Today, every device comes with a note app installed. Whether it’s Android or iOS, every device comes with a note-taking app installed. The app stores are also filled with many apps.
Two of the popular note-taking apps are Samsung Notes and OneNote. How do both compare? The article covers the two and explores Samsung Notes vs. OneNote.
What are both
Samsung Notes
The official note-taking app from Samsung is installed on Samsung phones, while it can be installed from Google Play.
The app is considered a medium size note-taking app that supports a few rich text editing tools along with the drawing option (especially for Samsung Note devices). The app is only available for Android devices right now.
Microsoft OneNote
OneNote has been here for a long time. The official app from Microsoft has many note-taking features.
The app is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and browsers. The mobile app offers limited features compared to the desktop or the web version, but the core features are available on all platforms.
Tools
Regarding tools, both are close. If OneNote mobile had offered the same features as the desktop, this round would have been one-sided. But there is a huge difference between the OneNote desktop and mobile apps.
The below table covers the note-taking tools in both apps.
| Samsung Notes (mobile) | OneNote (mobile) |
|---|---|
| Checklist Numbered list Bullet list Change text size (default, normal, and large) Align text Underline text Italics Bold text Attach image Attach audio Record audio Drawing Undo Redo Password protection Convert drawing into text Recycle bin Import data from a phone, Samsung account, and Google Drive Add-ons (Neat Shapes and Easy writing pad) Reminder (Samsung reminders) | Checklist Numbered list Bullet list Highlight text Underline text Italics Bold text Strike-through text Add link Attach image Attach audio Record audio Attach documents and files Drawing Undo Redo Limit image sync OneNote badge |
Overall, there is a difference between one element in favor of OneNote. Another thing worth adding here is that when the device is locked, and the display is off on Note devices, Samsung Notes automatically opens a new page to draw if you take the stylus out.
Apart from the above tools, the OneNote desktop offers:
- Password protect notes
- Assistant
- Dictate
- Meeting details
- Math equations
- Table
- Text color
- Embed pictures
- Embed videos
- Add shapes
- Translate the text
- Auto calculations
- Restore deleted pages
- Add code
- Add quotes
Those tools make OneNote one of the most robust note-taking services available for free.
Related: Microsoft OneNote vs. Word
Sharing and exporting
Samsung Notes supports exporting notes, but real-time collaboration is not offered. The app supports sending notes in the below formats:
- SDOC (Samsung Notes file)
- Microsoft Word
- Image and text formats
The SDOC file format can be opened in the Samsung Notes app on mobile and in the unofficial Samsung Notes desktop app.
Microsoft OneNote desktop offers options to send a link with the view and edit permission and send the text as a copy.
The mobile app does not offer to add anyone to collaborate, and it supports sharing the note as PDF and plain text.
Samsung Notes vs. OneNote: Widgets
Widgets are a part of this comparison. Both apps offer some, and let’s look at each. Samsung Notes comes with three widgets:
- Create a note widget, which comes with the text, draw, image, and microphone options
- Shortcuts and show notes widgets do the same job. It is a matter of the size each occupies on the home screen.
Microsoft OneNote, on the other hand, offers five widgets:
- The bar widget for creating a new photo, audio, or text note
- A 3×2 widget is for viewing the recent notes.
- The other three widgets are for creating audio, text, and photo notes separately.
Which one is for you?
Even though Microsoft OneNote is more popular, you don’t need to install a separate app if you only need a note-taking app for the smartphone.
Samsung Notes is packed with great tools. For a user who requires access to notes on other platforms, OneNote is the ideal choice.
Related: Google Keep vs. OneNote
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Wrap up
The article Samsung Notes vs. OneNote compared the essential topics. I hope the information was helpful. Which one are you going to use?
Please share your views with us, so the visitors can easily choose between the two. Thanks for reading, and subscribe to the newsletter for future updates.