Non-cloud, non-subscription OneNote ?
March 26, 2022 3:03 PM Subscribe
What are my options to have a local-only, non-subscription electronic ‘notebook’ on a windows PC?
I use OneNote at work and it’s pleasant enough - I like that it’s free form for typing, pasted screenshots, and scrawled drawings. I would like the same for a PC at home, but I definitely do not want to subscribe to access it (a one-time purchase is a-ok) and I want the files to be completely local - no ‘login to service’ needed to use it. What are my options?
The PC in question has managed to avoid being connected to a MS account and I would like to keep it that way if at all possible. See ‘no login to service for access’.
I use OneNote at work and it’s pleasant enough - I like that it’s free form for typing, pasted screenshots, and scrawled drawings. I would like the same for a PC at home, but I definitely do not want to subscribe to access it (a one-time purchase is a-ok) and I want the files to be completely local - no ‘login to service’ needed to use it. What are my options?
The PC in question has managed to avoid being connected to a MS account and I would like to keep it that way if at all possible. See ‘no login to service for access’.
Free version of Evernote could do this. I just turned off my wifi and could still access all the notes I have saved on this computer. Has a few cool additional tools and its search function is good.
posted by Thella at 4:12 PM on March 26, 2022
posted by Thella at 4:12 PM on March 26, 2022
Have you tried the version(s) available at onenote.com/download ? I assume you will need a free Microsoft account to install, but you should be able to use the software without putting the files into the cloud. I have two notebooks in onedrive and two on my personal computer and when I create new ones, I choose where they go.
posted by soelo at 7:04 PM on March 26, 2022
posted by soelo at 7:04 PM on March 26, 2022
Response by poster: The non-subscription m365 offering only has the web version of OneNote, hence the question.
posted by janell at 9:38 PM on March 26, 2022
posted by janell at 9:38 PM on March 26, 2022
I use joplin for this. Like Obsidian it uses markdown format, so you might not like the lack of control you have over OneNote's "freeform" input, but it works great for me.
posted by theyexpectresults at 10:38 PM on March 26, 2022
posted by theyexpectresults at 10:38 PM on March 26, 2022
So if you want to use OneNote client without the subscription, you want Office 2019. The naming scheme is confusing I will admit. Effectively the consumer and business Office apps that have a monthly fee are called "Office 365" or "Office 365 Pro Plus" or "Office Applications for the Enterprise" (I don't know if there is a consumer version of that name).
Every so often, Microsoft will take a point in time copy of the above, package it up, put it in a virtual box and sell it to people without a subscription. They did this in 2016 and again in 2019. This may be somewhat hard to come by because Microsoft really wants you to buy the subscription version for a raft of reasons. Also if it isn't clear, the up front cost of this is going to be a way bigger number than a reoccurring monthly fee.
You should also be aware there is different OneNote client apps: OneNote for Windows 10 and OneNote 2016. Some heavy OneNote partisans didn't like the change so you can use the older version but from the linked to articles it looks like you will have to jump through hoops to install it.
posted by mmascolino at 8:21 AM on March 27, 2022 [2 favorites]
Every so often, Microsoft will take a point in time copy of the above, package it up, put it in a virtual box and sell it to people without a subscription. They did this in 2016 and again in 2019. This may be somewhat hard to come by because Microsoft really wants you to buy the subscription version for a raft of reasons. Also if it isn't clear, the up front cost of this is going to be a way bigger number than a reoccurring monthly fee.
You should also be aware there is different OneNote client apps: OneNote for Windows 10 and OneNote 2016. Some heavy OneNote partisans didn't like the change so you can use the older version but from the linked to articles it looks like you will have to jump through hoops to install it.
posted by mmascolino at 8:21 AM on March 27, 2022 [2 favorites]
QOwnNotes? Zim?
I've been using Zim for a while on Linux but am not super happy that it doesn't support proper, normal Markdown. The kerning for Tahoma in GTK2/3 (as use by Zim) in the menus is also not great for some reason.
Been looking at switching to QOwnNotes, been trying to find a decent Markdown viewer/editor for Android to work with it.
posted by genpfault at 7:49 PM on March 27, 2022
I've been using Zim for a while on Linux but am not super happy that it doesn't support proper, normal Markdown. The kerning for Tahoma in GTK2/3 (as use by Zim) in the menus is also not great for some reason.
Been looking at switching to QOwnNotes, been trying to find a decent Markdown viewer/editor for Android to work with it.
posted by genpfault at 7:49 PM on March 27, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by synecdoche at 4:02 PM on March 26, 2022