Bear vs Drafts: 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 Drafts side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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
Drafts
Capture text quickly and transform it into action across your Apple devices.
Best for you if:
- • You want extremely fast and frictionless text capture
| At a Glance | Bear | Drafts |
|---|---|---|
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 | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 9 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Pro IAP is not on the website. Open the App Store listing before you assume $0 forever. |
Choose Bear or Drafts?
Choose Bear if
- You want beautiful design
- You want great markdown support
- You work in productivity, not note-taking
Choose Drafts if
- You want extremely fast and frictionless text capture
- You want acts as a central inbox for all text ideas
- 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
Drafts
Capture text quickly and transform it into action across your Apple devices.
Drafts is a free download.
Watch out
Pro IAP is not on the website. Open the App Store listing before you assume $0 forever.
Strengths
- Pro: Extremely fast and frictionless text capture
- Pro: Acts as a central inbox for all text ideas
- Pro: Highly customizable and extensible with 'Actions'
- Pro: Seamless integration across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch
- Pro: Reduces mental overhead by separating capture from organization/action
Weaknesses
- Con: Primarily focused on the Apple ecosystem
- Con: The extensive action system might have a learning curve for new users
Key features
Plans and prices: Bear vs Drafts
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bear |
| bear.app read Oct 10, 2026 |
| Drafts |
| getdrafts.com read Oct 1, 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 Drafts pricing.
Key Takeaways
Bear
- Choose if you want beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices
Drafts
- Choose if you want capture text quickly and transform it into action across your Apple devices
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 45 reviews for Bear, 4.5/5 from 9 reviews for Drafts; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Bear starts at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; Drafts 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 Drafts compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 45 reviews for Bear, 4.5/5 from 9 reviews for Drafts; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Bear starts at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; Drafts has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Bear and Drafts used for?
Bear: Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices. Drafts: Capture text quickly and transform it into action across your Apple devices.
What does Bear cost vs Drafts?
Bear's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Drafts 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 Drafts?
Bear's main strength: beautiful design. Drafts's main strength: extremely fast and frictionless text capture.