Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Bear vs Notion

Bear 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner Notion
Notion 4.8★ · Free + IAP 85

Notion is the better choice for users seeking a highly customizable and powerful all-in-one workspace, while Bear excels as a minimalist and fast note-taking app for Apple users.

Full reviews: Bear · Notion

Notion offers extensive customization and robust features for organizing complex information, making it suitable for project management and detailed note-taking, despite frequent bug reports. Bear provides a simpler, faster, and aesthetically pleasing note-taking experience primarily for Apple users, though it faces criticism for its subscription model and sync issues.

Head to head

Features & Customization edge: NotionR2R3R5R13
Bear Bear is praised for its focused simplicity, offering essential note-taking features like tags, file attachments, and text formatting, with recent additions like callouts improving utility R2R3R5. However, some users desire more advanced features like folders, tables, templates, and reminders . Its organization relies heavily on a tagging system, which some find less intuitive than traditional folders R13.
Notion Notion is lauded for its extensive customization, allowing users to create complex systems with databases, galleries, dropdowns, and pages within pages for organizing various aspects of life and work . It's seen as a powerful tool for project management, task tracking, and journaling R62R102R105. However, some users find its mobile version less intuitive for formatting compared to the desktop .
Ease of Use & User Experience edge: BearR2R4R8R9
Bear Bear is consistently praised for its simplicity, clean interface, and distraction-free design, making writing seamless and efficient R2R8. While some initial features like attaching photos or creating tags can be unintuitive, the overall experience is described as fast and enjoyable R4R9.
Notion Notion is described as powerful and customizable, but some users find it challenging to learn initially . The mobile experience, particularly on iPad, is frequently criticized for glitches, freezing, and difficulty with typing or navigating subpages . Recent AI integration has also negatively impacted the user experience for some, making search less accessible and cluttering the interface .
Reliability & Performance tieR1R6R7R10
Bear Bear generally offers a fast and smooth experience R44. However, significant concerns exist regarding data loss and sync issues, with multiple users reporting notes disappearing or failing to sync across devices, especially after updates or resets R1R6R7R10. Some users also report app crashes during drawing mode or when scrolling quickly R6.
Notion Notion users frequently report bugs, glitches, and freezing issues, particularly on mobile devices and iPads . These issues can prevent work from saving, make the app unresponsive, or cause typing difficulties . Login problems are also reported .
Price & Value edge: NotionR15R16R19R20
Bear Bear offers a free version with many features, but core functionalities like cross-device sync and advanced export options are locked behind a monthly subscription R15R16R19R43. Many users express frustration with the subscription model, preferring a one-time purchase or a free iCloud sync option R15R16R19R20. The annual price was noted to be $29.99 R19.
Notion Notion has a free tier that is highly valued for its extensive functionality . While a paid plan exists, some users report issues with the money-back guarantee not being honored for non-technical reasons . The value of its AI features is a point of contention, with some upgrading for it and others disliking its integration .
Platform Availability & Ecosystem edge: NotionR18R34R37R44
Bear Bear is primarily an Apple-centric app, praised for seamless syncing across Apple devices . However, the lack of cross-platform support (Windows, Android, web app) is a major drawback for many users, leading them to switch to competitors R18R34R37R45. A web app is in development, but users are eager for its release R44.
Notion Notion is a cross-platform tool, but its mobile experience, particularly on iPad, is frequently criticized for being buggy and less functional than the desktop version . Some users also report issues with specific integrations, like Grok .
Pick Bear if

You are an Apple user looking for a fast, simple, and beautifully designed note-taking app for personal use, value a distraction-free writing experience, and are comfortable with a subscription for sync R2R8.

Pick Notion if

You need a highly customizable, all-in-one workspace for complex organization, project management, and detailed information tracking, and are willing to invest time in learning its extensive features, despite potential mobile app bugs R62.

Evidence note: Notion has a significantly larger number of reviews, which might lead to more reported issues simply due to scale. Bear's negative reviews often highlight critical issues like data loss and the subscription model, which are significant concerns for a note-taking app.

Frequently asked

Does Bear offer a free version?
Yes, Bear offers a free version that provides many features for note-taking, but cross-device sync and advanced export options require a monthly subscription R15R16R19R43.
Is Notion good for project management?
Yes, Notion is highly recommended for project management, task tracking, and organizing complex information due to its extensive customization options, databases, and templates R62R102R105R106.
Do Bear and Notion have sync issues?
Both apps have reported sync issues; Bear users have experienced notes disappearing or failing to sync across Apple devices R1R6R7R10, while Notion users report frequent bugs and freezing that can prevent work from saving or loading .
Is Bear available on Windows or Android?
No, Bear is primarily an Apple-centric app and currently lacks cross-platform support for Windows or Android, which is a significant drawback for many users R18R34R37R45.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Bear 5/5 · US Just wonderful: Like many other people, I have used practically every Notes app on the planet trying to find “the one“. Bear is “the one”. I think the biggest advantage Bear has is its broad feature set is grounded in focused simplicity. No app can be all things to all people and still be usable, so the developers have had to say “no” a lot. Making the vastly improved text editor is going to hel
  2. [R3] Bear 3/5 · US Cute Idea: When I was looking for a notes app, the name and icon to this felt cute, so I checked it out. I like the simplicity and childlike feel to it. It has the features you would expect. A three columned layout, ability to create tags, ability to attach files, and plenty of text formatting options. One thing that I wasn’t a fan of is how to create tags. You have to create a hashtag symbol in
  3. [R5] Bear 5/5 · US New callouts are gamechanging… but: Callouts are exactly what Bear needed; they resolve the longstanding workaround of using quote blocks. I can comfortably say that with callouts there are no other notetaking apps that accomplish Bear’s balance of utility and simplicity That said I do have some constructive feedback: 1. Spacing below callouts is awkward. Text/lists are either directly under the
  4. [R13] Bear 2/5 · US Quality App Uses Atypical Organization: Bear is a nicely designed app that uses an unusual tagging structure for file organization. I think it will work well for many users looking for an Apple Notes replacement that uses plain text however, certain design decisions make it unusable for me. Bear doesn’t use a traditional hierarchy of directories for note organization but instead uses a tagging s
  5. [R4] Bear 2/5 · US Nice UI, horrible UX: Overall, the app presents a visually appealing and thoughtfully designed aesthetic. However, from a functionality standpoint, the experience is significantly lacking. During my evaluation on an iPad, I found the process of attaching photos to a note to be particularly frustrating. The method for adding images from the photo library is far from intuitive, I had to resort to sea
  6. [R8] Bear 5/5 · US Best Note Taking App: This might be my first review on the App Store. This is a fantastic app. I’ve used Onenote, Notion, Obsidian, and many others and keep coming back to bear for one reason. Simplicity. It can be as complex or as simple as you want, but the simplicity it creates for the user is just so good. It syncs with iCloud securely, and attachments are search with their super fast search.
  7. [R9] Bear 3/5 · US Not digging the new: What has become of the ability to add existing photos from your library, or attachments to a note? I shouldn’t have to reverse engineer this at all.
  8. [R1] Bear 1/5 · US Notes disappeared: All of my notes that I’ve had for 4 years disappeared due to an “error” and I can’t get them back. Switching to another notes app, what a disappointment.
  9. [R6] Bear 3/5 · US Sync Issues: I’m a big fan of this app, but over the last few years there’s been sync issues, where my laptop and phone app disconnect and I’m not able to catch the disconnect/have to troubleshoot months later. The app also closes if I scroll too fast/far down the list.
  10. [R7] Bear 1/5 · US Do not rely on sync: I had to reset my phone to factory condition, double checked that the sync was on and was backing my notes up to iCloud… Only to find out after resetting my phone that all of my notes were gone, and it synced to the sample notes on reinstall of the app. Absolutely worthless. I completely regret ever signing up for pro and spending my money on this.
  11. [R10] Bear 1/5 · US Hang on to your notes: All of my notes were deleted upon update.
  12. [R15] Bear 3/5 · US Greed is a sin: This is a 5 star app held back by one simple mistake: pricing. I would GLADLY pay this dev a one time double digit fee to flip the switch to use my own iCloud memory to sync notes between my devices, because this app is very intelligently put together. Unfortunately, they are attempting to charge a monthly fee for that service. You might argue that clicking buttons is very difficul
  13. [R16] Bear 1/5 · US Not worth the coin. You have to pay to store to iCloud?!: You have to pay to store to iCloud?! That’s silly and greedy. I have been developing software for over 40 years. I can understand wanting to get paid for your work. But this limitation makes this software untestable for one’s environment. Free apps do save to iCloud. It also doesn’t allow you to edit the raw .md files, which free app
  14. [R19] Bear 1/5 · US Not “in-app” purchase. SUBSCRIPTION based!: EDIT 04/16/25: Annual price raised to $29.99. Same complaints as before. Software is not a service and I will not RENT it from you., Previous review: I am sick and tired of all these apps that claim to be free with “in-app purchases” that you think will be a reasonable $3 or $5 price tag for something simple like the basic ability to sync your writin
  15. [R20] Bear 4/5 · US Lifetime Purchase: Need lifetime purchase IMMEDIATELY
  16. [R18] Bear 3/5 · US No Cross Platform: I've been using this app on and off for years to journal but the lack of cross platform (pc or browser version with cloud sync) made me move to Obsidian. It's a shame because I'm choosing to pay double the price of Bear Pro for a subscription to Obsidian with enough space to accommodate my files. That money could be going to Bear if they had the capabilities. If cross-platform s
  17. [R34] Bear 2/5 · GB Over hyped app: In this day and age it is odd to find an app asking for payment just to get notes synced! It saves data in plain text format. Markdown cannot hide the fact that the app cannot handle rich text formatting. There is no web or Windows app so not a cross platform model.
  18. [R37] Bear 2/5 · GB Needs Windows support: It’s 2020! Apple isn’t the cool underdog anymore. Time to support some more platforms please.
  19. [R44] Bear 5/5 · US Lightweight, blazing fast, perfect: It’s like they took the simplicity, UI, speed, and system integration of apple notes and combined it with the QOL features of obsidian. Probably my favorite app on my iPhone along with a 29¢ finance app called Gem Can’t wait to get that web app too!
  20. [R43] Bear 2/5 · GB You need Pro: I got drawn in by the free version, which works great for note taking, but then you find there’s no decent export format or sync with the free version. Have switched to Zoho Notebook and had a faff getting my notes out of Bear. It’s not impossible, but it’s a pain. Rather wishing I hadn’t bothered trying it now.
  21. [R62] Notion 5/5 · US It’s keeping me sane!: Paired with Claude, Notion is finally keeping me sane and motivated to keep my work and life organized
  22. [R102] Notion 5/5 · US Unity Project Solutions: Unity project solutions uses this app for project management, task tracking, website, creation, and consulting. The perfect application.
  23. [R105] Notion 5/5 · US Must Have: I have used this daily, weekly and monthly. It’s a must have if you are into digital organization.
  24. [R106] Notion 5/5 · US Helpful for school: This is an amazing app! It helps a lot with school, easy to create templates
  25. [R45] Bear 3/5 · GB No sync between platforms, otherwise ok: Decent enough app, but there are plenty of cheaper ones out there and free ones that sync between different platforms which I guess is what most people want. I’ll never purchase something that is available on one one platform only. Sorry that’s only my view I know, but I’m sure plenty of other people will be thinking along the same lines

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store