Apple Notes
Bear
| Feature | Apple Notes | Bear |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | Free / from $2.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Best For | apple-users, casual-note-takers, students, families | writers, note-takers, students, apple-users |
| Founded | 2012 | 2016 |
| Rich Text | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scanning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Folders | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Quick Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Icloud Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown Editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Nested Tags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Focus Mode | ✗ | ✓ |
| Export Formats | ✗ | ✓ |
| Themes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cross Note Linking | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Apple Notes Pros
- Free with Apple devices
- Fast and reliable
- Good scanning
- Shared folders
✗ Apple Notes Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Limited organization
- No markdown
✓ Bear Pros
- Gorgeous design
- Flexible tag system
- Supports Markdown
- Very affordable Pro plan
✗ Bear Cons
- Apple only (no Windows/Android)
- Limited collaboration
- No web version
The Verdict
Apple Notes is built for apple users and casual note takers, with a focus on rich-text and scanning. Bear targets writers and note takers and leads with markdown-editor and nested-tags.
Apple Notes uses custom enterprise pricing, while Bear starts at $2.99/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Bear edges out on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Both tools are a solid fit for apple users, students — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Bear has a slight overall edge — but if free with apple devices matters most to you, Apple Notes may still be the right call.