Apple Notes vs Bear: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Apple Notes and Bear side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Apple Notes leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Apple Notes
Free note-taking for Apple users
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Bear requires payment)
Bear
Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful design
| At a Glance | Apple Notes | Bear |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $0.99/mo, billed monthly iCloud+ 50GB plan | Free plan, paid from $2.99/mo, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | Productivity Note-Taking | Productivity Note-Taking |
Rating | 4.1/5 SourceForge 4.1 14 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 45 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | iCloud storage needed for large attachments | n/a |
Choose Apple Notes or Bear?
Choose Apple Notes if
- You want a fully free tool (Bear requires payment)
- You want free with Apple devices
- You want good for quick notes
- Budget matters ($0.99/mo, billed monthly vs $2.99/mo, billed monthly)
Choose Bear if
- You want beautiful design
- You want great markdown support
In-Depth Analysis
Apple Notes
Free note-taking for Apple users
Apple Notes itself is entirely free and incredibly generous, offering full functionality without any locked features.
Watch out
iCloud storage needed for large attachments
Strengths
- Pro: Free with Apple devices
- Pro: Good for quick notes
- Pro: Decent scanning
- Pro: Collaboration works
- Pro: Fast sync
Weaknesses
- Con: Apple only
- Con: Limited organization
- Con: No Markdown
- Con: Basic formatting
- Con: Export options limited
Key features
Bear
Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices
The free tier is functional for local-only notes but missing iCloud sync makes it impractical as a daily driver.
Strengths
- Pro: Beautiful design
- Pro: Great markdown support
- Pro: Fast and lightweight
- Pro: Good organization
- Pro: Apple ecosystem native
Weaknesses
- Con: Apple only
- Con: Sync requires subscription
- Con: Limited collaboration
- Con: No web app
- Con: Basic task management
Key features
Plans and prices: Apple Notes vs Bear
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Notes |
| apple.com/notes read Oct 7, 2026 |
| Bear |
| bear.app read Nov 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Apple Notes pricing and Bear pricing.
Key Takeaways
Apple Notes
- Lower entry price: $0.99/mo, billed monthly vs $2.99/mo, billed monthly
Bear
- Choose if you want beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices
What the data shows
On the data below, Apple Notes leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.1/5 from 14 reviews for Apple Notes, 4.5/5 from 45 reviews for Bear; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Apple Notes has the lower entry price: $0.99/mo, billed monthly (iCloud+ 50GB) against $2.99/mo, billed monthly (Pro) for Bear.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
What Users Say
Bear Reviews
It's uncomplicated and easy to use. My material is safe.wherever I am I can take a minute and add to my writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Apple Notes and Bear compare in 2026?
On the data below, Apple Notes leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.1/5 from 14 reviews for Apple Notes, 4.5/5 from 45 reviews for Bear; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Apple Notes has the lower entry price: $0.99/mo, billed monthly (iCloud+ 50GB) against $2.99/mo, billed monthly (Pro) for Bear. Both have a free plan.
What are Apple Notes and Bear used for?
Apple Notes: Free note-taking for Apple users. Bear: Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices.
What does Apple Notes cost vs Bear?
Apple Notes's cheapest paid plan is iCloud+ 50GB at $0.99/mo, billed monthly. Bear's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Apple Notes and Bear?
Apple Notes's main strength: free with Apple devices. Bear's main strength: beautiful design.