Trilium Notes vs Bear: Features, Pricing and User Reviews 2026
Trilium Notes
Free Open-Source Knowledge Base and Note-Taking App
Bear
Beautiful Markdown Note-Taking App for Mac, iPhone & iPad
Trilium Notes
Free Open-Source Knowledge Base and Note-Taking App
Bear
Beautiful Markdown Note-Taking App for Mac, iPhone & iPad
What are Trilium Notes and Bear?
Trilium Notes is a note-taking application that lets you organize information in a tree structure. Each note can contain text, images, code, diagrams, or other content types. Unlike basic note apps, Trilium allows one note to appear in multiple places in your tree without copying it, which is called cloning.
The app stores everything in a local database, making it fast even with thousands of notes. You can use a rich text editor for regular writing or a code editor for programming. It also includes features like note linking, full-text search, note encryption for privacy, and web clipping to save websites directly into your notes.
You can use Trilium offline on your computer or set up a sync server to access your notes from multiple devices and through a web browser.
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.
Features of Trilium Notes and Bear
Tree-based note organization with unlimited depth
Rich text and code editing with syntax highlighting
Note cloning to place notes in multiple locations
Full-text search with fuzzy matching
Password encryption for sensitive notes
Web clipper browser extension
Self-hosted sync server support
Version history and note revisions
Relation maps and visual note linking
Canvas for drawing and diagrams
Import from Evernote and Markdown
Completely free and open source
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
Use Cases of Trilium Notes and Bear
Pricing of Trilium Notes and Bear
Trilium Notes is completely free to use with no hidden costs or premium plans. It is released under an open-source license, which means you can download, install, and use it without paying anything. There are no subscription fees, no user limits, and no restrictions on features.
Since it is open-source, you have full control over your data. You can install it on your own computer or server without relying on any third-party service. The project is maintained by a community of developers who continue to improve it.
If you want to support the development team, you can make voluntary donations through platforms like GitHub Sponsors or Patreon. However, all features remain free whether you donate or not. This makes Trilium an excellent choice for individuals, students, and teams on any budget.
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.
FAQs: Trilium Notes vs Bear
Reviews: Trilium Notes vs Bear
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