Software · head to head
Microsoft OneNote vs OmniFocus 3
Microsoft OneNote
Software
Free digital note-taking application for all devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
OmniFocus 3
Software
Professional task management for complex workflows
- From
- $39.99/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Microsoft OneNote has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft OneNote full-featured OneNote requires a paid Microsoft 365 subscription (from $9.99 per month for Personal); the standalone free version is web and mobile only; OmniFocus 3 apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft OneNote covers Digital notebook with sections and pages, OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft OneNote and OmniFocus 3 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft OneNote | OmniFocus 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $39.99/year |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows | MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web |
| Founded | 1975 | 1993 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Microsoft OneNote
- Digital notebook with sections and pages
- Rich text formatting
- Drawing and handwriting
- Image and file attachments
- Web clipper
- Cross-platform sync
- Collaboration and sharing
- Search functionality
Only in OmniFocus 3
- GTD-based task organization
- Projects and subprojects
- Contexts and tags
- Custom perspectives
- Automation
- Quick entry
- Sync across devices
- Deferred and due dates
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft OneNote
- Productivitynot OmniFocus 3
- Collaborationnot OmniFocus 3
- Task managementnot OmniFocus 3
- Organizationnot OmniFocus 3
OmniFocus 3
- Getting Things Done style task and project management on Apple devicesnot Microsoft OneNote
- Capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cyclesnot Microsoft OneNote
- Syncing a personal task database across Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watchnot Microsoft OneNote
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft OneNote
- Full-featured OneNote requires a paid Microsoft 365 subscription (from $9.99 per month for Personal); the standalone free version is web and mobile only
OmniFocus 3
- Apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
- Web access is not included with a perpetual licence and costs an extra $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
- The Pro perpetual licence costs $149.99 against $74.99 for Standard
- Future major upgrades are a paid discount rather than free for perpetual licence holders
- The $99.99 per year subscription is the only option that bundles Pro plus web access
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft OneNote
Free- OneNoteFree
- Unlimited free notes
- Cross-device sync
- Collaboration
OmniFocus 3
$39.99/year- Standard$39.99/year
- Mac and iOS apps
- Cloud sync
- Core features
- Pro$99.99/year
- Everything in Standard
- Advanced automation
- Perspective management
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft OneNote if
- You need digital notebook with sections and pages.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
- You also want rich text formatting.
Choose OmniFocus 3 if
- You need gtd-based task organization.
- You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
- You also want projects and subprojects.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft OneNote or OmniFocus 3 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft OneNote starts at Free and OmniFocus 3 at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft OneNote or OmniFocus 3?
- Microsoft OneNote has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft OneNote and $39.99/year for OmniFocus 3.
- Does Microsoft OneNote or OmniFocus 3 run on more platforms?
- Microsoft OneNote runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
- Can I use Microsoft OneNote for free?
- Yes. Microsoft OneNote has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus 3 starts at $39.99/year.
- What is Microsoft OneNote best used for?
- Microsoft OneNote is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization. Of those, productivity and collaboration are not what OmniFocus 3 is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft OneNote do that OmniFocus 3 cannot?
- Microsoft OneNote covers Digital notebook with sections and pages, Rich text formatting, Drawing and handwriting, Image and file attachments. OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Custom perspectives.