Microsoft OneNote vs Observable:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft OneNote had more branded searches than Observable among notebook platforms worldwide. Microsoft OneNote had about 135,000 branded searches, while Observable had 18,100. Microsoft OneNote made up 1.9% of all notebook platform searches we track, and Observable accounted for 0.25%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about notebook platforms, Microsoft OneNote appeared in two of the five answers and Observable in none.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft OneNote, about 7 searches for every 1 for Observable
Who does AI mention more?
Microsoft OneNote, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Observable in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft OneNote, the only one of the two named
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Top notebook platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft OneNote was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Observable did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Google Colab1st
JupyterLab2nd- Microsoft OneNote3rd
Evernote4th- Jupyter5th
Deepnote6th
Hex7th
Observable–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Google Colab4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- JupyterLab4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Evernote3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Jupyter3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Microsoft OneNote2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Deepnote2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Hex1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Observable0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about notebook platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which notebook platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best notebook platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best notebook platform for data analysis notebooks?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“notebook platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cloud notebook app”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Microsoft OneNote or Observable more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft OneNote and Observable by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight notebook platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft OneNote, Observable. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Google Colab | JupyterLab | Evernote | Jupyter | Microsoft OneNote | Observable | Deepnote | Hex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 77.5% | 11.4% | 5.7% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 0.34% | 0.34% | 0.04% |
| Nov 2025 | 79.4% | 9.5% | 5.8% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 0.35% | 0.43% | 0.06% |
| Dec 2025 | 79.6% | 9.5% | 5.9% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.35% | 0.29% | 0.06% |
| Jan 2026 | 75.9% | 11.1% | 6.8% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.75% | 0.27% | 0.05% |
| Feb 2026 | 80.6% | 9.7% | 4.9% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.24% | 0.2% | 0.05% |
| Mar 2026 | 80.6% | 9.7% | 4.9% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.29% | 0.24% | 0.04% |
| Apr 2026 | 82.2% | 8.2% | 5% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.3% | 0.24% | 0.03% |
| May 2026 | 79.7% | 9.6% | 5.9% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.29% | 0.24% | 0.04% |
| Jun 2026 | 82.4% | 8.2% | 5% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.45% | 0.24% | 0.05% |
| Jul 2026 | 81.4% | 9.6% | 4.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.29% | 0.2% | 0.05% |
| Aug 2026 | 83.7% | 8.2% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 0.37% | 0.17% | 0.05% |
| Sep 2026 | 84.2% | 8.2% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 0.25% | 0.17% | 0.04% |
How has the Microsoft OneNote and Observable comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Microsoft OneNote was ahead of Observable in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft OneNote’s share of searches among notebook platforms worldwide moved from 2.1% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Observable’s share of searches among notebook platforms worldwide moved from 0.34% to 0.25%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for notebook platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Microsoft OneNote fell from 4th to 5th among notebook platforms worldwide.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Observable worldwide fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft OneNote’s and Observable’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Microsoft OneNote
1 branded search term
- microsoft onenote
Observable
1 branded search term
- observable
Other head-to-heads among notebook platforms
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