Productivity · head to head
Microsoft OneNote vs Rows
Microsoft OneNote
Productivity
Free digital note-taking application for all devices
- From
- Free
- 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; Rows pro plan is billed per user starting at $6 per month, and higher usage tiers reach $59 to $79 per month for team workspaces
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft OneNote and Rows actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft OneNote | Rows |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows | Web |
| Founded | 1975 | Unknown |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).
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 Rows
Nothing recorded that Microsoft OneNote does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft OneNote
- Productivitynot Rows
- Collaborationnot Rows
- Task managementnot Rows
- Organizationnot Rows
Rows
No use cases recorded yet. See the Rows review.
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
Rows
- Pro plan is billed per user starting at $6 per month, and higher usage tiers reach $59 to $79 per month for team workspaces
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft OneNote
Free- OneNoteFree
- Unlimited free notes
- Cross-device sync
- Collaboration
Rows
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Rows review.
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 Rows if
Nothing in the data separates Rows from Microsoft OneNote on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft OneNote or Rows better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft OneNote starts at Free and Rows at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft OneNote or Rows?
- Microsoft OneNote has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft OneNote and On request for Rows.
- Does Microsoft OneNote or Rows run on more platforms?
- Microsoft OneNote runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. Rows runs on Web.
- Can I use Microsoft OneNote for free?
- Yes. Microsoft OneNote has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rows starts at On request.
- 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 Rows is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft OneNote do that Rows cannot?
- Microsoft OneNote covers Digital notebook with sections and pages, Rich text formatting, Drawing and handwriting, Image and file attachments.