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Bear vs Obsidian: catalog facts
Bear	Obsidian
Freemium Free tier available; Bear Pro subscription adds sync and export options.	Free Free for everyone, including commercial use, in the vendor’s own words. Obsidian Sync and…
macOS, iOS, Browser extension	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Browser extension
Tag-based organization is flexible compared to rigid folder structures Polished, native Apple design	Notes are plain Markdown files in a folder you control, readable without the app Linking, backlinks, tags, graph view and fast search across the vault
Apple platforms only, no Windows or Android version Advanced features like export options require a subscription	The application is not open source, only the plugin ecosystem and the releases repository Syncing between devices means paying for Obsidian Sync or wiring up your own sync tool
Downloadable app, Browser extension	Downloadable app, Browser extension
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.