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Productivity · head to head

Bear Notes vs Evernote

Bear Notes logo

Bear Notes

Productivity

Beautiful note-taking app for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Evernote logo

Evernote

Education

Remember everything and tackle any project

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; Evernote free tier limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook, 5 spaces; 20GB storage with Single device sync
  • They diverge on capability: Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Evernote covers Note creation and organization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear Notes and Evernote actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear Notes and Evernote differ
AttributeBear NotesEvernote
PlatformsMacOS, IOS, IPadOSWeb, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari
CategoryProductivityEducation
Founded20152008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Evernote

  • Note creation and organization
  • Web clipper
  • Document scanning
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Audio notes
  • Templates
  • Tags and notebooks
  • Advanced search

What people use each for

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

Bear Notes

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

Evernote

  • Cross-platform note-taking and organisationnot Bear Notes
  • Web clipping and content capture with web clipper extensionnot Bear Notes
  • Task management and calendar integrationnot Bear Notes
  • Document scanning with OCR capabilitynot Bear Notes
  • Real-time collaboration with team membersnot 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

Evernote

  • Free tier limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook, 5 spaces; 20GB storage with Single device sync
  • AI features (AI Assistant, Semantic Search, Transcription) only available in Advanced plan
  • Advanced and Enterprise plans require custom pricing for enterprises
  • Note limit constraints in Starter plan: 1000 notes vs unlimited in Advanced

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear Notes

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

Evernote

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 notes
    • 1 notebook
    • 1GB storage
  • Starter$null/mo
    • 1,000 notes
    • 20 notebooks
    • 5GB storage
  • Advanced$null/mo
    • Unlimited notes
    • Unlimited storage
    • Unlimited device sync

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 Evernote if

  • You need note creation and organization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
  • You also want web clipper.
Evernote review

Questions people ask

Is Bear Notes or Evernote better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear Notes starts at Free and Evernote at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear Notes or Evernote?
Bear Notes starts at Free and Evernote at Free.
Does Bear Notes or Evernote run on more platforms?
Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS. Evernote runs on Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
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 Evernote is typically brought in for.
What can Bear Notes do that Evernote cannot?
Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support. Evernote covers Note creation and organization, Web clipper, Document scanning, Handwriting recognition.

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
Evernote: Does Evernote publish specific pricing for its paid plans?

No. Evernote's pricing page displays plan tiers (Starter, Advanced, Enterprise) with different features but does not disclose any dollar amounts, subscription costs, or pricing information.

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
Evernote: What storage limit comes with Evernote's free plan?

The free plan includes 1GB of storage, 50 notes, 1 notebook, 5 spaces, and 20 tags with access limited to 1 device.

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
Evernote: What are the key differences between Evernote's free, Starter, and Advanced plans?

Free includes 1GB storage and 50 notes. Starter adds 5GB storage and 1,000 notes. Advanced provides unlimited storage, notes, and devices with full AI features.

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
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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