Bear vs Clover Notes: 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 Bear and Clover Notes side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Bear leads on higher user rating. 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:
Bear
Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful design
Clover Notes
Capture, organize, and connect your thoughts with a modern workspace.
Best for you if:
- • You want highly flexible and customizable workspace
| At a Glance | Bear | Clover Notes |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $2.99/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | Free plan |
Category | Productivity Note-Taking | Note-Taking Productivity |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 45 reviews | 4.0/5 G2 3.8 · TrustRadius 4.5 120 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Bear or Clover Notes?
Choose Bear if
- You want beautiful design
- You want great markdown support
- You work in productivity, not note-taking
Choose Clover Notes if
- You want highly flexible and customizable workspace
- You want excellent for connecting disparate pieces of information
- You work in note-taking, not productivity
In-Depth Analysis
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
Clover Notes
Capture, organize, and connect your thoughts with a modern workspace.
Strengths
- Pro: Highly flexible and customizable workspace
- Pro: Excellent for connecting disparate pieces of information
- Pro: Modern and intuitive user interface
- Pro: Supports various content types within a single document
Weaknesses
- Con: Can have a learning curve for new users due to its flexibility
- Con: Offline functionality might be limited
- Con: Performance can vary with very large documents or complex setups
Key features
Plans and prices: Bear vs Clover Notes
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bear |
| bear.app read Oct 10, 2026 |
| Clover Notes | No plan prices on file | clover.app |
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 Bear pricing and Clover Notes pricing.
Key Takeaways
Bear
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.0/5
Clover Notes
- Choose if you want capture, organize, and connect your thoughts with a modern workspace
What the data shows
On the data below, Bear leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Bear has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 45 reviews for Bear, 4.0/5 from 120 reviews for Clover Notes).
- Bear starts at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; Clover Notes has no public paid plan price on file.
- 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 Bear and Clover Notes compare in 2026?
On the data below, Bear leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Bear has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 45 reviews for Bear, 4.0/5 from 120 reviews for Clover Notes). Bear starts at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; Clover Notes has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Bear and Clover Notes used for?
Bear: Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices. Clover Notes: Capture, organize, and connect your thoughts with a modern workspace.
What does Bear cost vs Clover Notes?
Bear's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Clover Notes has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 10, 2026.
What's the main difference between Bear and Clover Notes?
Bear's main strength: beautiful design. Clover Notes's main strength: highly flexible and customizable workspace.