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Productivity · head to head

Bear Notes vs Brain.fm

Bear Notes logo

Bear Notes

Productivity

Beautiful note-taking app for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Brain.fm logo

Brain.fm

Productivity

Scientifically-designed music to enhance focus and productivity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bear Notes apple only: Bear runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad with no Windows, Android or web app; Brain.fm monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent)
  • They diverge on capability: Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear Notes and Brain.fm actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear Notes and Brain.fm differ
AttributeBear NotesBrain.fm
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsMacOS, IOS, IPadOSWeb, iOS, Android, Desktop

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity), founded (2015).

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 Bear Notes

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

Only in Brain.fm

  • Neuroscience-designed music
  • Focus tracks
  • Relaxation tracks
  • Sleep tracks
  • Offline mode
  • Multiple genres
  • Cross-platform access
  • Ad-free experience

What people use each for

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

Bear Notes

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

Brain.fm

  • Focus and deep worknot Bear Notes
  • Sleep improvementnot Bear Notes
  • ADHD supportnot Bear Notes
  • Stress reductionnot Bear Notes
  • Creative work sessionsnot Bear Notes

Where each one falls short

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

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

Brain.fm

  • Monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent)
  • ADHD mode available only with active subscription; no trial access to specialised features
  • No offline mode documented; requires internet connectivity for audio delivery
  • Content library composition not published (proprietary vs. licensed music distinction unclear)

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear Notes

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

Brain.fm

Free
  • Monthly$14.99/month
    • Task-based audio across all categories
    • Focus modes: Deep Work, Creativity, Learning, Light Work, Motivation
    • Relaxation modes: Unwind, Destress, Recharge, Chill
  • Yearly$99.99/year
    • All monthly plan features
    • 40% savings vs. monthly billing
    • Task-based audio across all categories

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Brain.fm if

  • You need neuroscience-designed music.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want focus tracks.
Brain.fm review

Questions people ask

Is Bear Notes or Brain.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear Notes starts at Free and Brain.fm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear Notes or Brain.fm?
Bear Notes starts at Free and Brain.fm at Free.
Does Bear Notes or Brain.fm run on more platforms?
Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS. Brain.fm runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Bear Notes for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Bear Notes best used for?
Bear Notes is most often used for markdown note taking on apple devices, organising notes with nested hashtags rather than folders, exporting notes to pdf, docx, html or epub. Of those, markdown note taking on apple devices and organising notes with nested hashtags rather than folders are not what Brain.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Bear Notes do that Brain.fm cannot?
Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support. Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music, Focus tracks, Relaxation tracks, Sleep tracks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bear Notes: How much does Bear Pro cost per month or year?

Bear Pro costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. Annual subscribers receive a 15% discount compared to monthly pricing.

Source
Brain.fm: How much does Brain.fm cost?

Brain.fm costs $14.99/month or $99.99/year. The yearly plan offers 40% savings compared to paying monthly.

Source
Bear Notes: Does Bear offer a free trial before committing to a subscription?

Yes, Bear Pro includes a 7-day free trial with no credit card required.

Source
Brain.fm: Can I try Brain.fm before paying?

Yes. Brain.fm offers a free trial before you commit to either the monthly or yearly paid plan.

Source
Bear Notes: What export formats are available with Bear Pro?

Bear Pro subscribers can export notes in multiple formats including TXT, Markdown, TextBundle, RTF, PDF, JPG, HTML, DOCX, and ePub.

Source
Brain.fm: What audio modes does Brain.fm offer?

Brain.fm includes task-based audio for Focus (Deep Work, Creativity, Learning, Light Work, Motivation), Relaxation (Unwind, Destress, Recharge, Chill), Sleep (Guided Sleep, Deep Sleep, Sleep and Wake, Wind Down, Power Nap), and Meditation (Guided and Unguided).

Source
Bear Notes: Can I sync my notes across devices with the free Bear plan?

No, iCloud sync is only available with Bear Pro. The free plan allows local note access but does not support cloud synchronization across devices.

Source
Brain.fm: Can I cancel Brain.fm anytime?

Yes. You can cancel at any time from your Account Overview or by contacting support. There are no long-term contracts.

Source
Bear Notes: What features are included in the free Bear plan?

The free plan includes local note access, document scanning, limited export formats, 3 themes, and 1 app icon. PDF and image search requires Bear Pro.

Source
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