Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs OmniFocus

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OmniFocus logo

OmniFocus

Calendar & Time Management

Professional-grade task management for power users

From
$99.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bear built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client; OmniFocus exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and OmniFocus actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and OmniFocus differ
AttributeBearOmniFocus
Starting priceOn request$99.99/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web
CategoryProductivityCalendar & Time Management
FoundedUnknown1989

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 OmniFocus does not also cover.

Only in OmniFocus

  • Custom perspectives
  • Review mode
  • Forecast view
  • Tags
  • Automation
  • Apple Calendar
  • Siri
  • Shortcuts

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.

OmniFocus

  • Schedulingnot Bear
  • Appointment bookingnot Bear
  • Time trackingnot Bear
  • Resource managementnot Bear
  • Team coordinationnot 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

OmniFocus

  • Exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support
  • No collaboration features make it unsuitable for team task management or delegation
  • Setting up repeating tasks is cumbersome with multiple configuration options
  • Lacks AI-powered features for advanced project management, load balancing, or contextual awareness

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

OmniFocus

$99.99/year
  • Subscription$99.99/year
    • All Pro features
    • Web access
    • Cloud sync
  • Standard (Perpetual)$74.99/one-time
    • Basic task management
    • Projects and contexts
    • Perspectives
  • Pro (Perpetual)$149.99/one-time
    • Custom perspectives
    • Advanced automation
    • Plugins support

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

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

Bear review

Choose OmniFocus if

  • You need custom perspectives.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web.
  • You also want review mode.
OmniFocus review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or OmniFocus better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at On request and OmniFocus at $99.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or OmniFocus?
Bear starts at On request and OmniFocus at $99.99/year.
Does Bear or OmniFocus run on more platforms?
Bear runs on Web. OmniFocus runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web.
What can Bear do that OmniFocus cannot?
OmniFocus covers Custom perspectives, Review mode, Forecast view, Tags.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus offer a free tier?

No, OmniFocus does not offer a free tier. It requires purchase or subscription: $99.99/year subscription or one-time perpetual licenses at $74.99 (Standard) or $149.99 (Pro).

Source
OmniFocus: What is the free trial period for OmniFocus?

OmniFocus offers a 14-day free trial allowing full access to all features before requiring payment.

Source
OmniFocus: What platforms does OmniFocus support?

OmniFocus is exclusive to Apple ecosystem: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and web access. Not available on Windows or Android.

Source
OmniFocus: Can teams collaborate in OmniFocus?

No, OmniFocus lacks collaboration features and is designed as a solo task management tool. Users cannot delegate tasks, share projects, or assign work to team members.

Source
OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus support Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology?

Yes, OmniFocus is built specifically to support GTD with projects, contexts (tags), folders, perspectives, and a focus view for prioritization. It includes weekly review support and automation features.

Source
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