OneNote Alternatives for Mac: 5 Free and Paid Picks (2026)
OneNote alternatives for Mac compared on Apple sync, importing OneNote notebooks and free limits: Apple Notes, Joplin, Obsidian, Notion and Bear.
•4 min read•Notes & Knowledge
Verdict:Apple Notes is the simplest free swap on a Mac; Joplin and Obsidian can import OneNote notebooks and keep your notes under your control; Notion suits shared workspaces.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Best for | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Notes | Included with Apple devices; iCloud includes 5GB free storage | macOS, iOS, iPadOS | Mac users who want simple notes with folders, tags and sketching that sync across Apple devices | Docs only |
| Joplin | Free (open source) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Mac users moving OneNote notebooks into encrypted, open-source notes | Docs only |
| Obsidian | Free; Sync $4 per user a month billed annually | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Linked notes stored as plain files on your Mac | Docs only |
| Notion | Free for individuals; Plus $10 per member a month | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Shared workspaces with databases and wikis | Docs only |
| Bear | Pro subscription; see Bear's site for the price | macOS, iOS, iPadOS | Writing-focused notes on Apple devices | Docs only |
Independent comparison. Paid placements are labelled separately; editorial links earn no affiliate commissions. Learn more.
Good fit if
- You use a Mac and want a notes app that fits Apple devices better than OneNote's Mac app
- You want to move existing OneNote notebooks rather than start over
- You value notes you can back up as files
Not ideal if
- You rely on OneNote's freeform canvas and Windows-only features
- Your team or school requires OneNote notebooks on OneDrive
- You need handwriting search; none of the picks here lists it
Short answer: for a Mac, Apple Notes is the easiest free move, Joplin and Obsidian are the picks if you want to import OneNote notebooks and own your files, and Notion fits shared workspaces. OneNote does run on Mac, but it is not the same app as on Windows.
A Microsoft support answer says OneNote for Mac has fewer features than the Windows version because of differences between the platforms, and points users to the feedback portal. OneNote's own site pitches note-taking anywhere for free, so the reason to move is fit and control, not price.
What matters on a Mac
- Native Apple experience. A Mac app that syncs with an iPhone or iPad without extra accounts.
- Migration. A documented way to get OneNote notebooks out and into the new app.
- Structure and drawing. OneNote uses notebooks, sections and pages. Most alternatives use folders, tags or links, and drawing support varies.
- Cost and limits. Free tiers differ.
- Data ownership. Files you can back up, or encryption you control.
Apple Notes
Apple Notes is the notes app built for Mac, iPhone and iPad. According to Apple's Notes User Guide, you can organise notes in folders, add tags, use Smart Folders, attach photos, PDFs and scans, sketch with the Markup palette, import and export notes, and lock them with a password.
It syncs through iCloud, which gives 5GB of free storage per Apple's iCloud page. There are no notebook tabs or section groups like OneNote, and Apple's guide lists no OneNote importer. Pick it if you live in Apple's ecosystem and your notes are mostly text, lists, scans and quick sketches.
Joplin
Joplin is an open-source notes app that runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. Its home page lists sync through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox or OneDrive and end-to-end encryption.
The reason it matters here is migration. According to Joplin's import help, you can import a OneNote notebook that you download from OneDrive as a ZIP file, using File, Import and "ZIP - OneNote Notebook" in the desktop app, with Joplin 3.5.1 or later. The .onepkg route works only when Joplin runs on Windows, and very large exports of roughly 2 to 4 GB may fail.
Pick it if you want encrypted, open-source notes you can sync through a service you already use.
Obsidian
Obsidian stores notes as plain files in a folder on your Mac and links them to each other. Per its pricing page, the app is free without limits and needs no sign-up. Optional Sync costs $4 per user a month billed annually or $5 billed monthly, and a commercial license is optional for work use.
For migration, Obsidian's import page lists Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes, Evernote, Notion, Google Keep and Bear among the sources its Importer plugin supports. Pick it if you think in linked notes and want files you control. It is a different way of working from OneNote's notebooks, so try it on a copy first.
Notion
Notion is a workspace of pages and databases. According to Notion's pricing page, the free plan for individuals has unlimited pages and blocks, 5 MB per file and 7 days of page history, and Plus costs $10 per member a month. The page says offline use is available in the desktop and mobile apps.
It suits wikis, project notes and shared workspaces better than a personal notebook of clippings and sketches. The 5 MB file cap matters if you attach large PDFs. If you are leaving Notion instead, see our Notion alternatives page.
Bear
Bear is a notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Bear's FAQ lists import guides for Evernote, Apple Notes and Obsidian, a guide for adding sketches to notes, and a Pro subscription. Check Bear's site for the Pro price before you commit.
The FAQ lists no OneNote import guide. Pick it if you mostly write and want an Apple-only app, and plan to move your OneNote content through another app first.
Comparison
| App | Mac and Apple sync | OneNote import | Cost | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Notes | Built for Apple devices, iCloud | Not listed | Included; iCloud 5GB free | Sketch with Markup |
| Joplin | macOS, iOS; Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive | ZIP from OneNote Online | Free, open source | Not listed |
| Obsidian | macOS, iOS | Importer plugin lists OneNote | Free; Sync $4 a month annual | Not listed |
| Notion | Desktop and mobile apps, web | Not listed | Free; Plus $10 a month | Not listed |
| Bear | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Not listed | Pro subscription | Sketch guide |
How to choose
- You want the least effort and live on Apple devices: use Apple Notes, then see our free note-taking app list.
- You have years of OneNote notebooks to move: try Joplin or Obsidian first, using a copy of one notebook.
- You share notes with a team: Notion, and compare it with Evernote alternatives if you also clip web pages.
Limits of this review
Nothing was tested on a Mac and no OneNote notebook was imported. Reddit discussions were not read. Handwriting and Apple Pencil behaviour was not compared. Bear's price was not listed in its FAQ. Evernote was not covered here.
FAQ
Is OneNote available on Mac?
Yes, but a Microsoft support answer says the Mac app has fewer features than the Windows app because of differences between the platforms. OneNote's own site advertises note-taking anywhere for free. If the Mac version's missing tools matter to you, that is a reason to look at Mac-friendly alternatives.
What is the best free OneNote alternative for Mac?
Apple Notes if you want zero setup: it has folders, tags, Smart Folders and sketching, per Apple's user guide. Joplin if you want an open-source app with end-to-end encryption that can import OneNote notebooks. Obsidian's core app is also free with no limits and no sign-up, per its pricing page.
Can I import OneNote notebooks into another app on Mac?
Joplin can import a OneNote notebook downloaded from OneDrive as a ZIP file (Joplin 3.5.1 or later). Obsidian's import page lists Microsoft OneNote among the formats its Importer plugin supports. Joplin's help warns that very large exports, roughly 2 to 4 GB, may fail.
Is there an open-source OneNote alternative for Mac?
Joplin is open source and runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS, with sync through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox or OneDrive and end-to-end encryption, per its home page. Obsidian is free but not open source; it stores notes as plain files on your disk.
Which OneNote alternative works with Apple Pencil on iPad?
Apple's Notes guide says you can sketch in notes with the Markup palette on Mac, and Bear's FAQ lists a guide for adding sketches to notes. Neither source covers Apple Pencil behaviour on iPad, so test your own handwriting workflow with a copy of one notebook before you move everything.
Does Notion replace OneNote on Mac?
For structured pages, yes. Per Notion's pricing page, the free plan for individuals has unlimited pages and blocks, 5 MB files and 7-day page history, and Plus is $10 per member a month. It is organised around pages and databases, not OneNote's notebook-section-page layout.
Related guides
More in Notes & Knowledge
- Evernote alternatives
- OneNote alternatives
- Notion vs Obsidian 2026: Price, Free Plan & Which to Choose
- Obsidian alternatives
Sources
Kevin Fan
Kevin Fan is a SaaS founder. He runs Free Instead Of, which tracks free and open-source alternatives to paid software and checks each price and free-plan limit against the vendor's own pages.
Methodology
Read on 2026-10-26: a Microsoft support answer on OneNote for Mac, OneNote's home page, Apple's Notes user guide and iCloud page, the Obsidian pricing and import pages, the Joplin home and import help pages, Notion's pricing page, and Bear's FAQ. No Reddit threads were read. No app was installed or tested and no notebook was migrated for this page.