# Microsoft OneNote vs Memo Widget

The clearest difference is ads: Microsoft OneNote at none against Memo Widget's shown. Microsoft OneNote also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (1.1M vs 65). Memo Widget's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 45%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Microsoft OneNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Memo Widget sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Memo Widget holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft OneNote has 1.1M ratings behind it against 65, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Microsoft OneNote's written reviews are positive against 78% of Memo Widget's.

Microsoft OneNote ships an update weekly, Memo Widget every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft OneNote | Memo Widget |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.1M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-onenote/id410395246/reviews) | **[4.9 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memo-widget-smart-notepad/id1539258115/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1M** | 65 |
| Positive reviews | 44.8% of reviews | **77.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#71** | — |
| Size | 404 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft OneNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-onenote/id410395246)

**Currently charting:** #71 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture thoughts, ideas, and plans in a digital notepad. Organize, search, and secure your notes, memos, and sketches. Sync across devices for access anywhere, anytime. Collaborate with others on shared notepads.

**Highlights:** Capture thoughts and ideas, Digital sketchbook, Organize and search notes, Sync notes via OneDrive, Collaborate on shared notepads, Handwritten notes and drawings

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $11.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple, works well
- 👍 Great for planning
- 👍 Powerful note-taking app
- 👍 Invaluable tool for note taking
- 👍 Used for years, couldn't be without this app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔨 Could be better
- 🔨 Formatting issues on mobile app
- 🔨 Buggy widget, no dark app icon
- 🐛 Glitchy, crashes often
- 🐛 Terrible sync speeds

**Reported bugs**

- Cursor positioning is erratic
- Search function does not work well
- Ink to text conversion missing on iPad
- Syncing issues, notes not syncing properly across devices
- Crashing, freezing, and performance issues

**Requested features**

- Native Markdown support and merged cell support
- Ruler, ability to choose or create notebook covers
- Ability to password protect app or individual notebooks
- Option to open on last opened page instead of Home
- Ability to turn note into task that appears on To Do and Planner


### Memo Widget

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memo-widget-smart-notepad/id1539258115)

This app provides a simple notepad experience with home screen widgets for quick access. It offers features like PDF output, iCloud backup, and customization options for text and background. Easily attach photos, search notes, and protect them with a passcode lock.

**Highlights:** Home screen widgets, PDF, HTML & PNG output, iCloud backup and sync, Passcode lock, Attach photos, Customizable text/background

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft OneNote free?

Microsoft OneNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Memo Widget free?

Memo Widget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Microsoft OneNote or Memo Widget?

Memo Widget is rated higher. Microsoft OneNote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1M ratings, while Memo Widget averages 4.9 from 65 ratings.

### Do Microsoft OneNote or Memo Widget have ads?

Memo Widget shows ads; Microsoft OneNote does not.

### Which is updated more often, Microsoft OneNote or Memo Widget?

Microsoft OneNote ships an update weekly, and Memo Widget every 2 months. Most recently, Microsoft OneNote was updated on September 25, 2026 and Memo Widget on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*