Software · head to head
Bear Notes vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Software
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
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; Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- They diverge on capability: Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bear Notes and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint actually diverge.
| Attribute | Bear Notes | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | MacOS, IOS, IPadOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2015 | 1975 |
Identical on both: 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 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Threat & vulnerability management
- Attack surface reduction
- Next-gen protection
- EDR
- Auto investigation
- Microsoft Threat Experts
- Threat analytics
- Secure score
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bear Notes
- Markdown note taking on Apple devicesnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Organising notes with nested hashtags rather than foldersnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Exporting notes to PDF, DOCX, HTML or ePubnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not Bear Notes
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Bear Notes
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not 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
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 and Plan 2 do not include server licenses; additional licensing required for server protection
- Specific feature differences between Plan 1 and Plan 2 require consulting Microsoft 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
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
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 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint if
- You need threat & vulnerability management.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- You also want attack surface reduction.
Questions people ask
- Is Bear Notes or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bear Notes starts at Free and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bear Notes or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
- Bear Notes has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bear Notes and On request for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
- Does Bear Notes or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint run on more platforms?
- Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Bear Notes for free?
- Yes. Bear Notes has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint 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 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is typically brought in for.
- What can Bear Notes do that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint cannot?
- Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
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