Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs Memberstack

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Memberstack logo

Memberstack

Productivity

Add memberships and logins to any website

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; Memberstack basic and Professional tiers include transaction fees of 4% and 2% respectively
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and Memberstack actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and Memberstack differ
AttributeBearMemberstack
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 Memberstack
  • Cross-device note synchronizationnot Memberstack

Memberstack

  • Launching course platforms without custom backendnot Bear
  • Building subscription services with Webflow and paymentnot Bear
  • Gating content without writing codenot Bear
  • Managing password resets and two-factor authenticationnot Bear
  • Processing Stripe billing automaticallynot 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

Memberstack

  • Basic and Professional tiers include transaction fees of 4% and 2% respectively
  • Annual billing required for discounts; monthly pricing is higher
  • Webflow community builders receive Basic plan free but locked to that tier

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

Memberstack

Free
  • Basic$29/month
    • Up to 1,000 members
    • 4% transaction fee
    • $25/month with annual billing
  • Professional$49/month
    • Up to 5,000 members
    • 2% transaction fee
    • $39/month with annual billing
  • Business$99/month
    • 10,000+ members
    • 0.9% transaction fee
    • $79/month with annual billing
  • Established$499/month
    • 10,000+ members
    • Zero transaction fees
    • $399/month with annual billing

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bear review

Choose Memberstack if

  • You want to start without paying.
Memberstack review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or Memberstack better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at Free and Memberstack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Memberstack?
Bear starts at Free and Memberstack at Free.
Does Bear or Memberstack 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 Memberstack 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
Memberstack: What are Memberstack's transaction fees?

Memberstack's transaction fee varies by tier: Basic plan charges 4% per transaction, Professional charges 2%, Business charges 0.9%, and Established tier charges zero transaction fees.

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
Memberstack: Does Memberstack offer a free trial or testing mode?

Yes, Memberstack offers an unlimited free trial in test mode requiring no credit card. Users maintain full feature access at no cost until their site launches with real members.

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

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

Source
Memberstack: What discounts does Memberstack offer?

Memberstack offers 50% discount for non-profits, special pricing for young professionals (4% fees), and $249/month with zero fees for startups under $1M raised. Webflow community builders receive the Basic plan free. 30-day money-back guarantee available with full refund.

Source
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