Bear is a beautifully designed Markdown note-taking app for Apple devices, with tagging, note linking, and cross-device sync via Bear Pro.
Category
Productivity
Pricing
Freemium, from Free (Bear Pro from $1.49/month)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2016
Headquarters
Bologna, Italy
Free PlaniOSFree TrialFreemiumMac
Overview
Bear is a Markdown-based note-taking app developed by Shiny Frog, an Italian software studio based in Bologna, and first released in 2016. It is built exclusively for Apple platforms — Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Key Features
Bear uses live Markdown formatting as you type, a nested hashtag-based tagging system in place of traditional folders, and note-to-note linking that lets users build a personal knowledge base. It also includes to-do lists, code syntax highlighting, and a focus mode for distraction-free writing.
Notes can be exported to PDF, Word, HTML, and Markdown formats, and the app is known for its clean, minimalist design and range of custom visual themes.
Pricing
Bear's free version allows note creation and basic use on a single device without sync. Bear Pro, priced around $1.49/month or $14.99/year, unlocks cross-device iCloud sync, unlimited notes and tags, additional themes and fonts, and advanced export options.
Key Features
Live Markdown Editing — Write notes with live Markdown formatting as you type.
Hashtag-Based Tagging — Organize notes with nested hashtags instead of traditional folders.
Note Linking — Link notes to each other for a personal knowledge-base workflow.
Cross-Device Sync (Pro) — iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad on Bear Pro.
Export Options — Export notes to PDF, Word, HTML, and Markdown formats.
Focus Mode & Code Highlighting — Distraction-free writing mode plus syntax highlighting for code snippets.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Clean, widely praised minimalist design
Fast, native performance on Apple devices
Flexible tagging and note-linking system for organizing thoughts
Affordable subscription pricing for Bear Pro
Cons
Available only on Apple platforms (Mac, iPhone, iPad) — no Windows, Android, or web version
Cross-device sync requires the paid Bear Pro subscription
Less suited to team collaboration compared to multi-platform tools like Notion
Pricing
Free $0 N/A
Bear Pro $1.49/month or $14.99/year monthly or annual
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bear free?
Yes, Bear has a free version for single-device use; Bear Pro (around $1.49/month or $14.99/year) unlocks sync and unlimited notes/tags across devices.
What platforms does Bear support?
Bear is available exclusively on Apple platforms: Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Does Bear support Markdown?
Yes, Bear uses live Markdown formatting as the core of its writing experience.
Can I link notes together in Bear?
Yes, Bear supports linking notes to one another for a personal knowledge-base style workflow.