Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs Coggle

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Coggle logo

Coggle

Productivity

Simple, Fast, and Powerful Mind Maps. Just Coggle it!

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; Coggle free plan limited to 3 private diagrams; upgrade required for more private diagrams
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and Coggle actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and Coggle differ
AttributeBearCoggle

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Coggle
  • Cross-device note synchronizationnot Coggle

Coggle

  • Real-time team collaboration on diagramsnot Bear
  • Mind mapping and visual brainstormingnot Bear
  • Process documentation and flowchartsnot Bear
  • Project planning visualizationnot 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

Coggle

  • Free plan limited to 3 private diagrams; upgrade required for more private diagrams
  • Organisation plan requires per-member billing with minimum 3-member commitment
  • Enterprise pricing requires email inquiry with no published rates

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

Coggle

Free
  • Free ForeverFree
    • 3 private diagrams
    • Unlimited public diagrams
    • Real-time collaboration
  • Awesome$5/month
    • Unlimited private diagrams
    • Advanced formatting options
    • Full chat history
  • Organisation$8/month
    • SAML Single Sign On
    • Separate personal workspace
    • Consolidated billing

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bear review

Choose Coggle if

  • You want to start without paying.
Coggle review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or Coggle better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at Free and Coggle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Coggle?
Bear starts at Free and Coggle at Free.
Does Bear or Coggle 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 Coggle 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
Coggle: How much does Coggle cost?

Coggle offers a free plan forever for up to 3 private diagrams and unlimited public diagrams. Awesome plan costs $5/month for unlimited private diagrams. Organisation plan costs $8 per member per month with team administration features and SAML SSO.

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
Coggle: Is there a free version of Coggle?

Yes, Coggle Free Forever is available at no cost and includes 3 private diagrams, unlimited public diagrams, real-time collaboration, and PDF/image export capabilities.

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

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

Source
Coggle: What does Coggle charge for enterprise plans?

Enterprise pricing is custom and requires contacting [email protected]. No published rates are available on the pricing page.

Source
Coggle: Can multiple team members use one Coggle account?

All plans include real-time collaboration. The Organisation plan ($8/member/month) adds SAML SSO, separate workspaces, and consolidated billing for team administration.

Source
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