Bear Alternatives

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.

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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.

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Alternatives list

  1. Cubox icon
     14 likes

    Cubox is the app for collecting, reading and researching your daily information. With Cubox, you can effortlessly organize everything you've read without professional skills.

    39 Cubox alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
     
  2. MyInfo icon
     39 likes

    MyInfo is a personal information manager for Windows. It will help you capture, organize, edit and share ideas, documents, tasks, and web pages.

    307 MyInfo alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  3. Antinote icon
     3 likes

    Antinote provides beautiful temporary notes, calculations, and custom calculators with lifetime updates. Features swipe navigation, plain text support, instant conversions including crypto, and one-click export functionality. Includes screenshot-to-text conversion, global hotkey access, and more.

    35 Antinote alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  4. Hyperdraft icon
     10 likes

    Turn your notes into a website.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • RemoteStorage
     
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    1
    Comments about Hyperdraft as an Alternative to Bear
    rosano
    Positive
    0

    Title and body are combined visually in the same field

    Hyperdraft icon
    Hyperdraft icon
    • Hyperdraft is Free and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Hyperdraft is Privacy focusedBear is not according to our users
  5. Quillpad icon
     16 likes

    Quillpad is a fork of an original app called Quillnote. The development stopped on the original app and PR backlogs were not cleared up. The community showed much interest in the app for continued development and so this fork was created.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
     
  6. Notedrafts icon
     5 likes

    Notedrafts is a powerful note-taking app that lets you write, draw, and organize your thoughts across different types of documents. Whether you're marking up a PDF, writing on a large canvas, or taking notes in a long vertical layout, Notedrafts adapts to your workflow.

    65 Notedrafts alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  7. Noto is a modern writing app. With delightful interactions, powerful editing tools, and a beautiful design, Noto helps you capture the best of your everyday life.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  8. Reflect Notes icon
     7 likes

    Give your brain superpowers. Mirror the way your mind works by associating notes through backlinks. Reflect builds you a second brain that you can reference anytime. Frictionless thought capture, instant sync, end-to-end encryption and seamless recall make using Reflect natural.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
     
  9. Clipto Pro icon
     13 likes

    Be more productive with this advanced, elegant and simple notes taking app and easy clipboard manager.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
     
  10. Passfindr icon
     13 likes

    Passfindr is a web based premium Personal knowledge base, Password manager and Bookmark manager application to securely store passwords and other sensitive information in a virtual vault locked with individual master passwords.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
     
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