Windows Journal icon

Windows Journal

Windows Journal is a note-taking app developed by Microsoft for Windows operating systems. It allows users to handwrite or type notes, draw pictures, record audio, and clip content from other apps. Windows Journal integrates with OneNote for additional functionality.

What is Windows Journal?

Windows Journal is a versatile note-taking application that has been included in Windows operating systems since Windows XP. It provides a digital notebook experience that allows users to handwrite or type notes using a stylus, mouse, or keyboard. Users can draw pictures and diagrams; make audio recordings; and clip content from other applications to embed in Journal notes.

Key features of Windows Journal include:

  • Support for pen and touch input for natural notetaking
  • Lined, graph, blank, and photo page templates
  • Tools for drawing, erasing, highlighting, and editing ink notes
  • Audio recording and embedding option
  • Integration with OneNote for expanded functionality

Windows Journal works well for taking quick handwritten notes, drawing diagrams, marking up documents, and gathering digital scraps of information. While it lacks extensive organization and formatting features, its simplicity makes it fast and easy to use. Files can be exported to PDF or OneNote for sharing and safekeeping.

Since the launch of Windows 8, Windows Journal has been deprecated in favor of Microsoft OneNote. However, it remains available via optional Windows features in Windows 10 for users who prefer its straightforward digital inking and note capturing capabilities.

The Best Windows Journal Alternatives

Top Apps like Windows Journal

Stylus Labs Write, KeepNote, Notesnook, Diarium, gournal, OneNote Online, Journaler, My Notes Keeper, Pen Journal, labfolder, Soysauce Lab Noto, Outline Knowledge Organizer, Cournal are some alternatives to Windows Journal.

Stylus Labs Write

Stylus Labs Write is an AI-powered writing assistant designed to help anyone become a better, more productive writer. As you write in Google Docs, Stylus analyzes your text and provides real-time feedback and suggestions to strengthen your writing.Key features of Stylus Labs Write include:Clarity checks - identifies unclear...

KeepNote

KeepNote is an open-source note taking and organization program for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. It provides a simple tree-based notebook metaphor for storing notes and information in a hierarchical structure much like folders on a file system.Key features of KeepNote include:Rich text notes with complete formatting...

Notesnook

Notesnook is a free online note taking and organizing software. It provides users with a variety of tools to easily capture ideas, thoughts, web content, images, and more in an organized notebook interface.Key features of Notesnook include:Intuitive rich text editor for formatting notes - add headings, lists, bold...

Diarium

Diarium is a free, open-source journaling and diary application available for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android operating systems. It allows users to securely record daily events, thoughts, feelings, and memories with the option to encrypt entries end-to-end for extra privacy.Some key features of Diarium include:Tagging entries for...

Gournal

Gournal is a free, open source journaling application designed for the GNOME desktop environment on Linux. It provides a simple interface for keeping a personal journal or diary.Some key features of Gournal include:Basic text editing tools for formatting journal entriesTagging entries to organize by topic or themePerforming full-text...

OneNote Online

OneNote Online is the free web-based version of Microsoft's OneNote application. As part of the Microsoft Office suite, OneNote Online allows users to take notes, clip web pages, record audio and video, and collaborate with others in real-time from any device with an internet browser.Key features of OneNote Online...

Journaler

Journaler is a free, open-source journaling application available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. It provides a clean and easy-to-use interface for keeping a personal journal or diary.Some key features of Journaler include:Add unlimited journal entries with support for text formatting, images, tags, location data, and weather...

My Notes Keeper

My Notes Keeper is a free and open-source note taking application designed for the Windows operating system. It provides users with an easy way to create, organize, and manage all their notes in one place.With My Notes Keeper, users can quickly write down their thoughts, ideas, to-do lists, meeting...

Pen Journal

Pen Journal is a digital journaling app designed for long-form, freeflow writing. It provides a clean and minimal interface that aims to recreate the feeling of writing with pen and paper.Some key features of Pen Journal include:Minimalist vector illustration design that looks like real pen and paperSupport for...

Labfolder

Labfolder is an electronic lab notebook (ELN) software solution designed specifically for research teams and laboratories to better organize project data and streamline documentation processes. As a centralized platform, Labfolder allows research collaborators to securely access, share, search, and track experimental records, research findings, and protocols from any device.Key...

Soysauce Lab Noto

Soysauce Lab Noto is a free and open source font family developed collaboratively by Adobe and Google. Its goal is to create harmonious and consistent typography across languages and writing systems using a universal design approach.Noto aims to support all the world's languages with a single, visually unified set...

Outline Knowledge Organizer

Outline Knowledge Organizer is a personal knowledge management and note taking software used to visually organize notes, ideas, documents, and other information. It provides an intuitive and flexible interface for users to create a visual outline or knowledge tree to structure their knowledge and concepts.Some key features of Outline...

Cournal

Cournal is a visual collaboration software designed for teams to map out ideas, strategies, and plans. It provides a flexible digital workspace with virtual whiteboards called 'canvases' that allow teams to diagram concepts and processes.Key features of Cournal include:Visual mapping - Easily create flowcharts, mind maps, wireframes, and...