Noughtpad vs Bear
Bear and Noughtpad share a taste for quiet writing with Markdown. Bear is a polished app for Apple devices that keeps your notes in its own library. Noughtpad keeps every note as a plain file and focuses on helping you see how your notes connect.
The short version
- Choose Bear if you only use Apple devices, want your notes on your iPhone and iPad too, and care most about a beautiful, mature writing app.
- Choose Noughtpad if you want your notes as plain files you can open anywhere, use Windows or Linux too, or want related notes, ideas over time and chat with your notes.
What Bear does better
- iPhone, iPad and Mac, synced through iCloud with Bear Pro. Noughtpad has no phone app yet.
- Polish. Bear has had years of careful design work, with themes and a refined editor.
- Export formats. Markdown for free; HTML, Word, PDF, images and ePub with Pro.
- Note encryption with Pro.
What Noughtpad does differently
- Plain files, always. Your notes are Markdown files in a folder from the start, not something you export. Edit them in any app.
- Mac, Windows and Linux. Bear is for Apple devices only.
- Connections and ideas over time. Related notes, search by meaning, ideas over time and chat with your notes, all running on your computer by default.
- Free. Noughtpad has no paid tier today.
Side by side
| Noughtpad | Bear | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free; Bear Pro $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year |
| Devices | Mac (Apple Silicon), Windows, Linux | Mac, iPhone, iPad |
| Sync | Google Drive sync (beta), or any folder sync | iCloud, with Bear Pro |
| Where notes live | Markdown files in your folder | Bear's own library; export to Markdown and more |
| Related notes and ideas over time | Yes | No |
| Chat with your notes | Yes, local model or your own provider | No |
Moving from Bear
Export your notes from Bear as Markdown, and put the files in your Noughtpad folder (or choose that folder in Noughtpad). Noughtpad reads Markdown files with or without a header.
Prices and features of Bear as listed on bear.app, November 2026.
Try Noughtpad
It's free, it works without an account, and your notes stay plain Markdown files. If it isn't for you, the files open in any other Markdown app.
For Mac (Apple Silicon), Windows and Linux. No account needed.
More comparisons: all comparisons.