Compare OneNote Web Clipper and Screencastify: Which Extension is the Best?

OneNote Web Clipper is a versatile tool for saving web content directly to your OneNote notebooks. The simple and intuitive design was imposing. However, it could do with a few more functions.
Screencastify is a popular Chrome extension for screen recording. It offers a range of features but has shifted many basic functionalities behind a paywall, affecting its overall value.
Key Features
  • Clip any webpage to OneNote: Save entire pages or just parts of them.
  • Highlight and annotate: Add notes and highlights to your clips.
  • Organize clips: Save clips to specific notebooks and sections.
  • Offline access: Access your clips even when you're not connected to the internet.
  • Record Desktop, Browser Tab, and Webcam: Capture any part of your screen.
  • Edit Video: Trim, merge, and add text directly from your browser.
  • Share Easily: Export as MP4, GIF, or MP3, and share via Google Drive or Classroom.
  • Interactive Questions: Add questions to videos to engage viewers.
  • Annotations: Draw on your screen in real-time to highlight key points.
  • Captions: Add captions in multiple languages to make videos accessible.
Our Rating
8.8
7.8
Total users
1,993,714
6,000,000
Total ratings
69,221
11,733
Average rating
3.9 ⭐
4.0 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
4.48
68.4K+ ratings
800.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.0
3.63
11.7K+ ratings
6.0M+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
3.0
3.82
836 ratings
1.2M+Users
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Firefox
-
-
Safari
-
-
Features
8.0

OneNote Web Clipper basic functions for saving web content.
In addition to saving an entire page, you can also save individual markers.

In addition, screenshots of the entire page or only parts of a page can be created.

An important function of the Web Clipper is that a preview is created directly when clipping and can be edited directly, for example by rewriting or highlighting text before it is synchronized with OneNote.

highligten in Extension
8.8

Screencastify offers a robust set of features, including screen and webcam recording, video editing and interactive questions.

Leaving aside the fact that many features are only available for a fee, it's fair to say that it offers a lot of features.

While recording, you can easily add spotlights and draw on the screen. The drawing tools offer a nice range of options, so you should have everything you need:

Drawing Tools

The subsequent editor also offers many functions where you can cut the video to your needs.

Here is what the basic editor looks like:

Simple editor of Screencastify

It recently also added an AI feature that automatically adds captions, transcripts, titles, and descriptions.

Furthermore, Screencastify offers another video editor when clicking "Edit Video" in the top right corner.

This will open up another editor where you can do some more video editing. Here is how it looks like:

Second editor of Screencastiy

In our opinion, this editor isn’t necessary if you already have your own video editing software, but it could be useful for some people.

We’re not entirely sure if this is just an older version of the original editor. However, we did discover that you can export videos to MP4 for free, thanks to an "Export" button that lets you do so without any limitations.

We’re not certain if this is intentional, but at least it works for us.

Performance
9.0

The Performance was good in our tests and there were no problems. All content could be saved and transferred to the OneNote notebooks without any problems. The only performance problems mentioned by some users in the reviews are that there are sometimes synchronization problems. We were unable to reproduce this.

7.5

The speed has deteriorated considerably with the latest updates. This is probably because more and more functions, such as the AI function, are being added.

The tool has become slower, and creating links or accessing older videos takes longer than before. Many users have also complained about the performance in the reviews.

Design
8.5

The design is clear and simple, so even basic users can get started immediately without any problems. However, it could offer a few more customization options to suit individual preferences.

9.0

The design is intuitive and user-friendly. We think that navigation is very intuitive despite the many functions.

Value for Money
9.2

As the tool is free, it offers excellent value for money. You get basic functions for saving web content. The required OneNote can also be used with certain restrictions; a paid version of Office for $69.99 per year is also not overpriced.

5.0

As already mentioned, we are somewhat shocked by the limitations of the free version.

Especially if you have used the app in the past and can export videos for free. In addition, even with the starter package for $7, you are limited to 10 exports.

We find that many other providers offer much more for the money.

Ease of Use
9.3

The tool is very user-friendly and has a low and fast learning curve. Most users should find it easy to start cutting and organizing content straight away. There are only a few functions that are not self-explanatory.

8.5

Screencastify is easy to use, with a minimal learning curve. Even beginners can quickly get the hang of it. However, we find that recent updates have introduced some complexities that are not absolutely necessary for a screen recorder.

Security & Privacy
9.0

OneNote Web Clipper is from Microsoft. The same privacy policies apply when using other products such as Word, Excel, or similar.

8.0

Unfortunately, an account is required, which in our opinion is not necessary for Screen recorder.

However, Screencastify's privacy policy is very comprehensive and complies with standard data protection practices, including compliance with the GDPR and PCI-DSS certification for payment data. Screencastify takes reasonable security measures but, like all online services, cannot guarantee absolute protection.

Conclusion

Overall, OneNote Web Clipper is a useful tool for anyone who simply needs to collect, store, and organize web content. It offers a number of features that make it easy to clip, annotate, and organize information. If additional features are needed on top of these basic features, other competitors should be looked at.

Screencastify was a fantastic tool in the past, and we used to use it daily. Unfortunately, recent updates have made it less user-friendly by hiding key features behind a paywall.

For people who need a wide range of features, the tool is still an option. For others who just want to make a recording every now and then to export a video, Screencastify is unfortunately no longer an option.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between OneNote Web Clipper and Screencastify, OneNote Web Clipper came out on top, scoring 8.8.

Screencastify is the most widely used, with over 6 million users and 12k+ reviews, but OneNote Web Clipper outperformed it in our review. User reviews reflect our findings.

Notably, Screencastify has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 3.95, which supports its strong performance in our review.

There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? Screencastify stands out with a rating of 8.8. On the other hand, OneNote Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Need top performance? OneNote Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Design lovers, take note: Screencastify stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, OneNote Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • Want to get the most for your money? OneNote Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 5.
  • If you hate complicated tools, OneNote Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, OneNote Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.

If you want a quick recommendation, OneNote Web Clipper is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.