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Software · head to head

Bear Notes vs HiBob

Bear Notes logo

Bear Notes

Software

Beautiful note-taking app for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HiBob logo

HiBob

Software

Modern HR for modern businesses

From
On request
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: Bear Notes apple only: Bear runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad with no Windows, Android or web app; HiBob pricing not publicly displayed; requires contacting sales for custom quote
  • They diverge on capability: Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, HiBob covers Core HR.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Bear Notes and HiBob differ
AttributeBear NotesHiBob
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacOS, IOS, IPadOSWeb, iOS, Android

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

  • Core HR
  • Onboarding
  • Time Off Management
  • Performance Management
  • Compensation
  • People Analytics
  • Engagement
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Bear Notes

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

HiBob

  • Core HR system of record with automated workflowsnot Bear Notes
  • Performance management, learning and skills trackingnot Bear Notes
  • US and UK payroll, benefits and time trackingnot Bear Notes
  • Workforce planning and compensation review cyclesnot Bear Notes
  • Employee self-service for a distributed workforcenot 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

HiBob

  • Pricing not publicly displayed; requires contacting sales for custom quote
  • Limited payroll functionality compared to dedicated payroll platforms
  • Smaller integration ecosystem compared to larger HR platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear Notes

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

HiBob

On request
  • Bob$undefined/month
    • Core HR
    • Onboarding
    • Time Off

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 HiBob if

  • You need core hr.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want onboarding.
HiBob review

Questions people ask

Is Bear Notes or HiBob better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear Notes starts at Free and HiBob at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear Notes or HiBob?
Bear Notes has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bear Notes and On request for HiBob.
Does Bear Notes or HiBob run on more platforms?
Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS. HiBob runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Bear Notes for free?
Yes. Bear Notes has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HiBob starts at On request.
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 HiBob is typically brought in for.
What can Bear Notes do that HiBob cannot?
Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support. HiBob covers Core HR, Onboarding, Time Off Management, Performance Management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HiBob: What modules does HiBob include?

HiBob includes Core HR, Time & Attendance, Performance & Goals, Compensation Management, Global Operations, and Analytics modules that can be selected based on organizational needs.

Source
HiBob: How is HiBob pricing calculated?

HiBob pricing is customized based on company size (1-49, 50-199, 200-999, or 1,000+ employees) and the specific modules selected. Pricing is on a per-employee basis.

Source
HiBob: Does HiBob offer a mobile app?

Yes, HiBob includes mobile app access as part of all plans, allowing employees to manage their HR tasks on the go.

Source
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Related pages

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