Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs Namely

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Namely logo

Namely

Payroll & Benefits

The HR platform that employees love

From
$18/employee/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bear built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client; Namely limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and Namely actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and Namely differ
AttributeBearNamely
Starting priceOn request$18/employee/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
CategoryProductivityPayroll & Benefits
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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 Namely does not also cover.

Only in Namely

  • HR Management
  • Payroll
  • Benefits Administration
  • Time Off Management
  • Performance Management
  • Onboarding
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace

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

Namely

  • Limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions
  • Payroll limitations: better served for less complex organizations and struggles with complex time-and-attendance or multi-FEIN scenarios
  • Missing ATS and surveys: lacks built-in applicant tracking system and pulse survey capabilities
  • Slow support response times: pod-based support model has led to slow response times for customers
  • Designed for specific market segment: best fit is mid-sized companies with 50-350 employees

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

Namely

$18/employee/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Namely review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

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

Bear review

Choose Namely if

  • You need hr management.
  • You also want payroll.
Namely review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or Namely better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at On request and Namely at $18/employee/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Namely?
Bear starts at On request and Namely at $18/employee/month.
Does Bear or Namely run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What can Bear do that Namely cannot?
Namely covers HR Management, Payroll, Benefits Administration, Time Off Management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Namely: Does Namely support global payroll?

Namely primarily focuses on mid-sized US-based companies with 50-350 employees. While it can handle complex payroll scenarios, it is better served for less complex organizations and does not have extensive global payroll capabilities compared to enterprise platforms.

Source
Namely: What is included in Namely's Premium pricing?

Premium plans cost $18-24 per employee per month plus implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs. Plans include payroll, HR, benefits administration, time management, and talent management features.

Source
Namely: Does Namely include performance management features?

Yes, Namely offers customizable performance review modules enabling dynamic, ongoing feedback rather than traditional annual-only reviews. This is one of Namely's standout features.

Source
Namely: How long does Namely implementation typically take?

Namely is designed for mid-sized companies and implementation timelines vary based on complexity. The platform includes implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs in addition to monthly per-employee pricing.

Source
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Related pages

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