Bear
Beautifully simple Markdown notes for Mac, iPhone, and iPad
Alternatives
Choose fsnotes if…
- you need a zero‑cost note app
- you want iCloud + Dropbox syncing
- you prefer a distraction‑free minimal UI
- you can live without OCR search or advanced export formats
Choose Ulysses if…
- you need project-based organization for multiple drafts
- you want built‑in grammar and style checking
- you publish directly to WordPress or Medium
- you track writing goals and deadlines
- you need family sharing for up to five members
Choose Simplenote if…
- you need real‑time sync across iOS, Android, Windows,
- you want a completely free app with unlimited devices
- you rely on full edit history to roll back changes
- you prefer a minimalist interface without paid tiers
How to Decide
Bear is known for its beautifully simple Markdown notes with live formatting and a flexible tag system, and it’s used by Apple users who want an elegant note‑taking app across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. The alternatives split into a few clear camps: Ulysses leans into long‑form writing with built‑in grammar checking and direct publishing to platforms like WordPress and Medium; Simplenote is completely free and cross‑platform, offering real‑time sync on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac; fsnotes is an open‑source option that adds Dropbox integration alongside iCloud for syncing and provides a minimalistic, tag‑driven interface.
When comparing Bear to its alternatives, focus on (1) the pricing model – Bear’s freemium with optional Pro versus Ulysses’ subscription and Simplenote’s free tier; (2) platform coverage – Bear is Apple‑only while Simplenote runs on every major OS and fsnotes adds macOS/iOS with Dropbox sync; (3) sync and integration depth – Bear relies solely on iCloud, Ulysses syncs via iCloud, and fsnotes expands to Dropbox; and (4) openness and extensibility – Bear and Ulysses are closed source, whereas fsnotes is open‑source, which can matter for customization or community support.
All Alternatives
“FSNotes provides Mac‑focused Markdown notes with tag‑based organization, a close functional alternative to Bear.”
“Ulysses is an Apple‑only Markdown writing app with iCloud sync, appealing to Bear users needing richer long‑form tools.”
“Simplenote offers plain‑text/Markdown notes with sync across devices, matching Bear's core note‑taking purpose.”
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