[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) \> [Project Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/project-management/) \> [Note-Taking Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/note-taking-software/) \> [Bear](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/bear-app/) \> Bear vs Craft 

#  Bear vs Craft 

 Last Updated: May 11th, 2026 

Our analysts compared [Bear](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/bear-app/) vs [Craft](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/craft-docs/) based on data from our 400+ point analysis of [Note-Taking Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/note-taking-software/), user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our [free software selection platform](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/?category=Note-Taking Software&cta=note-taking-software).

[Overview](#product-overview) [Pricing](#product-pricing) [Our Review](#product-analyst-summary) [User Ratings](#user-sentiment-section) [Features](#product-benefits-features) [Screenshots](#product-screenshots) 

Remove Add to Compare 

[![Bear Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/01e651518630062d985188c1f0dbd83a-050db1632abf720aa9dd2d2abf4da2fc/resources/normal/logo.png?1750212247)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/bear-app/)

Remove Add to Compare 

[![Craft Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/2f2025ae2e57e71843298d80bed5cfde-51be08469dc5e910e85f3e937acc5755/resources/normal/logo.png?1750210924)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/craft-docs/)

[Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Note-Taking+Software&product%5Fname=Bear&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F01e651518630062d985188c1f0dbd83a-050db1632abf720aa9dd2d2abf4da2fc%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1750212247) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Note-Taking+Software&product%5Fname=Bear&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F01e651518630062d985188c1f0dbd83a-050db1632abf720aa9dd2d2abf4da2fc%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1750212247) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Note-Taking+Software&product%5Fname=Bear&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F01e651518630062d985188c1f0dbd83a-050db1632abf720aa9dd2d2abf4da2fc%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1750212247&price=1) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Note-Taking+Software&product%5Fname=Bear&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F01e651518630062d985188c1f0dbd83a-050db1632abf720aa9dd2d2abf4da2fc%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1750212247&price=1) 

[Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Note-Taking+Software&product%5Fname=Craft&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F2f2025ae2e57e71843298d80bed5cfde-51be08469dc5e910e85f3e937acc5755%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1750210924) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Note-Taking+Software&product%5Fname=Craft&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F2f2025ae2e57e71843298d80bed5cfde-51be08469dc5e910e85f3e937acc5755%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1750210924) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Note-Taking+Software&product%5Fname=Craft&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F2f2025ae2e57e71843298d80bed5cfde-51be08469dc5e910e85f3e937acc5755%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1750210924&price=1) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Note-Taking+Software&product%5Fname=Craft&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F2f2025ae2e57e71843298d80bed5cfde-51be08469dc5e910e85f3e937acc5755%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1750210924&price=1) 

###  Products Insights

 Product Ranking 

## #11

 among all   
 Note-Taking Software

## #14

 among all   
 Note-Taking Software

[Find out who the leaders are](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard?post%5Ftype=auto%5Fvs%5Farticle&category%5Fslug=note-taking-software&product%5Fslug=bear-app&category=Note-Taking+Software) 

 Price Starts From

$2.99 Monthly, Freemium 

[ Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Bear&category=Note-Taking Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/01e651518630062d985188c1f0dbd83a-050db1632abf720aa9dd2d2abf4da2fc/resources/normal/logo.png?1750212247) 

$9.99 Monthly, Freemium 

[ Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Craft&category=Note-Taking Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/2f2025ae2e57e71843298d80bed5cfde-51be08469dc5e910e85f3e937acc5755/resources/normal/logo.png?1750210924) 

 Pros

 What we like about Bear and Craft:

* Clean, minimalist interface that users find pleasant for daily writing and note-taking.
* Strong Markdown support with syntax that handles quick notes and structured documents.
* Flexible nested tagging system that replaces folders for organizing and finding notes.
* End-to-end encryption keeps notes private across synced Apple devices.

* Polished design with rich formatting tools that produce visually engaging documents.
* Real-time collaboration lets multiple users edit and comment on the same document together.
* Hierarchical pages and backlinks support complex projects and connected knowledge bases.
* Pre-made templates and rich media embeds speed up document creation.

 Cons

 What we dislike about Bear and Craft:

* Limited to macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, so Windows and Android users are shut out.
* The free version restricts syncing and export, pushing most users to the paid tier.
* Tag-only organization can feel less intuitive than traditional folder structures for some users.
* Lacks the deeper integrations and feature breadth of larger competitors like Evernote or Notion.

* No Android version, which restricts access for users outside the Apple and web ecosystem.
* Block-based editor has a learning curve that can slow down new users at first.
* Users report customer support can be slow and unresponsive when issues come up.
* Lacks the advanced database and detailed task tracking that tools like Notion offer.

###  Our Review

**Bottom line:** Bear App and Craft Docs both shine on Apple devices, but they solve different problems. Pick Bear if you want a fast, minimalist Markdown notebook for personal writing. Pick Craft if you need a polished document tool with real-time collaboration for small teams.

Bear leans toward solo work. Its tag-based system, Focus Mode, and Markdown-first editor suit writers, developers, and students who want to capture ideas without fuss. If you live inside macOS, iOS, and iPadOS and value a quiet writing space, it fits naturally into your day.

Craft pushes further into team and document territory. You get nested pages, backlinks, rich media embeds, and live co-editing, which help when you're building a shared knowledge base or drafting client-ready documents. It also runs on the web, so collaborators outside the Apple world can still join in.

Pricing is where the gap shows up. Bear starts at $2.99 per month with a freemium tier, while Craft starts at $9.99 per month with its own free plan. Both lock useful features behind the paid tier, so factor that into your budget before committing.

Support and platform reach are real tradeoffs too. Neither product offers an Android app, and Craft users have flagged slow customer support. Bear's free version blocks iCloud sync, which can frustrate anyone testing it across devices.

If your work is mostly personal notes and Markdown writing on Apple gear, Bear is the lighter, cheaper pick. If you need shared documents, structured pages, and a more flexible editor for small team projects, Craft earns the higher price.

###  User Sentiment Summary

 Bear has a user sentiment rating of based on reviews. Craft has a user sentiment rating of 89 based on 68 reviews. 

we're gathering data

![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) 68 reviews 

 Synopsis

 Evaluating all review platforms, our market analysts have compiled the following user sentiment data.

we're gathering data

 89%

of users recommend this product

 Craft has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 68 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

 User Review Scores

**G2.com, Inc** 

n/a 

**4.6** (22) 

**Capterra Inc** 

n/a 

**4.5** (19) 

**TrustRadius** 

n/a 

**4.3** (27) 

###  Product Assistance

 Training Resources

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

 Support

Email

Phone

Chat

FAQ

Forum

Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

Email

Phone

Chat

FAQ

Forum

Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

###  Product Basics

 Company Size 

 i

Small

Medium

Large

Small

Medium

Large

 Platforms Supported

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

Chromebook

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

Chromebook

 Deployment Supported

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

 Comparison of Top Alternatives

[ Bear Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/bear-app/alternatives/) 

[ Craft Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/craft-docs/alternatives/) 

###  Screenshots

![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() 

![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() 

###  Key Features

* **Markdown editor** – Handles formatting through simple Markdown syntax, suiting writers and developers who prefer keyboard-driven structure over visual blocks.
* **Nested tagging** – Organizes notes through tags and sub-tags instead of folders, helping you build flexible categories that can overlap.
* **Cross-note linking** – Connects related notes with internal links so you can move through ideas and build a personal reference web.
* **Focus Mode** – Hides interface elements during writing to give you a clean, distraction-free space for long-form work.
* **Apple ecosystem sync** – Uses iCloud to keep notes current across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with Apple Pencil and Apple Watch support included.

* **Block-based editor** – Builds documents from formatted blocks with rich media embeds, giving you more visual layout control than a plain Markdown flow.
* **Hierarchical pages** – Lets you nest pages inside pages and link between them, which works well for structured projects and team wikis.
* **Backlinking** – Connects related documents through two-way links so you can map ideas across a larger knowledge base.
* **Real-time collaboration** – Allows several users to edit the same document at once and leave comments, supporting team drafting and review.
* **Cross-platform access** – Runs on iOS, macOS, Windows, and the web, so collaborators outside the Apple world can still open and edit documents.

###  Top Alternatives in Note-Taking Software 

[  Apple Notes ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/apple-notes/) [  Craft ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/craft-docs/) [  Evernote ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/evernote/) [  Genio ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/genio/) [  Google Keep ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/google-keep/) [  Joplin ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/joplin-notes/) [  Notability ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/notability/) [  Obsidian ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/obsidian-notes/) [  OneNote ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/onenote/) [  Penbook ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/note-taking-software/penbook/) 

###  Head-to-Head Comparison

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Apple Notes Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Apple Notes](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/apple-notes-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Evernote Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Evernote](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/evernote-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Genio Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Genio](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/genio-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Google Keep Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Google Keep](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/google-keep-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Joplin Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Joplin](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/bear-app-vs-joplin-notes/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Notability Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Notability](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/notability-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Obsidian Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Obsidian](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/obsidian-notes-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![OneNote Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS OneNote](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/onenote-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Roam Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Roam](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/roam-research-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Simplenote Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Simplenote](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/simplenote-vs-bear-app/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![UpNote Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS UpNote](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/bear-app-vs-upnote/) 

![Bear Software Tool]() 

![Zoho Notebook Software Tool]() 

[Bear VS Zoho Notebook](https://www.selecthub.com/note-taking-software/zoho-notebook-vs-bear-app/) 

**About SelectHub (and our data)** 

We’re the employee-owned Austin-based startup democratizing software data so you can make your decisions in an influence-free zone. Our market data is crowdsourced from our user-base of 100,000+ companies.

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

![SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics]() 

![SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide]() 

**Tier 1:**  
 Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment.  
Fully or moderately supported out-of-the-box with industry-leading capabilities and is immediately available after installation without needing any add-ons, integrations, or custom development. 

**Tier 2:**  
 Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs.  
Not directly available in the software, but can be accomplished using other built-in features, workarounds, or add-ons/products from the vendor with or without any additional cost. 

**Tier 3:**  
 Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost.  
Requires additional integrations, plugins, marketplace applications from a third-party vendor, or custom development using the APIs, libraries, extensions, and development framework supported by the software, with or without any additional cost. 

[Close](#) 

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