Software · head to head
Bear Notes vs Granola
Granola
Software
AI notepad that transcribes meetings and merges transcripts with user notes
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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; Granola free plan limits note access to 30 days; older notes become inaccessible unless upgraded
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bear Notes and Granola actually diverge.
| Attribute | Bear Notes | Granola |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | MacOS, IOS, IPadOS | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams |
| Founded | 2015 | Unknown |
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 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 Granola
Nothing recorded that Bear Notes does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bear Notes
- Markdown note taking on Apple devicesnot Granola
- Organising notes with nested hashtags rather than foldersnot Granola
- Exporting notes to PDF, DOCX, HTML or ePubnot Granola
Granola
- Automatic meeting documentation without dedicated note-takernot Bear Notes
- Action item extraction and task assignmentnot Bear Notes
- Meeting context retrieval via AI agent queriesnot Bear Notes
- Multi-language meeting transcriptionnot Bear Notes
- Compliance-friendly note generation for regulated industriesnot 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
Granola
- Free plan limits note access to 30 days; older notes become inaccessible unless upgraded
- Premium pricing not published on main website; requires account signup or sales contact
- Requires local computer audio; not suitable for purely phone-based calls via traditional phone lines
- Note retention limits may affect long-term project documentation
Pricing, plan by plan
Bear Notes
Free- FreeFree
- Note creation and organization
- Tags
- Local sync
- Premium$1.99/month
- iCloud sync
- Themes
- Markdown export
Granola
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited note-taking
- 30-day note retention
- No credit card required
- Premium$null/month
- Access and search notes older than 30 days
- Specific pricing not detailed on available pages
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.
Choose Granola if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.
Questions people ask
- Is Bear Notes or Granola better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bear Notes starts at Free and Granola at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bear Notes or Granola?
- Bear Notes starts at Free and Granola at Free.
- Does Bear Notes or Granola run on more platforms?
- Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS. Granola runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.
- 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 Granola is typically brought in for.
- What can Bear Notes do that Granola cannot?
- Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support.