Compare · Notebooks
BrainSwitchs vs OneNote
OneNote gives you notebooks. BrainSwitchs gives you notebooks, canvases, databases and a record of your focus.
OneNote is loved for its notebooks and for letting you type anywhere on the page. BrainSwitchs keeps that freedom in two places: pages, grouped into notebooks, and canvases, where anything can go anywhere. Then it adds structure for when you need it.
Product strategy, 2026
612 words · 3 min read · Edited by you
We sell to small teams first. Below is the map we drew on Monday, still live. Drag anything in it and the canvas updates everywhere.
Open questions
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Pick a price - Who owns onboarding?
| Feature | BrainSwitchs | OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Notebooks and nested pages | Yes | Yes |
| Place content anywhere | Canvas, and floating blocks in pages | Freeform pages |
| Pen and highlighter | Yes | Yes, strong on tablets |
| Databases and charts | Yes | No |
| Focus timer and history | Yes | No |
| Works on any OS in a browser | Yes | Yes, best inside Microsoft 365 |
OneNote details are based on its publicly listed features and may change. Corrections welcome.
Choose BrainSwitchs if
- Tasks, tables and charts live next to your notes.
- Every note has a place on a canvas when you want to see the big picture.
- No Microsoft account needed.
Stick with OneNote if
- Handwriting with a stylus on Windows tablets.
- Tight fit with Outlook and Teams.
Moving from OneNote
Copy pages from OneNote into BrainSwitchs pages and group them into a notebook with the same name.
You don't have to move everything at once. Plenty of people start with one project, see how the canvas and pages feel together, and bring the rest over later.