Compare software

Bear vs Simplenote: catalog facts
Bear	Simplenote
Freemium Free tier available; Bear Pro subscription adds sync and export options.	Free The software is free under its open-source licence. Hosting, hardware and external…
macOS, iOS, Browser extension	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Tag-based organization is flexible compared to rigid folder structures Polished, native Apple design	Syncing is free and unlimited across every platform, notes keep a version history, and the whole thing stays…
Apple platforms only, no Windows or Android version Advanced features like export options require a subscription	There is no encryption of note contents on Automattic's servers, and no attachments, folders or rich formatting.
Downloadable app, Browser extension	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-2.0
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

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