Microsoft OneNote
Freemium Notes
Microsoft's free digital notebook, organized like a real binder.
What it is
You get notebooks, sections (like tabs in a binder), and pages. You can type anywhere on a page, draw with a pen, and paste images.
Pricing model
Freemium. Free with a free Microsoft account. The AI helper Copilot and some advanced features need a paid Microsoft 365 plan (no price stated in the article).
What the free plan gives you
- Notebooks, sections, and pages
- Type anywhere on a page, draw with a pen, and paste images
- Apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and the web
- Notes sync through OneDrive, Microsoft's online storage
- Apps work offline and sync when you reconnect
Free-plan limitations
- The AI helper Copilot and some advanced features need a paid Microsoft 365 plan
- Your notes live in OneDrive, so your free OneDrive storage applies
Features
- Binder-style organization: notebooks, sections, pages
- Free-form typing anywhere on a page
- Pen drawing and pasted images
- OneDrive sync, with offline apps that sync on reconnect
Supported platforms
Windows, Mac (macOS), Android, iPhone (iOS), and the web — exactly as stated in the article.
Best use cases
- Students who already use Microsoft tools
- Students who like a binder-style notebook, including handwritten notes with a pen
Pros
- Free with a free Microsoft account
- Binder organization with sections and pages
- Handwriting with a pen, plus pasted images
- Apps on Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and the web, with offline use and sync
Cons
- Copilot and some advanced features need a paid Microsoft 365 plan
- Notes live in OneDrive, so free OneDrive storage limits apply
Official website
Not given in the source article, so no link is listed here rather than guessing a URL.
Last verified: October 2026 (free tiers checked October 2026). If a limit here no longer matches the app's pricing page, the pricing page is right. Source: the approved article “Best Free Notes Apps for Students (Tested on the Free Version).”