Unlike a word processor, OneNote features an almost unbounded document window, in which users can click anywhere on the canvas to create a new text box at that location.

OneNote notebooks collect, organize, and share possibly unpublished materials—as compared to word processors and wikis, which often target publishing in some way.

The difference shows in certain OneNote features and characteristics: Users can move pages in the binder and annotate them with a stylus or word-processing or drawing tools.

It can search pictures (e.g., screen captures, embedded document scans, photographs) for depictions of text.

The API runs on Microsoft's globally available cloud and sends data from applications into the user's OneDrive.

Premium features such as SharePoint support, version history and Microsoft Outlook integration were previously available only to Office 365 and Office 2013 customers,[12][25] but on February 13, 2015, Microsoft removed all feature restrictions, except creation of local notebooks — the free edition only stores notebooks on OneDrive — from the programs, essentially making the program completely free to use.

It is optimized for use on tablets by implementing a pie menu interface and invoking operating system's tablet-specific functionality.

[34] In 2021, Microsoft announced that OneNote for Windows 10 would be discontinued and that they were working on migrating users and features to the desktop version.

[38] In 2011, OneNote Mobile went multi-platform as it was released for iPhone[39] followed by a version for Symbian as part of Microsoft Apps.

[41] On July 1, 2013, Microsoft released version 2 of its app for iPad, containing significantly updated features, to correspond more closely to those available on the Windows platform.

On August 19, 2014, Microsoft updated OneNote for Android tablets to include handwriting support and touch-friendly navigation.

[44] The release of OneNote for Mac was part of Microsoft's broader strategy to make its Office suite more accessible across different platforms.

This move was seen as a response to the increasing number of users who were working on multiple devices, including those running macOS.

Compared to OneNote for Windows 10, the desktop OneNote has a full Office ribbon interface, features the most customization options, runs on multiple versions of Windows, and provides the possibility of local notebook support as opposed to OneDrive cloud storage; it is the only version for any platform to offer the latter feature,[45] even as a paid option.

In addition to the version differences, OneNote features on Windows and Mac vary according to whether it is installed as a free or paid program.

If a "compatible"[45] Office license (whether for the subscription Office 365 or the perpetual Office 2019) is present on the machine, the Windows desktop, Windows 10, and Mac versions all unlock additional functionality, which varies depending on the version: the desktop OneNote adds local notebook support, the Mac version adds stickers and OneNote for Windows 10 gains several features including stickers, ink replay, Researcher and Math Assistant.