Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs Streaks

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Streaks logo

Streaks

Productivity

iOS habit tracker sold as a one-time purchase, not a subscription

From
$5.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bear 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; Streaks it is iOS and Apple Watch only, with no Android version, so it is not usable for anyone outside Apple's ecosystem.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and Streaks actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and Streaks differ
AttributeBearStreaks
Starting priceFree$5.99/one-time
Pricing modelfreemiumOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebiOS

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

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 Streaks does not also cover.

Only in Streaks

  • Streak tracking
  • Apple Health integration
  • Apple Watch app
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Widgets
  • iCloud sync

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bear

  • Note-taking with document scanningnot Streaks
  • Cross-device note synchronizationnot Streaks

Streaks

  • Someone wanting a simple visual habit tracker without recurring subscription feesnot Bear
  • A person wanting habits like step count or sleep to auto-complete via Apple Health datanot Bear
  • An Apple Watch user wanting to log habits without pulling out a phonenot Bear
  • Someone tracking a mix of daily and weekly recurring to-dos in one placenot 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

Streaks

  • It is iOS and Apple Watch only, with no Android version, so it is not usable for anyone outside Apple's ecosystem.
  • The base app caps at 24 tracked habits, which is enough for most users but a real limit for anyone wanting to track a larger number of items.
  • Sync is via iCloud only, so there is no web or cross-platform account, which limits use to Apple devices exclusively.
  • It has fewer social or accountability features, such as shared habit tracking with friends, compared with some subscription-based competitors.
  • A single lifetime purchase means no ongoing development revenue tied to the individual user, so it depends on new sales and occasional priced major updates rather than recurring income to fund development.

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

Streaks

$5.99/one-time
  • Streaks$5.99/one-time
    • Full app, no subscription
    • Up to 24 tracked habits
    • Apple Watch app included

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bear review

Choose Streaks if

  • You need streak tracking.
  • You work on iOS.
  • You also want apple health integration.
Streaks review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or Streaks better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at Free and Streaks at $5.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Streaks?
Bear has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bear and $5.99/one-time for Streaks.
Does Bear or Streaks run on more platforms?
Bear runs on Web. Streaks runs on iOS.
Can I use Bear for free?
Yes. Bear has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Streaks starts at $5.99/one-time.
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 Streaks is typically brought in for.
What can Bear do that Streaks cannot?
Streaks covers Streak tracking, Apple Health integration, Apple Watch app, Flexible scheduling.

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
Streaks: Is Streaks a subscription?

No, it is a one-time App Store purchase, currently priced around 5.99 USD, with no recurring fee.

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
Streaks: Does it work on Android?

No, it is iOS and Apple Watch only.

Bear: Is there a free trial for Bear Pro?

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

Source
Streaks: Does it integrate with Apple Health?

Yes, habits tied to metrics like steps or sleep can auto-complete based on Apple Health data.

Share

Related pages

More on Bear

More on Streaks

Keep looking

Other head to heads