Software Alternatives & Startups

OneNote VS Microsoft Forms

Compare OneNote VS Microsoft Forms and see what are their differences

OneNote

Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.

Microsoft Forms

Simplistic surveys by Microsoft.

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Microsoft Forms seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 16 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 16
user rating
5.0 vs 4.0
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

OneNote
Microsoft Forms
Website onenote.com forms.office.com
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

OneNote 6 features
Microsoft Forms 5 features
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility
    OneNote is available on various platforms including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and through web browsers, providing seamless access to notes from any device.
  • Collaboration Features
    OneNote allows real-time collaboration, enabling multiple users to work on the same notebook simultaneously and see changes in real-time.
  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem
    As part of the Microsoft Office Suite, OneNote integrates well with other Microsoft products like Word, Excel, and Outlook, enhancing productivity.
  • Flexible Organization
    OneNote offers a flexible structure for organizing notes, including notebooks, sections, and individual pages, allowing for customizable workflows.
  • Rich Media Support
    Users can insert various types of media into their notes, including images, audio recordings, video clips, and even web links.
  • Handwriting and Drawing Support
    OneNote supports handwriting and drawing using touchscreens and stylus pens, which is particularly useful for tablet and touch device users.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity for New Users
    The versatile features and flexible structure of OneNote can be overwhelming for new users, requiring a learning curve to utilize effectively.
  • Storage Limitations
    Notes are stored in OneDrive, which comes with a limited amount of free storage. Users may need to purchase additional storage if they exceed this limit.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, especially with large notebooks or when working offline, which can impact productivity.
  • Limited Export Options
    OneNote offers limited options for exporting notes, making it difficult to transfer data to other note-taking applications or formats.
  • Inconsistent Features Across Platforms
    Not all features are available across all platforms, leading to a fragmented experience when switching between devices.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there are concerns about data privacy and security, particularly for sensitive information stored in OneNote.
  • Integration with Microsoft 365
    Microsoft Forms seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft 365 apps such as Excel, SharePoint, and Teams, enhancing collaboration and data management.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies form creation and distribution, making it accessible even to non-technical users.
  • Real-time Collaboration
    Multiple users can collaborate on form creation and data analysis in real-time, fostering teamwork and increasing productivity.
  • Customization Options
    It offers various customization options, including themes, question types, and response validation, allowing users to tailor forms to specific needs.
  • Analytics and Reporting
    Built-in analytics tools provide insights and visualizations directly within Microsoft Forms, aiding in data-driven decision-making.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to other specialized survey tools, Microsoft Forms lacks some advanced features such as complex branching, advanced logic, and extensive third-party integrations.
  • Design Flexibility
    The platform has limited design customization options, making it less suitable for users looking to create highly branded or unique forms.
  • Response Limits
    Free and some standard Microsoft 365 plans have response limits, which can be restrictive for organizations conducting large-scale surveys.
  • Export Limitations
    Exporting data to other formats or systems can be cumbersome, especially when dealing with large datasets or requiring specific data formats.
  • Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem
    While integration with Microsoft 365 is a strength, it can also be a limitation for users or organizations that rely on non-Microsoft tools and services.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

OneNote
Microsoft Forms

Overall verdict

  • OneNote is generally considered a good tool for note-taking and organization, especially for users who are already within the Microsoft ecosystem. Its wide array of features makes it suitable for students, professionals, and anyone in need of a comprehensive digital notebook.

Why this product is good

  • OneNote is praised for its versatility and flexibility. It offers a robust platform for note-taking that supports multimedia inputs such as text, images, audio, and video, which can be organized within notebooks and sections. OneNote integrates well with other Microsoft Office products, enabling easy sharing and collaboration. Its cross-platform availability ensures that your notes are accessible from various devices, and its cloud synchronization simplifies accessing and updating notes on the go.

Recommended for

  • Students looking for a digital notebook to organize lecture notes and study materials.
  • Professionals who need a tool for meeting notes, project planning, and collaboration.
  • Individuals seeking a versatile note-taking application that supports a variety of media and formats.
  • Users who prefer cross-platform access to their notes and seamless integration with Microsoft Office products.

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Microsoft Forms is generally well-regarded as a user-friendly tool for creating and managing online forms.

Why this product is good

  • Microsoft Forms is considered good due to its ease of use, integration with other Microsoft 365 applications, real-time collaboration features, and robust data analysis capabilities. It provides an intuitive interface for creating surveys, quizzes, and polls and offers automatic data export to Excel for further analysis. Additionally, it ensures data security and privacy, adherent to Microsoft's compliance guidelines.

Recommended for

  • Educational institutions requiring tools for quizzes and feedback collection
  • Businesses looking for an integrated solution for customer surveys and employee feedback
  • Teams that already use Microsoft 365 and need seamless integration with other applications
  • Users who require real-time data analysis and collaboration on form responses

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

OneNote 3 videos + Add
Microsoft Forms 3 videos + Add

Notability vs OneNote: 2019 comparison

More videos

  • - 5 Reasons OneNote is Better than Notability | iPad Pro Note taking (2019)
  • - Microsoft OneNote Tutorial

Review of Microsoft Forms Pro 2019 • Office 365 Survey Solution

More videos

  • - Introducing Microsoft Forms Pro
  • - Microsoft Forms Pro | Business Applications April 2019 Release

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
OneNote
Microsoft Forms
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using OneNote and Microsoft Forms. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

OneNote 5.0 · 1 review
Microsoft Forms 4.0 · 1 review

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

OneNote 0 mentions
Microsoft Forms 16 mentions

Tracking OneNote since Mar 2021.

  • MS Forms: Employee to send form and recieve results on his email depending on which employee emails the form (dynamic)
    When you use the word ‘form’ in a Microsoft context, readers including myself may assume you are talking about Microsoft forms on https://forms.office.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How does your company do its IT Onboarding?
    Make a Microsoft Forms that they have to fill out. Set it to email you when it's completed. Tell people that they have to fill it out properly or they can't have access to anything. The last thing they had before I got here was on... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Microsoft Forms are constantly refreshing and logging out
    You can get to forms.office.com but when you open any form to edit it just constantly refreshes and then kicks you back to a login screen. Source: over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to OneNote and Microsoft Forms

When comparing OneNote and Microsoft Forms, you can also consider the following products.