nested tags for hierarchical note organization. Amplenote also offers a Progressive Web App (PWA) for added convenience, and its unlimited plan comes with early access to new features.
In summary, Amplenote is an ideal choice for those who appreciate productivity features, encryption, and continuous development. OneNote is a better fit for users who require multimedia integration and collaboration tools. Consider your personal needs and preferences before choosing between these note-taking applications.