Software · head to head
Basecamp vs Bear Notes
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage; Bear Notes apple only: Bear runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad with no Windows, Android or web app
- They diverge on capability: Basecamp covers Message boards, Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Basecamp and Bear Notes actually diverge.
| Attribute | Basecamp | Bear Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | MacOS, IOS, IPadOS |
| Founded | 2004 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Basecamp
- Message boards
- To-do lists
- Schedules
- Documents & files
- Group chat
- Check-in questions
- Hill Charts
- Email forwards
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.
Basecamp
- Project management for a small team in one placenot Bear Notes
- Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Bear Notes
- Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Bear Notes
- Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot Bear Notes
Bear Notes
- Markdown note taking on Apple devicesnot Basecamp
- Organising notes with nested hashtags rather than foldersnot Basecamp
- Exporting notes to PDF, DOCX, HTML or ePubnot Basecamp
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Basecamp
- The free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage
- Pro is $15 per user per month, so cost scales with headcount unlike the flat Pro Unlimited at $299 a month billed annually
- Storage beyond the plan costs $50 a month per additional terabyte
- Timesheet and the Admin Pro Pack are paid upgrades on Pro and only bundled with Pro Unlimited
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
Basecamp
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp 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 Basecamp if
- You need message boards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want to-do lists.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Basecamp or Bear Notes better?
- Neither clearly leads. Basecamp starts at Free and Bear Notes at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Basecamp or Bear Notes?
- Basecamp starts at Free and Bear Notes at Free.
- Does Basecamp or Bear Notes run on more platforms?
- Basecamp runs on Web. Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
- Can I use Basecamp for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Basecamp best used for?
- Basecamp is most often used for project management for a small team in one place, message boards and chat alongside to-dos, client collaboration, since guests are not charged, flat-rate project management for a larger team on pro unlimited. Of those, project management for a small team in one place and message boards and chat alongside to-dos are not what Bear Notes is typically brought in for.
- What can Basecamp do that Bear Notes cannot?
- Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support.
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