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Alternatives · Note-Taking

Bear alternatives

Bear compared with 12 alternatives: Obsidian, Craft, Evernote, Notion, Reflect and 7 more.

Bear has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. 10 of the 12 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.

12 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
BearThis toolFree plan · from $2.99/moYesmacOS, iOS, Browser extension
ObsidianFree plan · from $4/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
CraftFree plan · from $96/yrYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
EvernoteFree plan · from $99/yrYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
NotionFree plan · from $10/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
ReflectFree plan · from $9.99/moYesmacOS, iOS, Browser extension
AgendaFree plan · from $39.99/yrYesmacOS, iOS
Apple NotesFreeFreeWeb, macOS, iOS
DraftsFree plan · from $1.99/moYesmacOS, iOS
FSNotesFree plan · from $4.99 one-timeYesmacOS, iOS
InkdropFree trial · from $8.31/moTrial onlymacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
MiaoYanFree plan · from $14.99 one-timeYesmacOS, iOS
MinimalFree trial · from $4.99/moTrial onlymacOS, iOS

How each one differs from Bear

  1. Obsidian

    Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device

    • Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on). Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • Obsidian also covers whiteboard.
    • Bear also covers web clipper.

    Suits: People who want their notes as plain Markdown files they control

    Obsidian vs BearObsidian pricing and details

  2. Craft

    Notes and documents app with tasks, daily notes and whiteboards

    • Craft starts at $96 per year ($8 a month), or $10 billed monthly. Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Craft lists a web app.
    • Only Craft lists Windows and Android apps.
    • Craft also covers whiteboard, daily notes and tasks.
    • Bear also covers Markdown, linked notes and web clipper.

    Suits: People who want polished documents and personal notes in one app

    Craft vs BearCraft pricing and details

  3. Evernote

    Note-taking app with web clipping, tasks, calendar and AI search

    • Evernote starts at $99 per year (about $8.25 a month), or $14.99 billed monthly. Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Evernote lists a web app.
    • Only Evernote lists Windows and Android apps.
    • Evernote also covers templates, tasks and calendar.
    • Bear also covers Markdown and linked notes.

    Suits: People who save web pages, scans and documents and need to search across them

    Evernote vs BearEvernote pricing and details

  4. Notion

    Workspace for docs, wikis, databases and projects with built-in AI

    • Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly. Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Notion lists a web app.
    • Only Notion lists Windows and Android apps.
    • Notion also covers databases, wiki and templates.
    • Bear also covers Markdown, linked notes and web clipper.

    Suits: Teams that want docs, a wiki and project tracking in one workspace

    Notion vs BearNotion pricing and details

  5. Reflect

    Open-source daily notes app with backlinks and local Markdown

    • Reflect starts at $9.99 per month, or $99 per year, for the iPhone and iPad app. Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Reflect is open source, according to its own site.
    • Reflect also covers daily notes.
    • Bear also covers web clipper.

    Suits: Mac users who want free, open-source notes kept as plain Markdown files

    Reflect vs BearReflect pricing and details

  6. Agenda

    Date-focused notes on a timeline, linked to your calendar

    • Agenda starts at $39.99 per year (Premium Subscription). Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Bear lists a browser extension.
    • Agenda also covers templates, tasks and calendar.
    • Bear also covers Markdown and linked notes.

    Suits: People whose notes revolve around meetings and dates

    Agenda vs BearAgenda pricing and details

  7. Apple Notes

    Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web

    • Apple Notes is free. Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
    • Only Bear lists a browser extension.
    • Apple Notes also covers transcription.
    • Bear also covers Markdown and web clipper.

    Suits: People who use only Apple devices

    Apple Notes vs BearApple Notes pricing and details

  8. Drafts

    Quick-capture notes app for Apple devices with text actions

    • Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year. Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Bear lists a browser extension.
    • Drafts also covers transcription, dictation and workflow automation.
    • Bear also covers linked notes and web clipper.

    Suits: Jotting text down quickly on iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch

    Drafts vs BearDrafts pricing and details

  9. FSNotes

    Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone

    • FSNotes starts at $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $8.99 one-time for Mac. Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Bear lists a browser extension.
    • FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
    • FSNotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • Bear also covers linked notes and web clipper.

    Suits: Mac and iPhone users who want notes kept as plain Markdown files

    FSNotes vs BearFSNotes pricing and details

  10. Inkdrop

    Markdown note app for developers with encrypted sync

    • Inkdrop starts at $8.31 per month, billed annually ($99.80 per year). Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Bear has a free plan. Inkdrop does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Inkdrop lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Inkdrop is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • Bear also covers linked notes.

    Suits: Developers keeping technical notes in Markdown

    Inkdrop vs BearInkdrop pricing and details

  11. MiaoYan

    Native Mac Markdown notes app with a split editor and preview

    • MiaoYan starts at $14.99 one-time purchase (App Store edition). Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Only Bear lists a browser extension.
    • MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
    • MiaoYan can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • MiaoYan also covers presentations.

    Suits: Mac users who want to write Markdown source with a live preview beside it

    MiaoYan vs BearMiaoYan pricing and details

  12. Minimal

    Meditation-inspired writing and notes app for Apple devices

    • Minimal starts at $4.99 per month, or $49.99 per year. Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
    • Bear has a free plan. Minimal does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Bear lists a browser extension.
    • Minimal also covers tasks.
    • Bear also covers linked notes and web clipper.

    Suits: Writers who want a quiet, sparse page on Apple devices

    Minimal vs BearMinimal pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Bear

  • Bear is offered only for Apple devices: Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
  • Syncing notes between devices requires a Bear Pro subscription.
  • Note encryption, OCR search and export to PDF, HTML, DOCX and JPG are Pro features.
  • Subscriptions are billed through Apple's App Store, and prices vary by country.
Bear pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Bear?

The alternatives to Bear in this directory are Obsidian, Craft, Evernote, Notion, Reflect, Agenda, Apple Notes, Drafts, FSNotes, Inkdrop, MiaoYan and Minimal. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Bear.

Is there a free alternative to Bear?

Yes. Apple Notes is free to use. Obsidian, Craft, Evernote, Notion, Reflect, Agenda, Drafts, FSNotes and MiaoYan have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which Bear alternatives work on Windows?

The Bear listing does not include a Windows app. Obsidian, Craft, Evernote, Notion and Inkdrop list one.

Which Bear alternatives work on Linux?

The Bear listing does not include a Linux app. Obsidian and Inkdrop list one.

Is there an open-source alternative to Bear?

Reflect, FSNotes and MiaoYan are described as open source on their own sites.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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