Microsoft Loop vs OneNote, which is the right note-taking and collaboration tool for you? In this article, we will look at these two tools from Microsoft.
Microsoft Loop is a new collaboration platform that integrates seamlessly with the Microsoft ecosystem of applications for real-time collaboration. OneNote on the other hand is a staple for personal and professional note-taking for Microsoft users.
What is Microsoft Loop?
Microsoft Loop is a collaboration platform for teamwork and productivity across Microsoft 365 apps. Loop enables cross-application collaboration through Loop components (previously Fluid Framework) that sync with other Microsoft 365 apps in real time. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, Microsoft Loop offers several features to enhance productivity. It is built around three core elements:
- Loop components: These are portable pieces of content that stay in sync across all the places that they have been shared. Loop components such as lists, tables, and paragraphs can be shared and edited in real-time across multiple apps like Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Word. Loop components stay in sync wherever they are used, ensuring everyone is always on the same page.
- Loop pages: Pages are flexible, collaborative places where teams can organize and share Loop components, files, links, and more. These pages serve as dynamic canvases for brainstorming, planning, and tracking projects.
- Loop workspaces: These are shared spaces where teams can gather all their Loop pages and components related to a specific project or initiative. Workspaces make it easy to track progress and see the big picture.
What is Microsoft OneNote?
Microsoft OneNote is a digital note-taking application that allows you to create, organize, and share notes across different devices. It functions like a digital notebook and offers some of the key features listed below:
- Notebooks, Sections, and Pages: OneNote organizes notes and todo lists into notebooks, which are divided into sections, and then into individual pages. This structure helps you to keep your notes organized and easy to index and navigate.
- Multi-format Notes: OneNote supports various types of content, including text, images, audio recordings, video, embedded files, and even handwritten notes, making it a great choice for capturing and brainstorming ideas in different formats and using touch-enabled hardware and digital ink.
- Collaboration and Sharing: OneNote allows you to share notebooks with others. OneNote syncs across devices, so you can access your notes from anywhere and work with others on shared content.
- Seamless Integration: OneNote integrates well with other Microsoft 365 apps, such as Outlook and Teams, allowing you to link your notes to meetings, emails, and tasks.
Microsoft Loop vs OneNote: What are the differences?
Although both these tools have some similarities, the key differentiator is the way they enable collaboration for teams. Microsoft Loop focuses on real-time collaboration, while OneNote allows note-taking and it is better suited to using a digital pen and touch as input.
Below is a feature comparison table highlighting the key differences between Microsoft Loop and Microsoft OneNote.
| Feature/Aspect | Microsoft Loop | Microsoft OneNote |
| Purpose | Real-time collaboration for team projects and dynamic workspaces. | Primarily used as a note-taking tool for organizing, taking, and sharing notes. |
| Core Components | Loop Components, Loop Pages, Loop Workspaces | Notebooks, Sections, Pages |
| Collaboration | Loop facilitates real-time collaboration through Loop Components. These components, such as lists, tables, and paragraphs can be embedded and edited directly within Microsoft 365 apps like Teams, Outlook, and Word. | Multiple people can edit a OneNote notebook simultaneously. OneNote supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple loop users to work on the same notebook, section, or page at the same time. |
| AI Support | Comes with Copilot baked in and offers content generation, task automation, contextual assistance, and summarization. | Also offers all the Copilot features such as content generation, task automation, contextual assistance, and summarization. |
| Content-Type | Allows interactive components like lists, tables, and text that update in real-time across different apps. | Supports text, images, audio, video, embedded files, and handwritten notes. |
| Cross-platform compatibility and integration | Deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps(Teams, Outlook, Word, OneDrive) and is powered by Microsoft Azure for seamless content sharing. | It also Integrates with Microsoft 365 apps (Outlook, Teams, Sharepoint) and allows linking notes to tasks, meetings, etc. |
| Workspaces/Organization | Shared workspaces to gather Loop pages and components related to specific projects. | Notebooks are organized into sections and pages, ideal for hierarchical note-taking. |
| Real-time Sync | Yes, across all integrated apps. | Syncs, across all devices where the notebook is accessed but isn’t real-time. |
| Use Case | Ideal for collaborative project management, brainstorming, and content creation across teams. | Suitable for personal and professional note-taking, meeting notes, and organizing information. |
| Automation & Efficiency | Designed to streamline teamwork with portable, dynamic components that update automatically. | Focused on structured note-taking with manual updates. |
| User Interface | Modern, component-based, and flexible for various workflows. | Traditional notebook-style layout with tabs and pages. |
| Customization | Limited customization as it’s centered around collaboration and simplicity. | High customization with various note formats and organization options. |
| Availability | Primarily within the Microsoft 365 environment. | Available as a standalone app and part of Microsoft 365. It can be downloaded from the Microsoft store. |
| Application Support | Loop offers a mobile app but there is no desktop app that you can install on Windows or macOS. | Offers a dedicated desktop app for Windows and Mac OS. It also offers a mobile application for Android and iOS users. |
When to choose Microsoft Loop vs. Microsoft OneNote
The choice between Microsoft Loop and Microsoft OneNote depends on your specific needs and team’s workflows. Here’s a guide to help you determine when to use each tool:
Choose Microsoft Loop when:
- Real-Time collaboration is crucial: If your team needs to collaborate on content in real-time across multiple Microsoft 365 apps like Teams, Outlook, and Word, Microsoft Loop is the ideal choice. Loop components allow for seamless, synchronized collaboration, ensuring that everyone is working with the most up-to-date information.
- Project management and tracking: For projects that require dynamic workspaces where teams can organize and track various components, Loop serves as a better choice as it provides a structured yet flexible environment. There is also support for Microsoft Planner and third-party project management solutions like Jira and Trello.
- Cross-app integration: If your workflow involves frequently using different Microsoft 365 apps, and you need to ensure that content stays synchronized across these solutions, Loop’s integration capabilities will be beneficial.
Choose Microsoft OneNote when:
- Note-taking and information organization: OneNote is ideal for capturing ideas, thoughts, and information in a structured way, OneNote excels with its notebook, section, and page hierarchy. It’s perfect for personal note-taking or organizing meeting notes, research, and other information.
- Multi-format content needs: If you need to store and organize various types of content like text, images, audio, and video in one place, OneNote’s versatile content support makes it an excellent choice.
- Long-term documentation: When you need to create, maintain, and share long-term documentation or reference material, OneNote’s robust organizational features and integration with other Microsoft 365 apps make it an ideal tool for creating a digital repository of knowledge.
Loop is best for real-time collaboration and OneNote excels in supporting different media and input methods
Both Loop and OneNote are powerful and come with intuitive UI with a minimal learning curve for users to get used to. Microsoft Loop enables real-time collaboration across Microsoft 365 apps, ideal for team projects and dynamic workspaces. OneNote, on the other hand, is a digital notebook for structured note-taking, supporting various content types like text and images. Loop is best for teamwork, while OneNote excels in organizing long-term documentation.