HCL Notes vs. OneNote

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
HCL Notes
Score 3.5 out of 10
N/A
Notes from HCL (formerly from IBM, acquired by HCL in late 2018) is a collaboration platform based on the Lotus platform.N/A
OneNote
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft's OneNote is a digital note-taking app, supporting photos, annotating, web page clipping, emailing, and synchronizing notes across devices.N/A
Pricing
HCL NotesOneNote
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Microsoft OneNote
Free
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
HCL NotesOneNote
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
HCL NotesOneNote
Considered Both Products
HCL Notes
Chose HCL Notes
It helps in organizing work by just speaking to it, and you don't have to specifically type in the data and use it. It has a better UI and also is faster.
Chose HCL Notes
Outlook has been considered for years as a replacement platform. Pricing and support staff made it prohibitive. Our long-time use of Microsoft Office productivity suite naturally led us to consider the adoption of Office365. A recent investigation told us that Azure Cloud …
Chose HCL Notes
It had a simple user interface. It can be altered and modified to any database.
Chose HCL Notes
Our organization used IBM Notes before I started working there and is a legacy system that some teams still use. Many others in our company have switched to Slack and Google Hangouts as well as Google calendar. Slack and Google Hangouts offer a much better chat experience that …
Chose HCL Notes
As I stated previously, mail is mail. Notes is a fantastic option as a frontend for mail. On top of that, a business can be built from the custom applications that can be developed in it. We do have gmail as an option, but the vast majority of users are on Notes. We also choose …
Chose HCL Notes
I've already answered this question in the previous questions however to sum it up IBM Notes stacks up VERY WELL! It has a LOT of really good business/enterprise features like enterprise-grade Dropbox-like storage, synced email/calendar/contacts, it supports a LOT of …
Chose HCL Notes
Exchange is too resource hungry and cumbersome to restore granular. It requires several other Microsoft Servers to integrate just to meet IBM Notes in terms of features. As someone once described, doing an apple to apple [comparison] is difficult. If Exchange were taken as an …
Chose HCL Notes
We've looked at Exchange a few times. However, for more costly licensing and about the same amount of administrative support required, Exchange only does mail, calendar and contacts.

We do all that with Notes already, plus dozens of custom applications, and for less costly …
Chose HCL Notes
We originally selected Notes for it's ease of use, and ability to be customized. As the industry has progressed we have had to move on to a more progressive path.
Chose HCL Notes
I selected IBM Notes, because of its security features.
Chose HCL Notes
We are a small IT team and always had to deal with very high expectation, faster turn around time from users. Every application we've developed has very short turn around time and less resources. In the past 15 years, we can provide more application and doing it faster than …
Chose HCL Notes
Database development capabilities. Document management orientation.
OneNote
Chose OneNote
Apple Notes is also another good simple note taker but still lack a good organization / access to notes when compared to OneNote
Chose OneNote
I’ve used Wrike and OneNote within the last two years. However, I honestly prefer to use Notion because it’s just much more user friendly.
Chose OneNote
I can use OneNote on my android devices and have it linked to my windows system without a problem
Chose OneNote
Mostly chose OneNote because it comes for free with the Microsoft suite. Google Keep is easier but I use it for personal, not a business.
Chose OneNote
Evernote worked really well for this - Better than OneNote, but no Pabbly integration which I was switching to. Google keep is ok, but more for doing sticky-note type notes (even if big ones) rather than sorting a large number of notes. I've also used Nimbus Note - This …
Chose OneNote
OneNote has more features and capabilities, where most organizational-related apps are nothing more than to-do lists with little room for details or follow-up.
Chose OneNote
OneNote has its strength rooted in the ability to create and manage notes whereas some of the other players in the market address more niche needs, such as Notion. OneNote absolutely can facilitate note taking, semantic organization, sharing and collaboration, but if you are …
Chose OneNote
Both applications have excellent/good mobile apps that will handle document scanning, pictures, and the like, so it's largely the same there. Overall, I'll continue to use OneNote because it is free.

Chose OneNote
I’ll be honest, once I met OneNote, I knew my search was over. I found a software package that could do everything I needed and more. Pen and paper are helpful but not searchable, not private, not easily shared. Your notebook can be misplaced or stolen. You cannot use it to …
Chose OneNote
OneNote can be easily accessible to anyone as long as they have permission to. It is also cloud based.
Chose OneNote
I have used Evernote, but in my current organization, everyone uses Onenote. I live and breathe by this program and entirely rely on it for managing my work.
Chose OneNote
Google Drive has a great user interface in comparison to OneNote.
Chose OneNote
Integration with other Microsoft Office products is much better with OneNote than any other note-taking tool. It's also crucial to have cloud-based syncing because I have used other products that only do local storage and you lose a lot of important information if that software …
Chose OneNote
I tried organizing various online hard drive storage products like Dropbox, iCloud and Google Drive and One Drive. However, I like the visual aspects of OneNote when I save a document or webpage. It's simpler and I am able to know immediately if I have found the item I am …
Chose OneNote
We do not use the cloud version of OneNote because of security concerns and licensing. We like OneNote because it is similar to other Office applications, which lowers the hurdle for adoption by other users in the organization. Because of Microsoft's decision to move OneNote to …
Chose OneNote
OneNote is so easy to learn especially for users that have worked in Excel and Word. The ability to quickly hyperlink and post documents into OneNote is why we selected it. OneNote is already part of Office 365 so it made financial sense as well to utilize the product. OneNote …
Chose OneNote
I chose OneNote on the recommendation of a colleague. I found that OneNote is more useable than Evernote, although both are very good. Both products organize your notes in the same way, so it could also just come down to familiarity with OneNote, but I really like how the …
Chose OneNote
OneNote is great if you enjoy the Office suite. It integrated well into the already established workflow of the Office suite. It is a bit lacking in the app side of things, but that might be due to the ingrained idea of having a keyboard while using Office products and making …
Chose OneNote
OneNote is best for business needs. Evernote tends to be better for individual needs in my experience. If I am taking notes in a meeting or on a call, Evernote serves the purpose just fine. OneNote is a better platform for "meatier" projects and workbooks which is what our …
Chose OneNote
OneNote has quickly become my notetaking software of choice. It integrates seamlessly with the programs I use on a daily basis for work. Perhaps if I didn't have the program through Office 365 I would still consider Evernote. I find that OneNote has decent search functionality. …
Chose OneNote
Evernote is also a great product that I had used for years. However Evernote limits you with many various things when you don't have a premium subscription. So this makes one note really great for many use cases, and for many various teams. I think one note is a clear choice …
Chose OneNote
As far as I'm concerned, OneNote is the 'go-to' note-taking application. Evernote is not helpful and it's also confusing. OneNote has so much more functionality, putting Evernote to shame. Once I started using OneNote, Evernote became a thing of the past.
Chose OneNote
I tried using Evernote and it is an equally usable tool, however, I prefer the interface and capabilities of OneNote. OneNote seems much easier to use and understand. I think that may primarily be because OneNote is a Microsoft application and I am very used to using Microsoft …
Chose OneNote
Because many of our organizations use Windows and Microsoft Office suite as business tools, it makes sense to choose OneNote for notetaking and storing information. Other tools don't integrate as well with the Office desktop.
Features
HCL NotesOneNote
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
HCL Notes
6.9
Ratings
11% below category average
OneNote
-
Ratings
Task Management7.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Gantt Charts6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Scheduling8.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Workflow Automation5.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile Access8.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Search6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Visual planning tools8.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Communication
Comparison of Communication features of Product A and Product B
HCL Notes
9.2
Ratings
15% above category average
OneNote
-
Ratings
Chat6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Notifications9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Discussions9.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Surveys9.10 Ratings00 Ratings
Internal knowledgebase10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Integrates with GoToMeeting10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Integrates with Gmail and Google Hangouts10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Integrates with Outlook10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
File Sharing & Management
Comparison of File Sharing & Management features of Product A and Product B
HCL Notes
7.6
Ratings
4% below category average
OneNote
-
Ratings
Versioning9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Video files6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Audio files6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Document collaboration8.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Access control6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Advanced security features8.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Integrates with Google Drive10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Device sync8.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
HCL NotesOneNote
Small Businesses
Stackby
Stackby
Score 9.0 out of 10

No answers on this topic

Medium-sized Companies
Troop Messenger
Troop Messenger
Score 9.8 out of 10

No answers on this topic

Enterprises
HCL Connections
HCL Connections
Score 9.0 out of 10

No answers on this topic

All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
HCL NotesOneNote
Likelihood to Recommend
7.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
1.7
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Availability
10.0
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Performance
10.0
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(0 ratings)
8.7
(0 ratings)
Online Training
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
HCL NotesOneNote
Likelihood to Recommend
I often work with teams from other country and regions, hence HCL Notes is a very useful platform for internal company management operations. It standardized organisational work standards in most of the offices worldwide. HCL Notes also enables chat with other team around the world that I find very helpful when initiating conversation or just want to have a quick update rather than sending emails and waiting for replies. However, HCL Notes is not very efficient in web browsing and user still need to use other internet service providers.
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It is well suited for capturing weekly departmental task lists. For example, each week we create a new page in a shared departmental notebook. In this new page, each department member enters his/her top 3 accomplishments for the week and the top 3 things which the member will attempt to accomplish in the coming week. We then use this page during our Monday morning stand-up meeting and it helps provide an agenda, structure, and discussion points for the meeting.
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Pros
  • Data sharing via small database format is valuable as they are quickly deployed, easily managed and distributed on backend email servers.
  • Integrated messaging allows quick communications between geographical sites reducing long distance costs.
  • Policy documents for registering new users, setting initial security levels, assigning default database access is managed easily with the admin client.
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  • OneNote synchronizes across platforms very quickly. I often find that notes entered, or updated, on my desktop are synchronized to my laptop and smartphone well before I ever open them up to access the information.
  • OneNote has apps for just every major platform available. This includes Windows, iOS, and Android. The web app has plenty of features so you won't feel let down if you have to access your notebooks through a browser.
  • The multimedia features of OneNote are wonderful. I can draw pictures, add sound bites, add videos, add files, and much more. This helps me capture the full context of a note, including any references that I might need, all within the note itself. I don't have to go outside of OneNote to find a video clip, logo, or soundbite.
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Cons
  • The simple user experience can be touted as a positive, but it is also a negative in some ways. Compared to other calendars, email and chat tools, IBM Notes looks like it is from the 90s.
  • We have constant issues with chat crashing. This is the main reason so many people in our organization chose to switch away from Notes.
  • There aren't a lot of integrations with IBM Notes and other applications we regularly use. Notes seems to have been left behind by many.
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  • OneNote could improve on its web clipping features. Evernote still beats it in terms of robustness, but OneNote is sufficient for most purposes.
  • OneNote could also improve on its tagging system. Its the other major way of categorizing notes, which Evernote uses to great effect, but OneNote de-emphasizes this in favor of a hierarchical ordering.
  • This is a silly point, but it drives me mad. OneNote's free-form editing on pages, meaning you can click anywhere and start editing makes for sloppier notes that aren't as well aligned. This could be an enjoyable feature for some, but for me, I like my pages orderly.
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Likelihood to Renew
Since companies started to moved their email systems to the Exchange platform and the cloud, we are unable to find any new projects with IBM Notes, the marketing share and software price is another issue, so we have to move to another platform.
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As this is not a compulsory tool in our organization, I would say all depends on the decision makers, however since this is a part of MS Office, I am sure we will have it for as long as we will possibly need it. However, I would not be so sure, if it was a separate product
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Usability
Easy to use for the user, most of the apps we developed, there is not much need for user training. Most of the times, we just do a demo to the users group and they can pick up from there.
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It is easy to use day to day and has become a common use application like Outlook or Teams. There is little to no learning curve, and you can use it in the way that is most suitable for you. Features like moving sections of text around and creating new tabs is self-explanatory.
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Performance
No answers on this topic
I find OneNote to perform very well. I experience quick load times and automatic updates which are two things that are very important to our organization. I personally do not integrate OneNote with other software or systems but I do like that it can generate a sharing link for other people to view.
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Support Rating
I've been using the production for a very long time and very happy with it. Also, all the online resources and forums for notes is very friendly and easy/quick for getting help. I found out that compared to Microsoft or Oracle or any other platforms, IBM Notes online forum is the best I have seen.
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Since it is part of Microsoft Office and used across the globe there are a lot of support options available. It's quickest to just do a google search which will have plenty of articles to help you since there are so many OneNote users but as an Office customer you also have access to Microsoft support and I have had good experiences with their support (probably because I'm with a large company who is a large customer to them).
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Implementation Rating
Implementation is easy and smooth if the requirement is well gathered/documented. Notes is a RAD platform, all projects in Notes is simple in the implementation step.
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No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
I've already answered this question in the previous questions however to sum it up IBM Notes stacks up VERY WELL! It has a LOT of really good business/enterprise features like enterprise-grade Dropbox-like storage, synced email/calendar/contacts, it supports a LOT of third-party add-ins, easy-to-use and friendly, very strong and robust, and most importantly it's a LOT more secure in my opinion than the competition.
Read full review
I’ll be honest, once I met OneNote, I knew my search was over. I found a software package that could do everything I needed and more. Pen and paper are helpful but not searchable, not private, not easily shared. Your notebook can be misplaced or stolen. You cannot use it to access websites with a click. I was a user of Lotus notes back in the day and though it had better function than pen and paper, I lost my entire notebook twice because of system issues and it didn’t have 1/10th of the function OneNote had
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Return on Investment
  • ROI for us has been extreme. In the late 1990's we automated dozens and dozens of paper-based processes and created workflows for activities that had never been formalized before. Additionally all those forms with their comments, etc. have been captured in a central place to serve as audit trails.
  • Whenever we need faster access to data (mail or otherwise), it's quick and easy to deploy a new Domino server somewhere, setup replication of appropriate databases, and get the local Notes clients pointed to those resources. So that to me is positive ROI because it represents time savings based on user need.
  • Tech. Support would claim a negative ROI in terms of supporting the Notes client, Notes updates, peculiar Notes issues, and users who complain about Notes. That is certainly true to a point. The Notes client is a much more complex piece of software than, say, Outlook. But we have to remember that Notes deployments are not just for Mail but many, many applications as well. In the end I'd say we might have 1 or 2 user complaints per month, typically around Calendar issues more than anything else.
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  • By giving employees this tool, each one can try to make the most out of it, and use it as they want. I know that many employees are utilizing features of OneNote every day, and it does help them to work more organized, and more efficiently.
  • I don't think there is any negative impact. Those who don't know how to use the tool are likely not to use it, so there is no risk for negative impact other than the cost of the license.
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ScreenShots