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