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Bear

Bear

Beautifully simple Markdown notes for Mac, iPhone, and iPad

softwareNote Takingmarkdown-notesapple-ecosystemtag-organization
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Our Verdict

Best for

Apple users who want a beautiful, fast Markdown note app with tag-based organization.

Skip if

You need Windows, Android, or Linux support, or a browser-based web app.

What is Bear?

Bear is a Markdown note-taking app built exclusively for the Apple ecosystem, letting users capture text, photos, tables, and to-do lists in a single, elegantly designed interface. Notes are organized with flexible nested tags rather than folders, and content syncs across Apple devices via iCloud on the paid tier.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App
open source❌ No
api available❌ No
key integrationsiCloud

Key Features of Bear

Notes are written in Markdown with live formatting, supporting text, photos, tables, and embedded to-do lists in a single note.
A flexible, nested tag system replaces traditional folders for organizing notes by topic or project.
Bear Pro adds iCloud sync so notes stay current across Mac, iPhone, and iPad automatically.
OCR-based search on the Pro tier can find text inside scanned PDFs and images attached to notes.
Notes can be exported to PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG, and several other formats for sharing outside the app.
Apple Pencil integration allows sketches to be embedded directly into notes on iPad.
Individual notes can be locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a password for added privacy.

Use Cases for Bear

1

Daily writing and journaling

Capture thoughts in Markdown with a distraction-free, themeable interface.

2

Tag-organized reference notes

Group related notes with nested tags instead of managing folder hierarchies.

3

Sketch and handwritten notes

Use Apple Pencil on iPad to add sketches directly inside notes.

4

Searchable scanned documents

Scan documents into notes and later search their text via OCR.

Pros & Cons of Bear

Pros

  • Polished, minimal interface with many visual themes
  • Flexible tag-based organization instead of rigid folders
  • Affordable Pro subscription
  • Native Apple Pencil and OCR search support

Cons

  • Apple-only, no Windows, Android, or Linux apps
  • Free tier lacks cross-device sync
  • No native web app for accessing notes from a browser

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bear available on Windows or Android?

No, Bear is exclusive to the Apple ecosystem: Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Does Bear have a free version?

Yes, a free tier supports local notes on one device; Bear Pro adds iCloud sync and more themes.

Can Bear notes be encrypted?

Individual notes can be locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a password.

What format does Bear use for notes?

Bear uses Markdown for formatting, with live rendering as you type.

Pricing Overview

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Freemium

Free

0

Bear Pro

2.99

Reviews & Ratings0.0

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About the Product

Unclaimed Listing
Platforms
MaciOS
Target AudienceApple users who want a simple, elegant Markdown note-taking app

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