# Bear

A tag-based Markdown notes app for Mac and iOS with a genuinely usable free tier — Bear Pro adds iCloud sync, more themes, and export formats.

- **Category:** [Utilities](https://notchlist.vercel.app/category/utilities/)
- **Price:** Free; Bear Pro $2.99/mo or $29.99/yr (15% savings vs. monthly), 7-day free trial
- **Open source:** no
- **Official site:** https://bear.app/
- **Available via:** Mac App Store
- **Requirements:** macOS; also available on iPhone and iPad. Specific minimum macOS version not published on the developer’s site.
- **Maker:** Shiny Frog Ltd.

## Kitsmith's take

Notes are organized by nested tags rather than folders, with Markdown formatting that stays readable even before rendering. The free tier is a real inbox — local notes, document scanning, basic export — not a crippled trial; Bear Pro ($2.99/mo or $29.99/yr, 7-day free trial) adds iCloud sync across devices, 28+ themes, PDF/image search, and export to DOCX/PDF/HTML/JPG. Mac App Store only, no direct-download version.

## Features

- **Tag-based organization:** Nested tags replace folders, with a sidebar for quickly filtering and pinning important tags.
- **Cross-device sync:** iCloud sync keeps notes current across Mac, iPhone, and iPad (Bear Pro).
- **Rich export:** Exports to PDF, HTML, DOCX, and JPG, plus plain Markdown and TextBundle on the free tier.
- **Encrypted notes:** Individual notes can be locked and encrypted; supports Apple’s Advanced Data Protection.

## FAQ

**Is Bear free?**

Yes — a real free tier covers local notes and basic export; Bear Pro ($2.99/mo or $29.99/yr) adds sync, themes, and more export formats.

**Can I buy Bear outside the Mac App Store?**

No — it’s Mac App Store only, no direct-download or one-time-purchase option.


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Hand-verified listing on Kitsmith: https://notchlist.vercel.app/apps/bear-markdown/