Bear is a lightweight, distraction-free note-taking app optimized for writers and iOS users, while Notion is a comprehensive all-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, wikis, and project management. Bear excels at writing quality, Notion excels at organizational flexibility and team collaboration.
Bear vs Notion — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Bear if you're a writer or student who values distraction-free writing, aesthetic design, and simplicity within the Apple ecosystem. Choose Notion if you need a centralized workspace for teams, complex project management, database organization, or cross-platform access at scale.
Minimalist note-taking app for writers focused on speed and beautiful typography
All-in-one workspace platform combining notes, databases, wikis, and project management
Structured comparison data for Bear vs Notion with 414 attributes.
Monthly Subscription Cost (Personal Plan)
Annual Subscription Cost (Personal Plan)
Free Tier Monthly Recording/Creation Limit
Maximum Database Rows (optimal performance)
Real-time Simultaneous Collaborators (unlimited tier)
Native Data Visualization (charts, pivots)
Max Database Items Before Performance Degradation
Starting Price per User/Month (Annual Billing)
Base Monthly Cost Per User (Annual Billing)
Bear vs Notion — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Bear vs Notion.
No. Bear is exclusively available on macOS and iOS, using iCloud for sync. If you need cross-platform access, Notion is the better choice as it supports Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and web browsers.
Can multiple people edit a Notion page at the same time?
Yes. Notion supports real-time collaboration with up to 100+ simultaneous editors. You can set granular permissions (view, edit, full access) per person or team. Bear lacks real-time collaboration entirely.
Which is better for personal journaling and daily notes?
Bear is superior for journaling due to its distraction-free interface, beautiful typography, and fast performance. Its tag system and search are ideal for personal notes. Notion is overkill unless you need structured databases alongside journaling.
How much does Notion cost compared to Bear?
Bear costs $2.99/month or $27.99/year. Notion offers a free tier, plus paid plans starting at $10/month (Plus) or $20/month (Business). Notion's free tier is more generous but has fewer database features.
Can I organize notes with tags in both apps?
Yes, both support tags. Bear uses a hashtag system (#tag) for simple flat organization. Notion uses tags within database fields and offers more advanced filtering, sorting, and relational capabilities for complex organizational needs.