# Microsoft OneNote vs Google Sheets

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Google Sheets at none against Microsoft OneNote's 3. Google Sheets also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 44%) and chart position (#11 vs #89). Microsoft OneNote's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Microsoft OneNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Google Sheets asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Microsoft OneNote against 4.8 for Google Sheets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1M and 1.9M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Microsoft OneNote's written reviews are positive against 56% of Google Sheets's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on November 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft OneNote | Google Sheets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.1M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-onenote/id410395246/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-sheets/id842849113/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.1M | **1.9M** |
| Positive reviews | 44.3% of reviews | **56.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #89 | **#11** |
| Size | 419 MB | 431 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft OneNote

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

**Currently charting:** #89 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture and organize your thoughts, ideas, and plans with a powerful digital note-taking app. Utilize AI features for summarization and transcription, and seamlessly sync notes across all your devices. Collaborate on creative projects and integrate with other Microsoft Office applications.

**Highlights:** AI-powered Copilot notebooks, Voice transcription and smart notes, Note-taking scanner with text extraction, Cross-device syncing, Collaboration on notes and ideas, Integration with Microsoft Office

**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


### Google Sheets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-sheets/id842849113)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Free · Productivity, #92 Top Free (US App Store)

Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets from anywhere, anytime. This app offers robust formatting, formula support, and seamless sharing for real-time teamwork. It automatically saves your work and can open and edit Excel files.

**Highlights:** Create and edit spreadsheets, Real-time collaboration, Offline access, Advanced formatting and formulas, Automatic saving, Excel file compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient mobile access
- 💡 Collaborative features
- 🔒 Secure cloud storage
- 📈 Useful for business/personal organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 📱 Limited functionality compared to desktop version
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find features
- 🖋️ Cumbersome editing experience on mobile
- 🗓️ Inconsistent date/time formatting

**Reported bugs**

- Spreadsheets not saving properly
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices
- Formatting issues when printing or exporting
- Glitches when working with large or complex spreadsheets

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced formatting and editing options
- Improve search and navigation
- Allow offline editing and syncing
- Provide better integration with other Google apps
- Add password protection or biometric security


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft OneNote free?

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

### Is Google Sheets free?

Google Sheets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Microsoft OneNote or Google Sheets?

Google Sheets is rated higher. Microsoft OneNote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1M ratings, while Google Sheets averages 4.8 from 1.9M ratings.

### Do Microsoft OneNote or Google Sheets have ads?

Neither Microsoft OneNote nor Google Sheets shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Microsoft OneNote or Google Sheets?

Microsoft OneNote ships an update weekly, and Google Sheets weekly. Most recently, Microsoft OneNote was updated on November 14, 2026 and Google Sheets on November 14, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Microsoft OneNote or Google Sheets?

Microsoft OneNote currently peaks at #89 in the App Store charts, and Google Sheets at #11. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*