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1Password vs Bear Notes

1Password logo

1Password

Software

The world's most-loved password manager

From
$2.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bear Notes logo

Bear Notes

Software

Beautiful note-taking app for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bear Notes has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 1Password no free tier; all plans require paid subscription; Bear Notes apple only: Bear runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad with no Windows, Android or web app
  • They diverge on capability: 1Password covers Password generator, Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 1Password and Bear Notes actually diverge.

Attributes where 1Password and Bear Notes differ
Attribute1PasswordBear Notes
Starting price$2.99/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, WebMacOS, IOS, IPadOS
Founded20062015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 1Password

  • Password generator
  • Autofill
  • Secure notes
  • Credit card storage
  • Document storage
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Watchtower security alerts
  • Travel mode

Only in Bear Notes

  • Markdown-based notes
  • Powerful tag system
  • Rich text formatting
  • Image support
  • iCloud sync
  • Dark and light themes
  • Encryption support
  • Backup and restore

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

1Password

  • Password managementnot Bear Notes
  • Secure document storagenot Bear Notes
  • Team credential sharingnot Bear Notes
  • Identity protectionnot Bear Notes
  • Compliance managementnot Bear Notes

Bear Notes

  • Markdown note taking on Apple devicesnot 1Password
  • Organising notes with nested hashtags rather than foldersnot 1Password
  • Exporting notes to PDF, DOCX, HTML or ePubnot 1Password

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

1Password

  • No free tier; all plans require paid subscription
  • Offline access requires prior device sync; cannot add new passwords while offline
  • Enterprise plan does not include free trial access

Bear Notes

  • Apple only: Bear runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad with no Windows, Android or web app
  • Sync across devices requires Bear Pro and works through iCloud only
  • The free version is limited to 3 export formats, 3 themes and 1 app icon
  • OCR search inside images and PDFs is Pro only
  • Note encryption is Pro only
  • The Pro trial lasts 7 days

Pricing, plan by plan

1Password

$2.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the 1Password review.

Bear Notes

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Note creation and organization
    • Tags
    • Local sync
  • Premium$1.99/month
    • iCloud sync
    • Themes
    • Markdown export

Which should you pick?

Choose 1Password if

  • You need password generator.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Web.
  • You also want autofill.
1Password review

Choose Bear Notes if

  • You need markdown-based notes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
  • You also want powerful tag system.
Bear Notes review

Questions people ask

Is 1Password or Bear Notes better?
Neither clearly leads. 1Password starts at $2.99/month and Bear Notes at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 1Password or Bear Notes?
Bear Notes has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2.99/month for 1Password and Free for Bear Notes.
Does 1Password or Bear Notes run on more platforms?
1Password runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Web. Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
Can I use Bear Notes for free?
Yes. Bear Notes has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 1Password starts at $2.99/month.
What is 1Password best used for?
1Password is most often used for password management, secure document storage, team credential sharing, identity protection. Of those, password management and secure document storage are not what Bear Notes is typically brought in for.
What can 1Password do that Bear Notes cannot?
1Password covers Password generator, Autofill, Secure notes, Credit card storage. Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

1Password: Does 1Password offer a free tier?

No. 1Password offers no free tier as of July 2026, but provides a 14-day free trial with no credit card required for all plans except Enterprise.

Source
1Password: Can I access 1Password offline?

Yes. The desktop app allows for offline access to your vault once you have synced your passwords to the device.

Source
1Password: What is the pricing for individuals and families?

Individual plan costs 2.99 USD per month or 35.88 USD annually. Families plan costs 59.88 USD per year and includes five licenses with the ability to add more for 1 USD per month each.

Source
1Password: What platforms does 1Password support?

1Password is available on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Safari.

Source
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Related pages

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