Choose Bear if you need
No checked fact sets Bear apart from Joplin yet.
At a glance
- Bear has a free plan. We haven't confirmed one for Joplin.
- Both offer a free trial (Bear: 7 days, Joplin: 14 days).
- Bear's lowest paid plan is Pro at $2.99 per month, or $29, as of October 23, 2026.
- Both are available on macOS and iOS.
- Only Joplin lists Windows, Linux, Android, Web, CLI and Chrome extension.
- Joplin lists GDPR. We haven't confirmed any of these for Bear.
- Bear has a public API. We haven't confirmed one for Joplin.
- Joplin can be self-hosted. We haven't confirmed that for Bear.
From each tool's own website, checked on the dates below, and from published reviews.
Which to choose
From the facts checked for both tools, not from opinion. A fact we haven't confirmed for one of them is never counted.
Choose Joplin if you need
- Windows, Linux, Android, Web, CLI or Chrome extension. We haven't found them on Bear's website.
Bear
Nobody has reviewed Bear yet. Its rating shows once it has 3 reviews.
Review Bear
Joplin
Nobody has reviewed Joplin yet. Its rating shows once it has 3 reviews.
Review JoplinThe facts
- What it does
- BearA powerfully simple Markdown note taking app to capture, write, and organize your life
- JoplinAn open source note-taking app. Capture your thoughts and securely access them from any device
- Free plan
- BearYes
- JoplinNot confirmed
- Pricing
- BearNot confirmed
- JoplinNot confirmed
- Paid plans from
- Bear
What they share
From the platforms and integrations each website lists.
Platforms
Both
- macOS
- iOS
Only BearNothing else listed
Only Joplin
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Web
- CLI
- Chrome extension
People who switched
Reviewers who say they used one of these before the other.
No reviewer has said they moved between Bear and Joplin yet.
Used either of them?
Your review makes this comparison better for the next person. Review Bear or review Joplin.