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Bear alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Bear: apple devices only, and sync requires Bear Pro. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Bear, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Obsidian currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Obsidian logoObsidianFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +22 of 380.3
2Joplin logoJoplinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +31 of 369.8
3Notion logoNotionFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +21 of 367.3
4Apple Notes logoApple NotesFreeNomacOS, iOS, Web4 of 440.0
  1. Obsidian logo

    1. ObsidianTop pick

    Best for: People who want to own their notes as local Markdown files

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    80.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Bear

    Cross-platform local Markdown notes with plugins.

    Pros

    • Notes are plain Markdown files you own
    • Works fully offline
    • Huge plugin ecosystem

    Cons

    • Official sync is a paid add-on
    • Real-time collaboration is limited
    Visit Obsidian Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Obsidian a good Bear alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free, no sign-up required
    Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Local Markdown files
    Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync
    Paid add-on
    Not checked yetobsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Joplin logo

    2. Joplin

    Best for: Leaving Evernote for an open-source app with encrypted sync

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    69.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Bear

    Free, open-source and available on every platform.

    Pros

    • Open source with end-to-end encryption
    • Sync with your own storage
    • Imports Evernote exports

    Cons

    • Interface is plainer than commercial apps
    • Collaboration features are basic
    Visit Joplin Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Joplin a good Bear alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Not checked yetgithub.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026joplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Evernote import
    Yes (ENEX files)
    Not checked yetjoplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Notion logo

    3. Notion

    Best for: Teams that want docs, wikis and simple databases in one place

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    67.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Bear

    Cross-platform workspace with databases and sharing.

    Pros

    • Flexible blocks and databases
    • Large template gallery
    • Strong sharing and permissions

    Cons

    • Needs an internet connection for most work
    • Large workspaces can feel slow
    Visit Notion Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Notion a good Bear alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026notion.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
    Not checked yetnotion.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    No
    Not checked yetnotion.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Apple Notes logo

    4. Apple Notes

    Best for: Apple users who want quick, reliable notes that sync with no setup or extra cost

    FreemacOS, iOS, Web

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Bear

    Free and built into every Apple device, with scanning and sketching.

    Pros

    • Free and preinstalled on Apple devices
    • Scanning, sketching, audio transcripts and inline maths
    • Shared notes and folders for family or small groups
    • Fast, reliable iCloud sync

    Cons

    • No Windows or Android apps, only iCloud.com in a browser
    • Weak export and no Markdown files
    • No backlinks, templates or plugins
    Visit Apple Notes Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Apple Notes a good Bear alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Audio transcription
    Yes, live transcripts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Inline maths
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Locked notes
    Yes, password protected
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free iCloud storage
    5 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Bear alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Obsidian logo

Best Bear alternative for most people

Obsidian

Cross-platform local Markdown notes with plugins.

Joplin logo

Best Bear alternative for a free option

Joplin

Free, open-source and available on every platform.

Notion logo

Best Bear alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Notion

Cross-platform workspace with databases and sharing.

Joplin logo

Best Bear alternative for open source

Joplin

Free, open-source and available on every platform.

Joplin logo

Best Bear alternative for self-hosting

Joplin

Free, open-source and available on every platform.

Apple Notes logo

Best Bear alternative for Mac

Apple Notes

Free and built into every Apple device, with scanning and sketching.

Obsidian logo

Best Bear alternative for Windows

Obsidian

Cross-platform local Markdown notes with plugins.

Obsidian logo

Best Bear alternative for Linux

Obsidian

Cross-platform local Markdown notes with plugins.

Obsidian logo

Best Bear alternative for iPhone and Android

Obsidian

Cross-platform local Markdown notes with plugins.

NotePlan logo

Best Bear alternative for working in the browser

NotePlan

Markdown notes plus tasks and calendar planning on Apple devices.

Bear alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Bear?

Obsidian ranks first right now. Cross-platform local Markdown notes with plugins. Joplin and Notion follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Bear?

Yes. Obsidian (free plan + paid), Joplin (open source), Notion (free plan + paid) and Apple Notes (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Bear?

Yes: Joplin. Joplin can also be self-hosted.

Which Bear alternatives work on Linux?

Obsidian and Joplin run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Bear?

The complaints we hear most: apple devices only; sync requires Bear Pro.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Bear, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.