Microsoft OneNote vs Xmind
Microsoft OneNote and Xmind are both note-taking & docs tools aimed at freelancers and small businesses. Both have a free plan.
Free freeform digital notebook from Microsoft with ink and sync
Mind mapping app with an AI agent that builds maps through chat
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
| Built for | Freelancers, Small businesses, Enterprise | Freelancers, Small businesses, Creators, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, windows, macos, ios, android | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2003 | — |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Microsoft OneNote if
Students, teachers and Microsoft 365 users who want a free, pen-friendly notebook that syncs across every device.
- Completely free on every major platform with no note limits
- Best-in-class pen experience for students and tablet users
- Freeform canvas suits mixed media better than linear note apps
Look elsewhere if: Knowledge workers who need databases, linked notes or plain-file ownership (Notion, Obsidian or Evernote suit them better).
Choose Xmind if
Individuals and small teams who think in outlines and want a polished cross-platform mind mapping app with an AI assistant built in.
- Native apps on every major desktop and mobile platform
- Low yearly prices for Pro and Premium
- Files can stay local, with optional cloud sync
Look elsewhere if: Teams running large live workshops or drawing detailed technical diagrams (Miro, Lucidchart).
Microsoft OneNote vs Xmind pricing
Microsoft OneNote
- OneNote$0Free with a Microsoft account; notebooks sync via 5 GB OneDrive
- Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99/mo$99.99/year; 1 TB OneDrive and Copilot in OneNote
- Microsoft 365 Family$12.99/mo$129.99/year; up to 6 people, 2 TB shared storage
Xmind
- Free$010 online maps, single-map PNG export, 50 one-time AI credits
- Pro$4.92/moBilled yearly; 50 maps, all export formats, no watermark
- Premium$8.25/moBilled yearly; unlimited maps, real-time collab, 500 AI credits/mo
- Business / EnterpriseCustomMulti-user plans and lifetime licenses via sales
Microsoft OneNote · Key features
- Freeform pages where text, images, ink and files can be placed anywhere
- Notebook, section and page hierarchy with color-coded tabs
- Pen and stylus inking with handwriting search and ink-to-text
- Text extraction from images and printouts inserted into notes
- Audio recording linked to notes and tags such as To Do and Important
- OneNote Web Clipper for saving web pages into a notebook
Cons
- Storage is capped by OneDrive, only 5 GB on free accounts
- No databases, Markdown or bidirectional links
- Weak export makes migrating to another app painful
Xmind · Key features
- Mind maps, timelines, matrices and other structures with themes
- Xmind Agent builds and edits maps from ideas, files, links or Notion pages
- Xmind MCP server for Claude, Claude Code, Codex and ChatGPT
- Outliner, Pitch mode presentations and distraction-free ZEN mode
- Tasks with assignees and an editable, exportable Gantt chart
- Export to PNG, SVG, PDF, Markdown and Office formats
Cons
- Free plan exports PNG only and limits online maps to 10
- Real-time collaboration and monthly AI credits need Premium
- Free and Pro get only 50 one-time AI credits
Microsoft OneNote vs Xmind: FAQ
Do Microsoft OneNote and Xmind have a free plan?
Yes, both Microsoft OneNote and Xmind have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.