Mem AI vs Microsoft OneNote: Best AI Note-Taking App in 2025?

Are you tired of losing track of your ideas and important information across different apps?

Do you wish your notes could do more than just sit there?

The world of note-taking is evolving rapidly, especially with the rise of AI. 

You’re probably wondering which tool can truly keep up with your needs.

This article dives deep into Mem AI vs Microsoft OneNote, two major players in the note-taking space.

Overview

To give you the most accurate comparison, we spent weeks actively using both Mem AI and Microsoft OneNote for daily tasks.

Project management and brainstorming.

We tested their core features, ease of use, and AI capabilities in real-world scenarios.

What is Mem AI?

Have you ever wished your notes could just… organize themselves?

That’s kind of what Mem AI aims to do. It’s not just a place to jot things down.

Think of it as a smart assistant for your thoughts.

Also, explore our favorite Mem AI alternatives…

What is Microsoft OneNote?

Remember those binders with different tabs for subjects?

Microsoft OneNote is like that, but digital! It’s a fantastic freeform note-taking tool that lets you organize everything.

You can type, draw, add pictures, and even record audio.

Also, explore our favorite Microsoft OneNote alternatives…

Feature Comparison

OneNote is a long-standing, robust note-taking application, while Mem is a modern AI notes app.

Let’s compare their features to see the difference between a traditional digital notebook and an AI-powered workspace.

1. AI Features & Intelligence

• Mem: Mem is built around its AI. Its core purpose is to be an ai notes app that acts like a personal assistant and a second brain. It automatically links similar notes and finds relevant information for you. Mem’s ai helps with content creation and summarization, making your notes effortlessly organized.
• Microsoft OneNote: OneNote is a classic note-taking app that has recently introduced AI tools, such as the Copilot feature for Microsoft 365 users. While these are helpful for tasks like writing and summarizing, OneNote’s AI is an add-on, not its foundational feature.

2. Search Functionality

• Mem: Mem’s smart search is one of its best features. You can use natural language to find notes quickly, so you don’t have to worry if you forget a specific keyword. This ability is a key differentiator.
• Microsoft OneNote: OneNote has a robust search feature that uses optical character recognition (ocr technology) to search for text within images, handwritten notes, and even printouts. While powerful, it lacks the context-aware intelligence of Mem’s smart search.

3. Organization & Structure

• Mem: Mem takes a unique approach to organization. Instead of traditional folders, you can drop in files and documents, and the AI connects different pieces of information. This creates a personal knowledge base without needing a strict hierarchy. The idea is to not worry about where a note belongs.
• Microsoft OneNote: Onenote users are familiar with its traditional, hierarchical structure. You can create multiple notebooks, sections, and pages to organize information. This makes perfect sense for those who prefer a more manual, structured approach to taking notes.

4. Taking Notes & Information Capture

• Mem: The mem’s ai features allow you to capture a new note quickly and seamlessly. It is designed to take all the notes you have without thinking about where they should go, effectively acting as an extension of your brain.
• Microsoft OneNote: OneNote offers a freeform canvas, like a blank sheet of paper, to create notes. You can type anywhere in a text box, record audio, and add images. Its powerful web clipper also makes it easy to save online content.

5. Collaboration

• Mem: Team collaboration is a key feature in Mem’s paid plans, allowing you to share notes and collections with others in real time. This helps teams build a collective knowledge base.
• Microsoft OneNote: OneNote has strong collaboration features, enabling multiple users to work on the same notebook simultaneously. You can share notes with other onenote users and leave comments, making it a great tool for team projects.

6. Integrations

• Mem: Mem integrates with many apps and services, including google calendar and other tools, helping to connect your notes to your workflow.
• Microsoft OneNote: As part of the microsoft office applications suite, OneNote has deep integration with microsoft apps like microsoft word, powerpoint, and the rest of microsoft 365. It also integrates with google docs and other popular tools.

7. Accessibility

• Mem: Mem has a clean and simple user interface and offers a desktop version for Mac, an ios app, and a browser extension. It’s designed for quick access on different devices.
• Microsoft OneNote: OneNote is a classic in this regard, with versions for windows, mac, android, and iOS. A user with a microsoft account can access onenote on multiple devices, including a simplified version on mobile devices.

8. Customization

• Mem: The ai powered workspace of Mem automatically organizes notes, but also offers some customization options like custom tags and templates.
• Microsoft OneNote: OneNote offers more visual customization options, with the ability to change page colors, add drawing tools, and handwrite notes. Users can also create and share custom templates.

9. Pricing Plans

• Mem: Mem offers a free version with basic features and a paid plan that unlocks mem’s ai features and more storage. The onenote cost is part of the larger paid subscription of microsoft 365, so the difference is in the subscription model.
• Microsoft OneNote: The basic free version of OneNote is powerful enough for many new users. For more storage and advanced features, you need a microsoft 365 plan, which varies depending on your needs. The onenote cost is part of the overall suite.

10. Core Functionality

• Mem: The core function of Mem is to be a second brain and a proactive personal assistant. It’s an ai notes app that connects your thoughts and helps you find information effortlessly without you needing to manually organize your documents or files.
• Microsoft OneNote: OneNote is a digital notebook. Its core functionality is to replicate the experience of writing on paper, but with digital tools. The ability to combine different types of notes, from text to audio, is its fundamental feature.

11. Support

• Mem: As a newer ai notes app and a mem ai alternatives, Mem offers customer support primarily through its app and help center.
• Microsoft OneNote: Being a part of a larger ecosystem, OneNote benefits from extensive microsoft support and resources, which many onenote users can rely on.

What to Look for When Choosing an AI Note-Taking App?

When picking your ideal AI note-taking app, consider these key insights:

• Smart Features: The best AI notes app will have smart features that connect related notes and helps you find all your notes, so you don’t have to worry about a rigid structure. For example, Mem AI alternatives like Notion are also helpful for managing your digital life.
• Accessibility: Consider if the app works on different platforms. The availability of a Windows version, Android version, and iOS app, as well as the ability to sync across multiple devices, matters for a seamless workflow.
• Pricing and Plan Features: Check the pricing plans. Many note taking apps offer a free version with basic features. The paid plan often includes premium features like more cloud storage or monthly uploads.
• Organization: How the app handles existing notes and organizes new ones is crucial. Some apps, like OneNote, use a traditional notebook system, while others have a different approach, which can have a learning curve.
• Integration: Look at how the app integrates with other apps, such as Microsoft apps or Google Docs. This enables users to seamlessly connect their notes to their other work.
• Support and Community: Microsoft offers extensive OneNote support, which can be a valuable resource. For newer ai notes app, their community and dedicated support can be a key insight.
• Core Functionality: Does it offer word processing, drawing tools, or a math assistant? Does it enable users to brainstorm ideas and capture messages efficiently? These core features matter.
• Export Options: The ability to easily export options is important for sharing information or backing up your data to ensure you’re not locked into a single platform.

Final Verdict

So, which AI note-taking app wins? For us, Mem AI takes the lead. 

It’s built for the future, with features like automatic linking and its powerful AI assistant. 

If you want your notes to work for you, finding connections and generating ideas, Mem AI is the smarter choice.

If you’re deep into Microsoft Office and prefer a more traditional, freeform space. 

But if you’re looking to leverage cutting-edge AI for your note-taking experience.

Trust our expertise: Mem AI is the way to go.

More of Mem AI

• Mem AI vs Sembly: Mem AI excels at organizing your knowledge with AI connections. Sembly AI, however, specializes in transcribing and summarizing live meetings, providing actionable insights from discussions.
• Mem AI vs Notion AI: Mem AI offers an effortless, AI-driven way to connect your thoughts. Notion AI delivers a highly customizable workspace that utilizes AI for content generation and flexible project management.
• Mem AI vs Fireflies AI: Mem AI focuses on making your collected notes searchable and interconnected through AI. Fireflies AI is a dedicated meeting assistant that automatically records, transcribes, and summarizes your virtual calls.
• Mem AI vs ClickUp: Mem AI prioritizes smart note organization and knowledge retrieval with its AI. ClickUp is a management tool that integrates AI for tasks, documents, and team collaboration.
• Mem AI vs Capacities: Mem AI utilizes AI to link your notes and automatically build a self-organizing knowledge base. Capacities offer an “object-based” system for visually connecting diverse pieces of information.
• Mem AI vs Taskade: Mem AI is a powerful AI-driven note-taking system for personal knowledge management. Taskade combines notes, tasks, and team collaboration, excelling in project management and shared workflows.
• Mem AI vs Notejoy: Mem AI emphasizes AI-powered connections and smart search for your notes. Notejoy focuses on simple, real-time collaboration for teams, making note-sharing effortless.
• Mem AI vs Notta: Mem AI is designed for intelligent note organization and information retrieval. Notta specializes in high-accuracy transcription of audio and video, perfect for meetings and interviews.
• Mem AI vs Craft: Mem AI utilizes AI to establish dynamic connections across your notes, enabling effortless discovery. Craft offers a beautiful, block-based editor for creating rich, visually appealing documents and notes.
• Mem AI vs MeetGeek: Mem AI builds a personal knowledge base by connecting your ideas with AI. MeetGeek is an AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes, and provides smart summaries of your meetings.

More of Microsoft OneNote

• Microsoft OneNote vs Sembly: Sembly excels at AI-powered meeting transcription and summarization.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Notion: Notion AI provides an all-in-one workspace with integrated AI.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Fireflies AI: Fireflies AI focuses on transcribing, summarizing, and analyzing meeting notes.
• Microsoft OneNote vs ClickUp: ClickUp is an all-in-one platform for project management and tasks.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Capacities: Capacities uses an object-based system to connect all your knowledge.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Taskade: Taskade is a collaborative workspace for visual notes and tasks.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Notejoy: Notejoy is built for fast, real-time team collaboration on notes.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Notta: Notta specializes in real-time voice-to-text transcription and translation.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Craft: Craft offers a visually elegant editor with powerful document linking.
• Microsoft OneNote vs MeetGeek: MeetGeek is an AI assistant for managing and summarizing meetings.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Mem AI: Mem AI automatically organizes your notes using AI-driven connections.
• Microsoft OneNote vs Evernote: Evernote is known for its powerful web clipping and search features.

Frequently Asked Questions