Bear vs Craft: 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 Craft side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Bear 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:
Bear
Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful design
Craft
Apple-quality notes, docs, and websites on all your devices
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful native design
| At a Glance | Bear | Craft |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $2.99/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | Free plan, paid from $5/mo, billed monthly Plus plan |
Category | Productivity Note-Taking | Note-Taking Writing & Content |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 45 reviews | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.5 41 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Family/Team tiers have account minimums |
Choose Bear or Craft?
Choose Bear if
- You want beautiful design
- You want great markdown support
- Budget matters ($2.99/mo, billed monthly vs $5/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in productivity, not note-taking
Choose Craft if
- You want beautiful native design
- You want excellent Apple integration
- 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
Craft
Apple-quality notes, docs, and websites on all your devices
Craft's pricing is quite generous, especially with the Plus tier at $5/month offering unlimited core features.
Watch out
Family/Team tiers have account minimums
Strengths
- Pro: Beautiful native design
- Pro: Excellent Apple integration
- Pro: Fast performance
- Pro: Great for visual documents
Weaknesses
- Con: Apple-only ecosystem
- Con: Limited collaboration features
- Con: Less powerful than Notion
Key features
Plans and prices: Bear vs Craft
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bear |
| bear.app read Nov 2, 2026 |
| Craft |
| craft.do/pricing read Oct 22, 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 Bear pricing and Craft pricing.
Key Takeaways
Bear
- Lower entry price: $2.99/mo, billed monthly vs $5/mo, billed monthly
Craft
- Choose if you want apple-quality notes, docs, and websites on all your devices
What the data shows
On the data below, Bear leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 45 reviews for Bear, 4.6/5 from 41 reviews for Craft).
- Bear has the lower entry price: $2.99/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $5/mo, billed monthly (Plus) for Craft.
- 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 Craft compare in 2026?
On the data below, Bear leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 45 reviews for Bear, 4.6/5 from 41 reviews for Craft). Bear has the lower entry price: $2.99/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $5/mo, billed monthly (Plus) for Craft. Both have a free plan.
What are Bear and Craft used for?
Bear: Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices. Craft: Apple-quality notes, docs, and websites on all your devices.
What does Bear cost vs Craft?
Bear's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Craft's cheapest paid plan is Plus at $5/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 Bear and Craft?
Bear's main strength: beautiful design. Craft's main strength: beautiful native design.