Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear Notes vs Signal

Bear Notes logo

Bear Notes

Productivity

Beautiful note-taking app for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Signal logo

Signal

All industries

Speak Freely

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; Signal signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account
  • They diverge on capability: Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Signal covers End-to-end encryption.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Bear Notes and Signal differ
AttributeBear NotesSignal
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsMacOS, IOS, IPadOSWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android
CategoryProductivityAll industries
Founded20152010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Signal

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Disappearing messages
  • Screen security
  • Group chats
  • Voice calls
  • Video calls
  • File sharing
  • No data collection

What people use each for

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

Bear Notes

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

Signal

  • Private messagingnot Bear Notes
  • Secure group communicationnot Bear Notes
  • Confidential conversationsnot Bear Notes
  • Journalism communicationnot Bear Notes
  • Family messagingnot 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

Signal

  • Signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear Notes

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

Signal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • End-to-end encrypted messaging
    • Voice and video calls
    • Group chats

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 Signal if

  • You need end-to-end encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want disappearing messages.
Signal review

Questions people ask

Is Bear Notes or Signal better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear Notes starts at Free and Signal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear Notes or Signal?
Bear Notes starts at Free and Signal at Free.
Does Bear Notes or Signal run on more platforms?
Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS. Signal runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
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 Signal is typically brought in for.
What can Bear Notes do that Signal cannot?
Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support. Signal covers End-to-end encryption, Disappearing messages, Screen security, Group chats.
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Related pages

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