Software · head to head
Brain.fm vs Bear Notes
Brain.fm
Software
Scientifically-designed music to enhance focus and productivity
- From
- $14.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Bear Notes has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Brain.fm monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent); Bear Notes apple only: Bear runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad with no Windows, Android or web app
- They diverge on capability: Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music, Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Brain.fm and Bear Notes actually diverge.
| Attribute | Brain.fm | Bear Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $14.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Desktop | MacOS, IOS, IPadOS |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2015).
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 Brain.fm
- Neuroscience-designed music
- Focus tracks
- Relaxation tracks
- Sleep tracks
- Offline mode
- Multiple genres
- Cross-platform access
- Ad-free experience
Only in Bear Notes
- Markdown-based notes
- Powerful tag system
- Rich text formatting
- Image support
- iCloud sync
- Dark and light themes
- Encryption support
- Backup and restore
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Brain.fm
- Knowledge workers requiring focus audio for deep work blocksnot Bear Notes
- ADHD individuals seeking neurologically-optimised audio for concentrationnot Bear Notes
- Students preparing for exams with learning and meditation supportnot Bear Notes
Bear Notes
- Markdown note taking on Apple devicesnot Brain.fm
- Organising notes with nested hashtags rather than foldersnot Brain.fm
- Exporting notes to PDF, DOCX, HTML or ePubnot Brain.fm
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Brain.fm
- Monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent)
- ADHD mode available only with active subscription; no trial access to specialised features
- No offline mode documented; requires internet connectivity for audio delivery
- Content library composition not published (proprietary vs. licensed music distinction unclear)
Bear Notes
- Apple only: Bear runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad with no Windows, Android or web app
- Sync across devices requires Bear Pro and works through iCloud only
- The free version is limited to 3 export formats, 3 themes and 1 app icon
- OCR search inside images and PDFs is Pro only
- Note encryption is Pro only
- The Pro trial lasts 7 days
Pricing, plan by plan
Brain.fm
$14.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Brain.fm review.
Bear Notes
Free- FreeFree
- Note creation and organization
- Tags
- Local sync
- Premium$1.99/month
- iCloud sync
- Themes
- Markdown export
Which should you pick?
Choose Brain.fm if
- You need neuroscience-designed music.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
- You also want focus tracks.
Choose Bear Notes if
- You need markdown-based notes.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
- You also want powerful tag system.
Questions people ask
- Is Brain.fm or Bear Notes better?
- Neither clearly leads. Brain.fm starts at $14.99/month and Bear Notes at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Brain.fm or Bear Notes?
- Bear Notes has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14.99/month for Brain.fm and Free for Bear Notes.
- Does Brain.fm or Bear Notes run on more platforms?
- Brain.fm runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop. Bear Notes runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
- Can I use Bear Notes for free?
- Yes. Bear Notes has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Brain.fm starts at $14.99/month.
- What is Brain.fm best used for?
- Brain.fm is most often used for knowledge workers requiring focus audio for deep work blocks, adhd individuals seeking neurologically-optimised audio for concentration, students preparing for exams with learning and meditation support. Of those, knowledge workers requiring focus audio for deep work blocks and adhd individuals seeking neurologically-optimised audio for concentration are not what Bear Notes is typically brought in for.
- What can Brain.fm do that Bear Notes cannot?
- Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music, Focus tracks, Relaxation tracks, Sleep tracks. Bear Notes covers Markdown-based notes, Powerful tag system, Rich text formatting, Image support.