StarNote vs OneNote
OneNote is free and syncs across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and the web, organized into notebooks and sections. StarNote focuses on handwritten notes and PDF annotation with AI summaries on tablet and mobile, with a free tier and an optional one-time Pro upgrade.
| Feature | StarNote | OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Supported platforms | iOS and Android | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web |
| Pricing model | One-time Pro ($5.99), no subscription | Free |
| Free version | Yes — core features free | Yes — fully free |
| PDF import & annotation | Yes — import, write, export | Limited (insert files) |
| AI note summaries | Yes — AI summaries of handwritten notes | Copilot (with Microsoft 365) |
| Stylus support | Apple Pencil and S Pen | Pen on all platforms |
Which should you choose?
Choose StarNote if you want a focused handwriting, PDF, and AI workflow on a tablet. Choose OneNote if you need a free, deeply cross-platform notebook tied to Microsoft 365.
StarNote vs OneNote: FAQ
StarNote vs OneNote — which should I use?
Use StarNote for a focused handwriting, PDF annotation, and AI-summaries workflow on tablet. Use OneNote if you want a free notebook that syncs across every operating system and ties into Microsoft 365.
Is OneNote free, and is StarNote free?
Both have free tiers. OneNote is fully free; StarNote is free for core features with an optional one-time $5.99 Pro upgrade (no subscription).
Does StarNote sync across devices like OneNote?
Partly. Cloud Sync shipped in StarNote Android v1.5.2, so notes stay in sync across Android devices; it is not live on iOS yet. OneNote syncs across more platforms — Windows, macOS and the web alongside iOS and Android — and ties into Microsoft 365, so if you need sync on desktop, web or iPhone today, OneNote has the wider reach.
Can StarNote annotate PDFs like OneNote?
Yes — PDF annotation is a core StarNote feature (import, write, highlight, export), whereas OneNote’s PDF handling is limited to inserting files.
Does StarNote have AI like OneNote Copilot?
StarNote includes built-in AI summaries of your handwritten notes. OneNote’s AI is Copilot, available with a Microsoft 365 subscription.