Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs Bitwarden

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bitwarden logo

Bitwarden

All industries

Open source password management for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bitwarden has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bear built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client; Bitwarden the integrated TOTP authenticator, encrypted file attachments, vault health reports and Emergency Access are all withheld from the free plan and need Premium at $1.65 per month

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and Bitwarden actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and Bitwarden differ
AttributeBearBitwarden
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli
CategoryProductivityAll industries
FoundedUnknown2016

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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

Nothing recorded that Bitwarden does not also cover.

Only in Bitwarden

  • Unlimited password storage
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Secure password sharing
  • Password generator
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Encrypted file attachments
  • Vault health reports
  • Emergency access

What people use each for

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

Bear

No use cases recorded yet. See the Bear review.

Bitwarden

  • Personal password managementnot Bear
  • Team credential sharingnot Bear
  • Enterprise securitynot Bear
  • Compliance requirementsnot Bear
  • Developer secrets managementnot Bear

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bear

  • Built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client
  • Free tier is limited to 3 themes, 1 app icon and restricted export formats; iCloud sync requires Bear Pro
  • Bear Pro is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year after a 7 day free trial

Bitwarden

  • The integrated TOTP authenticator, encrypted file attachments, vault health reports and Emergency Access are all withheld from the free plan and need Premium at $1.65 per month
  • Free accounts can share vault items with one other Bitwarden user and no more
  • File storage is capped at 5 GB on Premium and 5 GB personal plus 5 GB family on the Families plan
  • Two-step login accepts up to 10 hardware security keys per account
  • The Families plan is capped at 6 people, so a seventh member means moving to a Teams subscription at $4 per user per month

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

Bitwarden

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited passwords
    • 2 users (organizations)
    • Sync all devices
  • Teams$3/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Unlimited users
    • Shared collections
  • Enterprise$6/month
    • Everything in Teams
    • SSO integration
    • Enterprise policies

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

Nothing in the data separates Bear from Bitwarden on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Bear review

Choose Bitwarden if

  • You need unlimited password storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli.
  • You also want cross-platform sync.
Bitwarden review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or Bitwarden better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at On request and Bitwarden at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Bitwarden?
Bitwarden has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Bear and Free for Bitwarden.
Does Bear or Bitwarden run on more platforms?
Bear runs on Web. Bitwarden runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli.
Can I use Bitwarden for free?
Yes. Bitwarden has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bear starts at On request.
What can Bear do that Bitwarden cannot?
Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage, Cross-platform sync, Secure password sharing, Password generator.
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