Feature Comparison: Edumaps vs OneNote
School, Teaching and Collaboration EdumapsOverview
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Comparison: Edumaps and OneNote – School, Teaching and Collaboration
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Focus: Which school processes can be mapped using Edumaps or OneNote?
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- 🗺️ Basic Principle and Usage Logic
- 📤 Export & Import
- 🤝 Collaboration & Sharing
- 🛠️ Editing Options
- 📦 Elements of a Box or Page
- 🔎 View and Input
- 📁 Materials and Files
- ✏️ Inputs & Formatting
- 💬 Comments, Feedback & Ratings
- 👥 User Management and School
- ✨ Teaching Processes and Additional Modules
- 🔒 Technology & Data Protection
Current Status
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Last updated on 2026-06-08
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This comparison is based on the existing Edumaps comparison structure, publicly available information about OneNote / OneNote Class Notebook, and our own assessments regarding school use. Features may change. If any information is outdated or incomplete, please let us know.
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OneNote is strong in:
digital notebooks, note-taking, handwritten notes, file management, and Microsoft 365 integration. -
Edumaps is strong in:
visual lesson structure, department conference maps, material sharing, granular permissions, tasks/assignments, courses, bookings, certificates of participation, AI-based quiz/language course creation, exports, and platform neutrality.
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🗺️ Basic Principle and Usage Logic
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OneNote and Edumaps follow different core ideas: OneNote is a digital notebook, while Edumaps is a structured work, material, and collaboration platform.
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Function / Usage Logic Edumaps OneNote Digital pinboard / learning map ✔️ Yes – Digital notebook Partially possible via maps, folders, and boxes ✔️ Yes Visual representation of lesson sequences ✔️ Yes Possible, but more linear via sections and pages Material collection for teaching ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Department collaboration / joint material development ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Structured courses and learning paths ✔️ Yes Limited, mostly manual Interactive pinboard formats ✔️ Yes – Class / group as workspace ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes, especially with Class Notebook Focus in everyday school life Lesson organization, materials, tasks, courses, collaboration, sharing Notes, class notebooks, files, teaching materials -
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📤 Export & Import
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Export and import options differ significantly. OneNote is strongly tied to the Microsoft ecosystem; Edumaps offers targeted exports for teaching, archiving, and platform changes.
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Function Edumaps OneNote Export as Moodle course (MBZ) ✔️ Yes – Export as static HTML package incl. files ✔️ Yes – Export as PDF ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes, e.g. pages / content as PDF Export as image / screenshot ✔️ Yes Possible via operating system / print function Export of own pinboards as JSON ✔️ Yes – Import of own pinboards as JSON ✔️ Yes – Import of Padlet incl. media ✔️ Yes – Data backup in proprietary exchange format ✔️ Yes Limited, depending on OneNote version / storage location -
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🤝 Collaboration & Sharing
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Both systems support collaboration, but with different focuses. OneNote is strong for shared note-taking; Edumaps is stronger in granular permissions, public links, groups, and structured teaching environments.
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Function Edumaps OneNote Real-time collaboration ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Share with groups / classes ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes, via Microsoft 365 / Class Notebook / Teams Share with individuals ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Anonymous read-only sharing ✔️ Yes Possible depending on sharing settings / organization Anonymous editing ✔️ Yes Possible, but often administratively restricted in schools Share individual areas / columns / boxes ✔️ Yes Limited, mostly notebook / section / page level Notifications for shared content ✔️ Yes Partly via Microsoft 365 / Teams / notifications Collaboration in subject departments ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Joint lesson planning ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Shared real-time document with many users ✔️ Yes, Teamtext Possible, but not as a dedicated module -
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🛠️ Editing Options
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Edumaps offers many didactic and organizational editing features directly on the map, column, or box. OneNote is more flexible as a free-form note surface, but less specialized for school workflows.
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Function Edumaps OneNote Custom background image ✔️ Yes – / only manually via page design or background image Change font ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Duplicate pinboard / material collection ✔️ Yes Possible by copying pages / sections / notebooks Tags for content ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes, OneNote tags Move columns ✔️ Yes – Protect columns ✔️ Yes – Share columns with permission profiles ✔️ Yes – Lock individual boxes ✔️ Yes – Share individual boxes ✔️ Yes – Time-controlled visibility of boxes / columns ✔️ Yes – Freely position content on surface ✔️ Yes, especially Stickerwall ✔️ Yes, free note surface Search across content ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Edit history / revisions ✔️ Yes Partial version history / sync history Restore previous versions ✔️ Yes Partially possible Survey module ✔️ Yes – Convert box into course ✔️ Yes – Booking / course system ✔️ Yes – Payments via PayPal ✔️ Yes – Certificates of participation ✔️ Yes – Calendar per box ✔️ Yes – / rather Outlook / Teams separately Lending / sales module ✔️ Yes – -
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📦 Elements of a Box or Page
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Edumaps works with boxes as independent didactic units. OneNote works with notebooks, sections, pages, and freely positioned content.
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Edumaps Box OneNote Page / Content Label Tags / heading / manual marking Title Page title / heading Color Highlighter / color elements / section color Collapse box – Protect box – Comments per box Rather notes / handwritten comments / feedback Likes – Ratings / voting – Calendar and bookings – Change visibility Only limited via sharing / section logic Assign task More via Microsoft Teams / task management, not OneNote itself ✔️ Bundle files and media in one unit ✔️ Bundle files and media in one unit -
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🔎 View and Input
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OneNote is strong in free input and handwritten notes. Edumaps is stronger in immediately visible structured content on a shared map.
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Function Edumaps OneNote Changes visible immediately while typing ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes / synchronized, depending on connection and client Structured overall view for class / staff ✔️ Yes Partial, more notebook-like Focus on visual overview ✔️ Yes Limited Focus on continuous note-taking Possible ✔️ Yes Handwriting / pen input Limited / device-dependent ✔️ Yes, very strong Offline work Partly browser/export dependent ✔️ Yes, depending on app and synchronization -
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📁 Materials and Files
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Both systems can collect materials. Edumaps offers more structured boxes and upload management; OneNote is strong in embedded Office files, images, notes, and handwritten additions.
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Function Edumaps OneNote Direct upload / drag & drop ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Organize files within teaching structure ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes, but more via notebook structure Multiple uploads per unit ✔️ Unlimited ✔️ Possible Upload limit per file 500 MB Depends on Microsoft 365 / OneDrive / organization Microphone, photo, webcam recordings ✔️ Yes Partial depending on app / device Screenshots / clipboard ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Real preview images for links ✔️ Yes Limited / depending on embedding Upload manager / file management ✔️ Yes More via OneDrive / notebook structure Hide content within box ✔️ Yes – Provide material to students ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes, especially Content Library in Class Notebook -
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✏️ Inputs & Formatting
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OneNote is a very strong free-form editor. Edumaps additionally offers didactic features such as QR codes, text-to-speech, source references, and Markdown-like structuring.
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Function Edumaps OneNote Bold / italic text ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Color for individual words ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Lists and indentation ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Tables Possible / depending on content ✔️ Yes Freehand / drawing Limited ✔️ Yes LaTeX formulas ✔️ Yes Limited / via equation input depending on version Inline / block code ✔️ Yes Only manual / not as dedicated code module Headings ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Quotes ✔️ Yes Manually possible Spoiler function ✔️ Yes – Image source references ✔️ Yes Manually possible Own hidden notes ✔️ Yes Via separate areas / teacher section possible Link text ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Text-to-speech ✔️ Yes Via Microsoft ecosystem / Immersive Reader possible Dynamic QR codes ✔️ Yes – Use Markdown content ✔️ Yes – -
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💬 Comments, Feedback & Ratings
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OneNote is well suited for feedback directly on student pages. Edumaps additionally offers explicit comment, rating, and voting functions per box.
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Function Edumaps OneNote Text comments ✔️ Yes Indirectly as note / feedback on page Comments per individual box ✔️ Yes – Comments with uploads ✔️ Yes Files can be inserted, but not as dedicated comment module Comments with recordings ✔️ Yes Audio / media depending on app possible Ratings per box ✔️ Yes – Likes / reactions ✔️ Yes – Surveys / voting ✔️ Yes – / rather Microsoft Forms Feedback to students ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes, strong in Class Notebook Delete all comments with one click ✔️ Yes – Notification for new comments ✔️ Yes More dependent on Microsoft 365 / Teams -
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👥 User Management and School
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OneNote shows its strengths mainly within Microsoft 365 Education. Edumaps directly includes school roles, groups, permissions, and platform functions.
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Function Edumaps OneNote Admin accounts ✔️ Yes Via Microsoft 365 Admin Center Teacher accounts ✔️ Yes Via Microsoft 365 / school Student accounts ✔️ Yes Via Microsoft 365 / school Classes / groups ✔️ Yes Via Teams / Microsoft 365 groups / Class Notebook Account creation name / email ✔️ Yes Via Microsoft 365 Account creation via CSV ✔️ Yes Via Microsoft 365 / school IT possible SSO integration ✔️ Yes, multiple school SSO systems ✔️ Yes, Microsoft account / Entra ID Use without Microsoft ecosystem ✔️ Yes Limited usefulness Role logic for teaching and school ✔️ Yes Via Microsoft 365 / Teams / Class Notebook -
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✨ Teaching Processes and Additional Modules
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For pure note-taking and class notebooks, OneNote is very strong. For many school processes beyond the notebook, Edumaps offers more specialized modules.
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Process / Feature Edumaps OneNote Task management ✔️ Yes, tasks / assignments in Edumaps More via Microsoft Teams / Planner, not OneNote itself Manage files for classes ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Class notebooks Represented differently via maps / folders ✔️ Yes, core feature of Class Notebook Provide exam materials to students ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Jointly map lesson sequences ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes, but less visual / less modular Further edit materials ✔️ Yes ✔️ Yes Public material collections ✔️ Yes Limited / organization-dependent Internal shared pinboards per school / group ✔️ Yes Possible via notebooks / Teams Folders to collect and share maps ✔️ Yes Notebook / section structure Assign tasks ✔️ Yes More via Teams tasks Create quiz with AI ✔️ Yes – / possibly via other Microsoft services Create language course with AI ✔️ Yes – Bookings, courses, certificates of participation ✔️ Yes – Lending / sales module ✔️ Yes – -
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🔒 Technology & Data Protection
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Regarding data protection, the central difference is not only GDPR compliance, but also system architecture: Edumaps is a specialized European school platform; OneNote is part of a large Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
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Metric / Function Edumaps OneNote Provider / platform logic Edumaps, specialized in school and teaching Microsoft 365 / OneNote / Teams ecosystem Server / data location Germany Depends on Microsoft 365 tenant and contract GDPR compliance ✔️ Yes (VIDIS approved) Depends on Microsoft 365 contract, tenant configuration, and school / authority External dependencies when loading No external domains according to previous comparison approach Microsoft cloud services / Microsoft account / OneDrive / Teams Operation without large Office ecosystem ✔️ Yes Only limited usefulness School SSO / VIDIS / state licenses ✔️ Yes, depending on instance and contract Microsoft SSO / Entra ID, not school-platform-neutral Public links and school sharing profiles ✔️ Yes Possible, but often regulated by organization Data portability for Edumaps content ✔️ JSON / HTML / PDF / Moodle OneNote export depends on version and storage location -
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