Productivity · head to head
Bear Notes vs Remember The Milk
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; Remember The Milk interface looks dated compared to modern task managers
- They diverge on capability: Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Remember The Milk covers Smart lists.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bear Notes and Remember The Milk actually diverge.
| Attribute | Bear Notes | Remember The Milk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | MacOS, IOS, IPadOS | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows |
| Founded | 2015 | 2004 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).
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 Remember The Milk
- Smart lists
- Location reminders
- Task sharing
- Advanced search
- Subtasks
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Evernote
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bear Notes
- Markdown note taking on Apple devicesnot Remember The Milk
- Organising notes with nested hashtags rather than foldersnot Remember The Milk
- Exporting notes to PDF, DOCX, HTML or ePubnot Remember The Milk
Remember The Milk
- Schedulingnot Bear Notes
- Appointment bookingnot Bear Notes
- Time trackingnot Bear Notes
- Resource managementnot Bear Notes
- Team coordinationnot 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
Remember The Milk
- Interface looks dated compared to modern task managers
- Limited mobile app features compared to desktop version
- No advanced project management features like Gantt charts or timeline views
Pricing, plan by plan
Bear Notes
Free- FreeFree
- Note creation and organization
- Tags
- Local sync
- Premium$1.99/month
- iCloud sync
- Themes
- Markdown export
Remember The Milk
Free- FreeFree
- Task creation and organization
- Basic reminders
- List sharing
- Pro$39.99/year
- All free features
- Advanced sorting
- Attachments
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 Remember The Milk if
- You need smart lists.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want location reminders.
Questions people ask
- Is Bear Notes or Remember The Milk better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bear Notes starts at Free and Remember The Milk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bear Notes or Remember The Milk?
- Bear Notes starts at Free and Remember The Milk at Free.
- Does Bear Notes or Remember The Milk run on more platforms?
- Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS. Remember The Milk runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- 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 Remember The Milk is typically brought in for.
- What can Bear Notes do that Remember The Milk cannot?
- Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support. Remember The Milk covers Smart lists, Location reminders, Task sharing, Advanced search.
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.
SourceRemember The Milk: Is there a free version of Remember The Milk?
Yes. Remember The Milk is free to download and use with core features like task creation, lists, reminders, and basic sharing. A Pro subscription at $39.99 annually unlocks advanced features like advanced sorting, attachments, and Apple Watch support.
SourceBear 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.
SourceRemember The Milk: What devices and platforms does Remember The Milk support?
Remember The Milk is available across desktop, mobile, web, and wearable platforms with native applications, ensuring tasks remain synchronized across all devices.
SourceBear 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.
SourceRemember The Milk: Can I share tasks with others in Remember The Milk?
Yes, Remember The Milk allows you to share lists and assign tasks to others to coordinate work and get things done faster.
SourceBear 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.
SourceRemember The Milk: Does Remember The Milk integrate with other apps?
Yes, Remember The Milk integrates natively with Gmail, Google Calendar, Evernote, and Zapier, allowing you to capture tasks from multiple sources.
SourceBear 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Remember The Milk
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