Bear

Bear is a markdown-based note-taking app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, developed by Shiny Frog and released in 2016. Bear stands out for its exceptional writing experience — a clean, distraction-free editor with rich markdown support, syntax highlighting for 20+ programming languages, and a warm, beautifully designed interface. Notes are organized through a flexible tag system: typing #tag anywhere in a note automatically categorizes it, allowing nested hierarchies like #project/subproject without rigid folder structures. Bear 2, released in 2023, brought significant improvements including nested tags, a backlinks panel, improved table support, and canvas-style drawing. Pricing is free for basic use with Bear Pro at $2.99/month or $29.99/year, unlocking sync across all Apple devices, 9 additional themes, and export formats including PDF, Word, HTML, and ePub. Bear is Apple-ecosystem only — no Android or Windows apps — making it ideal for users fully committed to Apple devices. The app has won multiple Apple Design Awards for its interface quality. Sync uses iCloud, keeping data private without third-party servers. Bear appeals to writers, students, and developers who want a polished, fast, and beautiful note-taking experience on Apple hardware.