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Productivity · head to head

Bear vs BoldSign

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
BoldSign logo

BoldSign

Productivity

eSignature API and app for developers and teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bear built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client; BoldSign premium plan: additional envelopes cost $0.50 each after 250/month limit
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and BoldSign actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and BoldSign differ
AttributeBearBoldSign
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What people use each for

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

Bear

  • Note-taking with document scanningnot BoldSign
  • Cross-device note synchronizationnot BoldSign

BoldSign

  • eSignature automationnot Bear
  • Contract signingnot 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

BoldSign

  • Premium plan: additional envelopes cost $0.50 each after 250/month limit
  • Monthly billing costs 60-85% more than yearly billing (no 40% discount)
  • Enterprise API requires minimum $30/month

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Local note access
    • Document scanning
    • PDF, image, text, markdown, HTML, DOCX, ePub export
  • Pro$2.99/month
    • All free features plus 28+ themes
    • 15 app icons
    • PDF and image search across notes
  • Pro$29.99/year
    • All free features plus 28+ themes
    • 15 app icons
    • PDF and image search across notes

BoldSign

Free
  • EssentialFree
    • 25 envelopes/month
    • 2 templates
    • No additional users
  • Growth$5/month yearly
    • 50 envelopes/month
    • 10 templates
  • Business$15/month yearly
    • Unlimited envelopes
    • Unlimited templates
    • SSO
  • Premium$99/month yearly
    • 250 envelopes/month
    • Unlimited users

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bear review

Choose BoldSign if

  • You want to start without paying.
BoldSign review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or BoldSign better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at Free and BoldSign at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or BoldSign?
Bear starts at Free and BoldSign at Free.
Does Bear or BoldSign run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Bear for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Bear best used for?
Bear is most often used for note-taking with document scanning, cross-device note synchronization. Of those, note-taking with document scanning and cross-device note synchronization are not what BoldSign is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bear: Does Bear offer a free plan?

Yes, Bear has a free plan with local note access, document scanning, and export to multiple formats, but without iCloud sync or PDF/image search.

Source
BoldSign: Does BoldSign offer a free plan?

BoldSign's Essential plan is free and includes 25 envelopes per month, 2 templates, and basic features like audit trails and authentication.

Source
Bear: How much does Bear Pro cost?

Bear Pro is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. The yearly plan offers approximately 15% savings compared to monthly billing.

Source
BoldSign: How much does the BoldSign Growth plan cost?

The Growth plan costs $5 per month per user with annual billing or $15 per month per user with monthly billing, including 50 envelopes/month per user.

Source
Bear: Is there a free trial for Bear Pro?

Yes, Bear Pro includes a 7-day free trial before charging begins.

Source
BoldSign: What are the overage fees for BoldSign's Premium plan?

The Premium plan includes 250 envelopes per month for $99-$138/month, with additional envelopes charged at $0.75 per envelope.

Source
BoldSign: How much does BoldSign charge for API access?

BoldSign's Enterprise API costs $0.75 per envelope with a minimum charge of $30/month and includes 40 envelopes and 2 application users.

Source
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