Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs Signal

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Signal logo

Signal

All industries

Speak Freely

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Signal 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; Signal signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and Signal actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and Signal differ
AttributeBearSignal
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android
CategoryProductivityAll industries
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: 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 Signal does not also cover.

Only in Signal

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Disappearing messages
  • Screen security
  • Group chats
  • Voice calls
  • Video calls
  • File sharing
  • No data collection

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.

Signal

  • Private messagingnot Bear
  • Secure group communicationnot Bear
  • Confidential conversationsnot Bear
  • Journalism communicationnot Bear
  • Family messagingnot 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

Signal

  • Signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

Signal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • End-to-end encrypted messaging
    • Voice and video calls
    • Group chats

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

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

Bear review

Choose Signal if

  • You need end-to-end encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want disappearing messages.
Signal review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or Signal better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at On request and Signal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Signal?
Signal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Bear and Free for Signal.
Does Bear or Signal run on more platforms?
Bear runs on Web. Signal runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
Can I use Signal for free?
Yes. Signal has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bear starts at On request.
What can Bear do that Signal cannot?
Signal covers End-to-end encryption, Disappearing messages, Screen security, Group chats.
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Related pages

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