Bear

Bear is a writing and note-taking tool that runs on Apple devices. You type notes in plain text and add formatting using simple Markdown commands. This means you can make text bold, create headers, add links, or insert images without reaching for your mouse.

The app organizes notes using tags. Instead of putting notes in folders, you add hashtags anywhere in your text. These tags appear in the sidebar, and you can nest them for deeper organization. For example, you might use tags like work, personal, or ideas.

Bear keeps everything private and stored locally on your device. The free version offers solid features, while Bear Pro adds extras like cloud sync between devices, more export options, and the ability to search text inside images and PDF files.

• Markdown text formatting with simple commands

• Tag-based organization with nested tags

• Cross-device sync with iCloud (Pro)

• Apple Pencil sketching support on iPad

• Export to PDF, Word, HTML, and more formats

• Search text inside images and PDFs (Pro)

• 28+ beautiful themes to customize appearance

• Password and Face ID note encryption

• Apple Watch dictation support

• No account required to start