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

Evernote vs Bear

Evernote 4.4★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Bear
Bear 4.7★ · Free + IAP 80

Bear is generally preferred for its clean interface and consistent performance, while Evernote struggles with recent price hikes and performance issues.

Full reviews: Evernote · Bear

Evernote, a long-standing note-taking app, faces significant user backlash due to recent, substantial price increases and perceived degradation in performance and AI features. Bear, while having a smaller user base, is praised for its intuitive design, reliable syncing, and reasonable pricing, though some users report data loss and sync issues.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: BearR1R5R8R10
Evernote Evernote is seen as a comprehensive tool for organizing various types of information, including documents, receipts, and to-do lists, with some users appreciating its AI features R5R8. However, many long-term users feel the app has become bloated with unnecessary features, making it slow and less intuitive R12. Specific issues include problems with cursor placement R1, picky formatting , and a flawed scan feature . Some users also report weak AI integration and a lack of .md file support R10.
Bear Bear is praised for its simple yet powerful features, including nested tags for organization, fast syncing, and good Markdown support R68R86. Users appreciate its clean interface and intuitive functions for note-taking . However, some find the UI clunky for editing, with automatic markups and a secondary keyboard for formatting . There are also complaints about limited text and paragraph formatting options , and issues with rendering math or PDFs after updates . Some users miss the ability to send notes to others or use traditional folders instead of tags .
Ease of Use & Reliability tieR1R6R7R8
Evernote Evernote is generally seen as useful for organizing and syncing notes across devices R8. However, many users report issues with the app becoming slow and laggy R12. Frequent pop-ups and promotional messages are a major source of frustration, interrupting quick note-taking R6R7. There are also complaints about the search function being buggy and failing to find words , and the app not retaining reverse chronological order settings . Some users experience difficulty placing the cursor to type R1 or exporting PDFs R30.
Bear Bear is praised for its clean UI, intuitive function, and smooth performance across Apple devices R86. Syncing is generally fast and consistent R86R104. However, a significant number of users report critical issues with data loss and notes disappearing, especially after updates or phone resets R67R76R82R85. There are also reports of sync issues between devices , and problems with copy-pasting . Some users find attaching photos unintuitive and VoiceOver support lacking .
Price & Value edge: BearR3R4R9R10
Evernote Evernote faces overwhelming criticism for its significant and repeated price increases, with many long-term users stating the cost is now too high for a note-taking app R3R4R9R10. Users feel the free version has been deliberately degraded to force upgrades . Some users acknowledge the app's quality but find the price no longer justifies the value, especially for those not using advanced features R14.
Bear Bear is generally considered reasonably priced, especially for its Pro plan which offers cloud features, themes, and search R68R86. However, some users express frustration with the subscription model, particularly the need to pay for basic features like iCloud sync R96. Some also feel that free alternatives like Apple Notes offer comparable functionality, making the subscription less appealing R78. There are requests for a one-time purchase or lifetime option .
Customer Support & Privacy tieR25R30R64R67
Evernote Evernote users report extremely poor customer support, with one user describing no fewer than seven interactions without resolution for a multi-factor authentication issue R25. Another user received zero responses to multiple requests for support regarding PDF export issues R30.
Bear Bear's customer service receives mixed reviews; one user praises it as extremely responsive , while others report that customer service provided very little help with lost work R67 or was unresponsive for months regarding lost cloud data . Bear's privacy policy is a concern for some, with vague language and mentions of data use for beta testing with Microsoft R64. However, other users appreciate the company's integrity in not extracting or using personal information .
Pick Evernote if

you are a long-term, entrenched user who finds its comprehensive organization and syncing invaluable across multiple devices, and you are willing to pay a premium for these features R8.

Pick Bear if

you prioritize a clean, intuitive interface, fast syncing across Apple devices, and a simple Markdown-based note-taking experience, and are comfortable with a subscription for advanced features R86.

Evidence note: Evernote's recent reviews are heavily skewed negative due to price increases, which impacts its overall rating compared to its lifetime average. Bear has a smaller number of reviews, and while generally positive, critical issues like data loss are frequently mentioned.

Frequently asked

How much does Evernote cost?
Evernote's annual subscription cost has increased significantly, with users reporting prices ranging from $15/month to $170, $250, or even $260 per year, which many consider outrageous R3R4R9R14.
Does Bear have a free version?
Yes, Bear has a free version, but many core features like cloud syncing, themes, and search are paywalled under its Pro plan, which costs around $2.50/month or $29.99/year R65R68R78R96.
Are there data loss issues with Bear?
Yes, multiple Bear users have reported significant data loss, with notes disappearing entirely after app updates, phone resets, or sync errors R67R76R82R85.
Is Evernote's AI useful?
User opinions on Evernote's AI features are mixed; some find them useful for summarizing internal content R5, while others describe the AI as horrible, making the app slower, laggy, and less reliable, with weak integration and no support for external AI models R10R12R28.
Does Bear support cross-platform syncing?
Bear primarily syncs across Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) via iCloud R86R104, but users note a lack of official cross-platform support for PC or browser versions, which is a deal-breaker for some R99.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 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. [R1] Evernote 1/5 · US Typing problem: When I pull up an existing note I am unable to place my curser in the title or body of the note to type? Why is that happening and how can I correct? With the increase in annual subscription cost there should be no issues…
  2. [R5] Evernote 5/5 · US Have used this for years now…: And quite simply it must gets better and better, especially with the addition of AI features as of late!
  3. [R8] Evernote 5/5 · US My most useful app: I use Evernote frequently on my phone and my computer for work and personal use, Evernote helps me organize my documents, receipts, photos, to do lists, etc. Very useful. Love it!
  4. [R10] Evernote 2/5 · US Pricey, Weak AI Support: I’ve been a user since 2008. Unfortunately, the combination of the huge pricing increase plus the lack of meaningful AI tools is sending me elsewhere. No .md file support, weak AI integration, and no meaningful way to connect to the most powerful external AI models.
  5. [R6] Evernote 3/5 · US Unnecessary blocking with promos: I like the app because it syncs quickly. I don’t like it when I try to open it on the fly and the screen covered with bulletins telling me about new updates. It seems like they roll them out a couple of times a week.
  6. [R7] Evernote 2/5 · US Pop ups: I love this app It dose almost everything perfectly. But I use this app primarily for quick jotting down of my thoughts. I hate that I have lost many thoughts before because I have to dig through seven pop-ups before I can see my notes! that is ridiculous. I can’t tell you how many times in a quick moment where I need to write something down. I lose it because I’m interrupted while diggin
  7. [R3] Evernote 3/5 · US Pricey: The app is good, but the cost is high. The monthly cost for this app is way too high for something that just holds your notes. They act like it’s the only app you’re paying for.
  8. [R4] Evernote 2/5 · US Farewell Evernote: I’ve been using this for 10-15 years and it’s been the lil note taker I love to complain about. I won’t be paying and subsiding their AI upgrades this time around. This is a YUGE price increase. Too expensive and other free tools will be fine to use.
  9. [R9] Evernote 3/5 · US Price Increase: Love Evernote. Long term customer. Price increase outrageous. I am not using many of features. iPad APP not working with message to pay for a second copy? Really ?
  10. [R25] Evernote 1/5 · US Absolutely the worst support: I thought I would come back to the app after almost a decade, not using it hoping that perhaps it would be a useful addition to my life. Unfortunately, in the past 10 years, I have replaced my phone. That means I no longer have access to the app that the code for my multifactor authentication is in. I open a ticket with support thinking that this should be a fairly ea
  11. [R30] Evernote 3/5 · US Still can not export PDF: Despite following instructions precisely, evernote no longer allows me to export a note as a pdf Zero responses from my multiple requests for support
  12. [R64] Bear 2/5 · US Extremely suspect privacy policy: Expressly states data can be used for beta testing and worst of all the testing is done with what is quite arguably the least privacy conscious company of the 21st century: Microsoft. Not to be outdone, the rest of the policy is extremely vague but lends itself to the interpretation that absent written notice provided to either the developer or applicable authorit
  13. [R67] Bear 1/5 · US All my work is gone: They updated the app and absolutely everything that I’ve kept there is gone and customer service has helped very very little. If ur gonna use the app at least keep your work backed up elsewhere
  14. [R14] Evernote 4/5 · US No middle ground for solo reference & note users?: I've had Evernote for years, and I was more than happy to sign up for the paid version, originally. Then, the price went up to $170, and'sI grimaced but went ahead, now the price is going up to $250 a year. But there if a longtime user "up yours" choice. I use this for keeping my own records, my own notes, various reference materials and curiosit
  15. [R65] Bear 4/5 · US I’m using this nonstop now: I love this notes app is just what I needed! Though I’m giving this 4 stars because I really wish the lock notes feature would be free.
  16. [R68] Bear 5/5 · US Exactly what I needed: I was looking for an Evernote alternative where I could use tags, and this is perfect. I both like to write and store recipes using tags for season, type, occasion etc. The support for nested tags is much appreciated, and their Pro plan is very reasonable. Not much is paywalled (it’s just cloud features, themes, and search), so give it a try!
  17. [R78] Bear 3/5 · US Honest review: This app has nice features, but it doesn’t beat Apple Notes, which is free. For specific needs, I already use Microsoft Word and Apple Pages. So I’ve got more than enough apps that cover everything Bear does, and more. The only edge is exporting to multiple formats, but copy and paste to Word or Pages does the job. Paying $30/year ($2.5/month) makes no sense with all the overlap. S
  18. [R96] 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
  19. [R76] Bear 1/5 · US Not good: It's trash. Hours of writing completely gone. Do not recommend. · translated
  20. [R82] Bear 1/5 · US Good, but files sometimes disappear.: I have been using this note app to copy and organize my old recipes. It is easy enough to use, once one learns the special characters needed for anything outside of plain script. My problem is that notes occasionally are erased, through no keystroke I can find. If I try to correct a spelling, the note disappears, completely erased. It is not shown on the l
  21. [R85] 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.
  22. [R12] Evernote 3/5 · US Horrible AI: I used to love Evernote and used it for everything, but in the past year or so, it’s gotten slow, laggy, and can no longer reliably find documents when you look for them. They’ve done all in one AI and guess what, it doesn’t work. Every AI feature they’ve added has made it worse. Whoever decided this simple little app needed AI should lose their job.
  23. [R28] Evernote 1/5 · US Unreasonable rate hikes: It used to be a nice app. Now that it has been bought out several times, it’s riddled with AI and they want to charge me $250/yr. For a notes app 😂
  24. [R86] Bear 5/5 · US Bear is the Best!: Hands down my favorite notes app I’ve ever used. It’s getting more features all the time and has everything I need. Most aesthetically pleasing app, too. I love how it syncs across my iPad and MacBook, and the way it centers the content inside the window is an amazing but simple feature that not all other notes apps have. Well worth the money. My go-to for many years now. Smal
  25. [R99] 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
  26. [R104] Bear 5/5 · US Indispensable: I do a ton of notetaking, and Bear is now my indispensable tool for doing so. The UX is great across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, syncing across devices just works with iCloud without any extra subscription, and the Markdown support is great for portability between systems like blogs.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store