Microsoft OneNote alternative?

Question

Is there any program for Linux that has about the same functionality and usability as Microsoft OneNote? At the moment I am checking out Basket (for KDE), that seems to point to the right direction, but still lacks much of the functionality of OneNote and is very buggy unfortunately.

For those of you that don't know what OneNote is, here is the first paragraph from the Wikipedia entry:

Microsoft OneNote (formerly called Microsoft Office OneNote) is a computer program for free-form information gathering and multi-user collaboration. It can gather user's notes (handwritten or typed), drawings, and audio commentaries and share them with other users of Microsoft OneNote over the Internet. The desktop version of OneNote is available for the Microsoft Windows platform.

Answer 1

Zim

Zim is a similar note taking application with wiki like features. Zim supports rich text formatting, links between notes and to external resources, inline images and even LaTeX equations. It has a familiar 'notebook' layout with tabs.

Here is a quick screenshot demonstrating some of the features:

Zim is extendible using plugins - such as the LaTeX plugin. There are lots more. Here is the list of default plugins (you may need to install dependencies of some):

• Calendar
• Create Note (from command line for keyboard shortcuts etc.)
• Diagram Editor (using graphviz)
• Equation Editor (using LaTeX)
• GNU R Plot Editor
• Insert Screenshot (using scrot)
• Insert Symbol
• Link Map (using graphviz)
• Spell Checker
• Task List
• Tray Icon (actually an application indicator)
• Version Control (using bzr - this should make synchronisation and back up really easy)

The only feature it seems to be missing is Ubuntu One synchronisation like with Tomboy, however, if you use the default Notes directory (~/Notes), you can synchronise this over Ubuntu One, as your notes as held in files in this folder.

Answer 2

OneNote - Office Web Apps

OneNote is awesome, and no, there isn't a compatible version for Linux. BUT you can use Office Web Apps which is almost as awesome as OneNote :)

You need a Microsoft Live account to use it.

It is a Web App so it runs in a browser and works flawlessly from Ubuntu too :)

I know it is still Microsoft piece of work, but if one likes OneNote then should use OneNote.

Answer 3

Basket Note Pads

I've always liked Basket. It's not as nice or polished as OneNote, but it lets you organize things hierarchically, group things together, embed media...etc.

It worked beautifully for me when I was in school.

Answer 4

Nixnote

I use Evernote. Sign up for a free or paid account on the website, then download the Nixnote client software.

It supports multiple clients (PC, Mac, Android, iDevice, Web), tagging, sharing, searching, rich text, inline attachments (pictures, music) and crucially (for me) To Do items. That way, I know from a meeting note if I have any actions outstanding, even weeks afterwards, because when I click on my saved search "To Do", it pops up all the notes that have uncompleted actions.

The collaboration element from OneNote isn't there, but I don't have any need for that anyway. I personally believe OneNote is overpriced and as usual for Microsoft, single-client only (although they support a web interface now). Also, it looks like the 2010 version is only available as part of 2010, while the 2007 was available stand alone for £80 retail.

Here's a picture of Nixnote in action.

Updates

• Nixnote used to be called Nevernote.
• Also worth checking out the excellent, native client Everpad.

Answer 5

RedNotebook

RedNotebook is a graphical diary and journal helping you keep track of notes and thoughts. It includes a calendar navigation, customizable templates, export functionality and word clouds. You can also format, tag and search your entries.

Answer 6

Short answer: nothing comes close to OneNote in terms of interface.

Long answer: Run it in a virtual machine (for example, using VirtualBox), or in Wine. If I remember correctly Office 2007 (including OneNote) runs fine with recent versions of Wine.

Answer 7

FreeMind

Not strictly the same (but seeing as other answers have moved the goalposts slightly...). It's a very good quick note-taking and planning application. All my planning is now done using this as it's very quick to build up areas of detail, moving back and forth in a non-linear fashion.

Answer 8

I've been using MS OneNote for years now for business and private purposes as well.

Now I tried ALL of the above mentioned alternative apps, but I must say, honestly really nothing comes close to OneNote.

The only one which is at least somewhat close is Basket Note Pads which is available for download from the Ubuntu Software Center or the developer's website: http://basket.kde.org/

If you do not want to sacrifice most of the functions you love in OneNote than you need to install it somehow in Wine or PlayonLinux or in a WM...

Reasoning: In which linux note app can you click anywhere in the note and instert any type of object, files, text, drawings etc or edit them? Or which provides automatic cloud sync as well? Which allows you to make freehand drawings or use drawing tools? Which allows you to draw directly on top of any graphical elements, pics etc by hand? How about direct pdf or html or jpg saving of notes? Any linux note app supports the use of stylus pens on touchscreen? Any with image to text conversion feature or OCR, scanning etc? Drag and drop of any elements within or in between notes/notebooks? One click open new tab like note/notebook management with color codes and drag and drop? And so on the list is endless. OneNote Rulez every note app for linux. Unfortunately!

Answer 9

P3X OneNote

This, in my opinion comes most close to the original. It is simply a native wrapper for one note web app. There is really not much else to it. If you are dedicated one note user and want to avoid vm or dual boot, then P3X will solve your dilemma of note taking.

Answer 10

KeepNote

The search for a good onenote alternative has occupied me for many months. Having tried all of the above I have settled for the moment on Keepnote (.org). While not as flashy as Onenote it has some advantages. I sync it to a cloud and as such, all my notes are accessible because they are html :)

Answer 11

Nobody mentioned CherryTree software, which natively runs on Linux. My first impression that this is the most advanced notes taking software on Linux.

Some key features:

• Import features from many other notes taking software.
• Cross platform
• Free to use
• Has graphical icons basically for everything (not like 99% of other Linux software that has only drop down menus)
• I've never used, but it looks so fancy to me. Getting close to OneNote.

Answer 12

Tomboy

Tomboy is syncing fine via Ubuntu One. You can install Ubuntu One and Tomboy on your Windows, set up your account and sync in both directions. There is also an app for iPhone called webNotes syncing your Tomboy notes.

Download Tomboy: http://projects.gnome.org/tomboy/download.html

Download Ubuntu One: https://one.ubuntu.com/downloads/

webNotes for iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/webnotes-powered-by-ubuntu/id519580240?mt=8

Answer 13

Task Coach - Your friendly task manager

Task Coach is a simple open source todo manager to keep track of personal tasks and todo lists. It grew out of a frustration that most task managers do not provide facilities for composite tasks. Often, tasks and other things todo consist of several activities. Task Coach is designed to deal with composite tasks. In addition, it offers effort tracking, categories, and notes. Task Coach is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, BSD, and iPhone and iPod Touch.

More Screenshots can be found here.

Answer 14

Boostnote!

It's very similar to OneNote with the difference, that it allows to store code snippets (colors the syntax etc, recognizes zilions of languages). Additionally you write all notes in the Markdown, so it's cool. The only problem is that they don't have their own cloud for syncing, so you can just save your data in any Dropbox folder or other cloud thing. And the data is not encrypted like for example in Simplenote

Answer 15

I recommend Evernote. A really good notebook, you are not dependent on a specific device. Use it on smart phone, tablet, Linux.... it will also automatically synchronize.

Answer 16

I have tried all the other software recommendations, and frankly none fit the job as @Jonathon said. Their respective UIs are usually quite poor, and none do the fundamental thing which OneNote does. Sections with contained categories, essential when you want all notes in one place.

It is expensive, text only, and you'd have to use Wine to run it, but I'd recommend CintaNotes. The WineHQ AppDB lists CintaNotes as running against an extremely old version of Wine.

Answer 17

You can use Dropbox + cron + git + Bitbucket.org for free versioning