Bear vs Marked: 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 Marked side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Bear leads on a free plan. 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 a free tier before you commit
Marked
Preview Markdown and other plain text markups live with robust features for writers and developers.
Best for you if:
- • You want editor-agnostic, integrates with any text editor
| At a Glance | Bear | Marked |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $2.99/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | Not published |
Category | Productivity Note-Taking | Productivity Documentation |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 45 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose Bear or Marked?
Choose Bear if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want beautiful design
- You want great markdown support
Choose Marked if
- You want editor-agnostic, integrates with any text editor
- You want comprehensive support for various markup languages and processors
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
Marked
Preview Markdown and other plain text markups live with robust features for writers and developers.
Strengths
- Pro: Editor-agnostic, integrates with any text editor
- Pro: Comprehensive support for various markup languages and processors
- Pro: Provides valuable writing analysis and statistics
- Pro: Efficiently handles multi-file documents and folder-based projects
- Pro: Offers flexible export options to common document formats
Weaknesses
- Con: Only available for macOS
- Con: Requires a separate purchase (not free)
Key features
Plans and prices: Bear vs Marked
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bear |
| bear.app read Nov 2, 2026 |
| Marked | No plan prices on file | marked2app.com |
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 Marked pricing.
Key Takeaways
Bear
- Has a free plan
Marked
- Choose if you want preview Markdown and other plain text markups live with robust features for writers and developers
What the data shows
On the data below, Bear leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Bear has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 45 reviews); Marked has none we can show.
- Bear starts at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; Marked has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Bear has 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 Marked compare in 2026?
On the data below, Bear leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Bear has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 45 reviews); Marked has none we can show. Bear starts at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; Marked has no public paid plan price on file. Only Bear has a free plan.
What are Bear and Marked used for?
Bear: Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices. Marked: Preview Markdown and other plain text markups live with robust features for writers and developers.
What does Bear cost vs Marked?
Bear's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $2.99/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Marked has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Bear and Marked?
Bear's main strength: beautiful design. Marked's main strength: editor-agnostic, integrates with any text editor.