Bear vs Obsidian: Features, Pricing and User Reviews 2026
Compare features, pricing, reviews, and more to make an informed decision
Bear
Bear is a beautiful note-taking app for Apple devices that uses simple text and tags to capture ideas and organize your thoughts.
Obsidian
Obsidian is a free note-taking app that connects your ideas using links, creating a personal knowledge network on your device.
Bear
Bear is a beautiful note-taking app for Apple devices that uses simple text and tags to capture ideas and organize your thoughts.
Obsidian
Obsidian is a free note-taking app that connects your ideas using links, creating a personal knowledge network on your device.
Bear
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
Obsidian
Stores notes locally on your device with full privacy
Links notes together to build knowledge networks
Visual graph shows connections between ideas
Canvas for unlimited brainstorming space
Thousands of free community plugins available
Works offline without internet connection
Plain text files you own forever
Mobile apps for phones and tablets
Supports basic text formatting
Free to use with optional paid services
Bear
Bear offers both free and paid options to fit different needs. The free version gives you access to all core features including unlimited notes, document scanning, basic export options, and three themes. You can use Bear free forever without paying anything.
Bear Pro costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year, saving you about 15 percent with the annual plan. The 7-day free trial lets you test all Pro features before deciding. Pro adds powerful extras like sync between all your Apple devices using iCloud, more export formats including PDF and Word, over 28 beautiful themes, search inside images and PDFs, and 15 custom app icons.
The yearly price may vary based on your country and local taxes. Whether you choose free or Pro, there are no ads or data collection in Bear.
Obsidian
Obsidian is completely free for personal use with all core features included. You get unlimited notes, full plugin access, and complete control over your data at no cost.
For users who want to sync notes across devices, Obsidian Sync offers two plans. The Standard plan costs $4 per month when paid yearly (or $5 monthly) and includes one synced vault with 1GB storage. The Plus plan costs $8 per month yearly (or $10 monthly) with 10GB storage and unlimited vaults.
Obsidian Publish lets you share notes on the web for $8 per month yearly (or $10 monthly) per site, with custom themes and no technical knowledge needed.
The optional Commercial License costs $50 per user yearly for business use, though it became optional in 2025. For one-time supporters, the Catalyst license at $25 gives early access to beta versions and community perks.
