Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs Flock

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Flock logo

Flock

Communication & Collaboration

Organized team communication platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Flock 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; Flock the Starter plan only makes the most recent 10,000 messages searchable and caps public channels at 10

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and Flock actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and Flock differ
AttributeBearFlock
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android
CategoryProductivityCommunication & Collaboration
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Flock does not also cover.

Only in Flock

  • Team chat
  • Channels
  • Threads
  • File sharing
  • Polls
  • Integrations
  • Mobile apps
  • Slack

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.

Flock

  • Team messaging with channels, direct messages and file sharingnot Bear
  • Running polls, to-dos and reminders inside a chat workspacenot Bear
  • Video conferencing and screen sharing for small teamsnot 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

Flock

  • The Starter plan only makes the most recent 10,000 messages searchable and caps public channels at 10
  • Starter storage is 5 GB for the entire team, against 10 GB per member on Pro and 20 GB per member on Enterprise
  • Starter allows a single team admin and a single approved domain
  • Group video calls and screen sharing require the Pro plan; Starter is limited to 1-1 video calls
  • Group video calls are capped at 20 participants even on Enterprise
  • Single Sign-On and Active Directory sync are Enterprise only
  • Enterprise is quote only, with no published rate, and is positioned for organisations with 100 or more members
  • Unlimited auto-join and announcement channels require Enterprise; Starter and Pro get one of each

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

Flock

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited chats
    • Channels
    • File sharing
  • Pro$5/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced search
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

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

Bear review

Choose Flock if

  • You need team chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want channels.
Flock review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or Flock better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at On request and Flock at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Flock?
Flock has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Bear and Free for Flock.
Does Bear or Flock run on more platforms?
Bear runs on Web. Flock runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
Can I use Flock for free?
Yes. Flock has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bear starts at On request.
What can Bear do that Flock cannot?
Flock covers Team chat, Channels, Threads, File sharing.
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Related pages

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