Bear is a Markdown-focused note app with cross-note links, hashtag tagging, powerful search, Focus Mode, iCloud sync, and multiple export options. Users appreciate its clean interface and Apple ecosystem integration, though some seek alternatives with stronger privacy features or cross-platform availability.
Obsidian leads as the top-ranked Bear alternative, extending Markdown note-taking with backlinks, bidirectional links, and graph view for mapping relationships between ideas. Standard Notes adds end-to-end encryption and encrypted backups for privacy-focused users, expanding beyond Bear's iCloud-style syncing. Notesnook focuses on private, encrypted notes with two-factor authentication and reminders for security-conscious users.
Bear alternatives range from local-first vault apps like Obsidian to encrypted sync-first tools like Standard Notes and Notesnook, giving users options across privacy levels and platform support.
Open source choices like Zettlr suit users who prefer auditable code and community-driven development. Linux users have native desktop apps available through Standard Notes for workflows outside Windows and macOS.
For self-hosting, AFFiNE and Outline can run on your own infrastructure for complete data control. Markdown workflows remain portable with Obsidian keeping notes in plain-text format, while offline functionality works reliably with Anytype during travel or unreliable connections.
Cloud sync becomes essential for multi-device users, with Evernote and Notesnook both including syncing across devices. For WYSIWYG-style editing, Standard Notes, Notesnook, and Anytype all list WYSIWYG support among their notable features for users who prefer rich-text editing over raw Markdown.
Caliu is a local-first markdown notes app for people who write, with live formatting, hashtags that become nested tags, reminders on notes, and invisible sync across web, iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
Spain
EU
"SimpleNotes" lets you create, edit and organize all your notes anytime, anywhere. Easy switching between Desktop and Mobile. You can share your notes with everyone you want. The Website is free to use and a Desktop and Mobile APP is also available.
Windi is a knowledge management app that helps you take short notes, make sense of them, and share with your communities.
United States
This app/script allows you to take notes in the Linux console and organize them using a simple command. The notes will be available in any terminal and bash session.
Terminal-based, hyper-fast, CRDT-backed, collaborative note-taking tool Simple, powerful, extremely fast search. fzn is local-first; remote-second. It acts on local in-memory data, meaning no expensive I/O and native speeds.
SwedenEU
«Miya Notes for Google Keep» is the easiest and the most convenient way to access Google Keep Notes on your Mac.
Ukraine
Terminal-based markdown note manager to view statistics, explore connections and launch editing and viewing applications.
Idaesbasic - An all in one project manager that stores everything in files directly into your project!
TreeNoote is a brand new note-taking program, free, secure and available in a portable version.
A private, offline note taking app and to-do list manager for macOS — Markdown editor, PDF/Word export, AI writing tools.
Australia
Dashup is a platform that lets anyone build unique digital workflows and systems. Select from templates or use our modules to capture, transform, display and share information in one workspace. Start free then scale as you need.
Local full featured notes (text, md, rich, spreadsheet, draw) that sit next to the PDFs and Office files you already have, without rewriting them.
