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Open source Bear alternatives

Top Note-taking & Knowledge Bases like Bear

The most popular alternative to Bear is Simplenote, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Bear are Standard Notes and Notesnook.

Most alternatives to Bear are in the Note-taking & Knowledge Bases category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Bear alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
3 apps

All Bear alternatives

  1. Simplenote is a free note app from Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, that sticks to plain text with optional Markdown, tags and quick search. Notes sync instantly across web, desktop and mobile apps, every change is kept in version history, and notes can be shared with collaborators or published as a web page. The apps are open source.

    8 Simplenote alternatives

    Pros

    • Free, ad-free and fast plain-text notes
    • Instant sync across web, desktop and mobile
    • Version history keeps every change to a note

    Cons

    • No images, attachments or rich formatting
    • Organization is limited to tags and search
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
  2. Standard Notes is an open source note-taking app focused on privacy, with end-to-end encryption for every note and file and apps on all major platforms. Notes work offline and sync across devices, and paid plans add rich editors, file storage and longer revision history. The company became part of Proton in 2024, and the sync server can be self-hosted.

    9 Standard Notes alternatives

    Pros

    • End-to-end encryption for every note and file
    • Open source apps on all major platforms
    • The sync server can be self-hosted

    Cons

    • Rich editors, file storage and longer history need a paid plan
    • Collaboration features are minimal compared with mainstream apps
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source
  3. Notesnook is an open source note-taking app that encrypts every note end to end on your device before syncing it. It offers notebooks, tags, rich text with Markdown shortcuts, an app lock, a private vault and a web clipper, on the web, desktop and mobile. A free plan is available, and the sync server can also be self-hosted.

    9 Notesnook alternatives

    Pros

    • Every note is end-to-end encrypted on your device before syncing
    • Open source apps on web, desktop and mobile
    • The sync server can be self-hosted

    Cons

    • Fewer integrations and plugins than mainstream note apps
    • Some features are limited on the free plan
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source

Bear vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Bear, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Bear vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsBidirectional linksCross-device syncDark modeMarkdown supportOCR
BearFreemiumMac, iPhone
SimplenoteFreeOpen sourceWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android
Standard NotesFreemiumOpen sourceWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, Self-hosted
NotesnookFreemiumOpen sourceWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, Self-hosted

Bear alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Bear?

The most popular alternative to Bear is Simplenote: Free, minimal plain-text notes synced across devices. Other great alternatives are Standard Notes and Notesnook.

Is there a free alternative to Bear?

Yes, 3 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Simplenote, Standard Notes, and Notesnook.

Is there an open source alternative to Bear?

Yes, 3 open source alternatives are listed, including Simplenote, Standard Notes, and Notesnook.

Is Bear free?

Bear has a free plan, with paid plans that unlock more features.

Compare Bear with its alternatives

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