Loam vs OneNote
OneNote is Microsoft's free notebook, with notes stored on OneDrive, ink support and real-time sharing. Loam is a Mac notebook that keeps every note as a Markdown file on your disk. Pick OneNote if you live in Microsoft 365, or want ink and sharing across Windows, Mac and mobile. Pick Loam if you want files you own and no account.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Loam vs OneNote at a glance
Published capabilities, checked on official sites in November 2026.
| Dimension | Loam | OneNote |
|---|---|---|
| Where notes live | Plain Markdown files in a folder you choose, called a vault | In notebooks on OneDrive or SharePoint, in a Microsoft format |
| Account | None. Free and open source | Microsoft account, or a work or school account |
| Offline | Always: everything runs on your Mac, with no server | A cached copy that syncs when you reconnect |
| Format | Markdown | Notebooks of sections and pages, not Markdown |
| Platforms | macOS 26 or later, on Apple silicon | Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web |
| Export | Nothing to export: the files are the notes | Pages, sections and notebooks to Word, PDF and more; no Markdown |
| Collaboration | Single user; share a vault through Git | Real-time sharing of notebooks |
| Plugins | Every feature is a plugin. Install from the catalog or a Git URL; an agent can write one | Office Add-ins on OneNote for the web |
| Command line and agents | Yes: the loam command runs every action of the app | A Microsoft Graph API; Copilot needs a license |
| Price | Free | Free on all platforms; Microsoft 365 adds premium features |
Sources: OneNote versions ↗ · OneNote API ↗
Notebooks or a folder of files
OneNote keeps notebooks, sections and pages on OneDrive or SharePoint, in a format that Microsoft's apps read. Moving out means exporting to Word or PDF; there is no Markdown export.
Loam keeps each note as a Markdown file in a folder. Nothing is locked in, and any editor opens them.
Where OneNote is stronger
OneNote runs on almost every platform, supports ink and handwriting, and shares notebooks in real time. If you work in a team on Microsoft 365, those are real advantages, and Loam does not match them.
Loam is for one person on a Mac, who values plain files: backlinks and search, tasks, daily notes and collections.
Automation and AI agents
OneNote can be reached through the Microsoft Graph API, and Copilot features need a separate license. With Loam, an agent works on files on your Mac through the loam command line, with no account and no network. See Agents.
Which one to pick
Choose Loam if
- You want your notes as Markdown files, with no Microsoft account
- You want plugins, backlinks and a command line for agents
- You work on a Mac with Apple silicon
Choose OneNote if
- You use Microsoft 365 and share notebooks with a team
- You take handwritten or inked notes
- You need Windows, Android or a web app
Switching from OneNote to Loam
- In OneNote, export the pages you want to keep, for example as Word documents or PDF files.
- Convert them to Markdown with a tool such as Pandoc, which reads Word files. Loam has no OneNote importer. See Import notes.
- Open the folder of Markdown files as a vault in Loam, as described in Your first vault, and check the links and images.
Loam vs OneNote: questions
Is Loam an alternative to OneNote?
For personal notes on a Mac, yes: free, with no account, and notes are plain Markdown files. It does not do ink, real-time sharing or Windows and mobile apps.
How do I export OneNote to Markdown?
OneNote does not export to Markdown. Export pages to Word, then convert them with a tool such as Pandoc, and open the files as a vault in Loam.
Does Loam need a Microsoft account?
No. Loam needs no account of any kind. It is free and open source.
Does Loam sync across devices like OneNote?
Loam syncs through Git, with an optional encrypted remote. It has no mobile app.