Your comparison workspace. Put two or three tools from the same category side by side.
We selected a compatible alternative from this category. You can change either choice above.
Prices & plans Features and limits Worth a second opinion? Send this page to someone choosing their next tool.
SOFTWARE SIGNAL Microsoft OneNote vs Bear www.softwaresignal.net
This link keeps the apps and table currently displayed. Apply any changed selections before sharing.
Freeform notebooks for typing and handwriting
Markdown writing for Apple devices
Prices & plans Published prices keep their original currency and billing terms. Taxes, promotions and checkout prices can differ.
OneNote Free
Supported apps are free
Availability Global; availability varies
Microsoft account storage applies. Some premium features require a separate subscription.
Source Microsoft 365 Personal USD 99.99/year
Annual subscription with automatic renewal
Availability United States
Suite bundle for one person with 1 TB cloud storage. This is not a mandatory OneNote fee.
Source Microsoft 365 Family USD 129.99/year
Annual subscription with automatic renewal
Availability United States
Suite bundle for up to six people; listed AI benefits are for the subscription owner.
Source Free Free
No subscription charge
Availability Global Apple App Store availability
Local notes with TXT, Markdown, TextBundle and RTF export.
Source 1 Source 2 Pro — monthly USD 2.99/month
App Store recurring subscription
Availability US base price
One subscription across devices with the same Apple ID. Local prices and taxes vary.
Source Pro — annual USD 29.99/year
App Store yearly subscription
Availability US base price
7-day trial is documented. Introductory promotions are not assumed to be renewal prices.
Source Features and limits Row headings group related topics. Each answer keeps its specific scope. An unverified answer means we do not have enough evidence.
Microsoft OneNote Devices
Supported apps cover Windows, macOS, iOS and Android with a web version.
Bear Devices
Native Mac, iPhone and iPad apps plus a limited browser beta; no native Windows or Android version.
Offline use Microsoft OneNote Offline access
OneNote keeps local notebook copies for offline editing and synchronizes changes later.
Bear Offline access
Native apps support local notes offline. The web privacy page says notes are not stored locally in the browser.
Collaboration Microsoft OneNote Sharing
Shared notebooks synchronize edits between collaborators through OneNote.
Bear Live collaboration
A shared live editing workflow was not established from the reviewed official sources.
Sharing exported notes and syncing one person's devices do not establish multi-person co-editing.
Export Microsoft OneNote Notebook export
Web notebook export supports personal OneDrive accounts, not work or school OneDrive or SharePoint.
Bear Export
Free exports TXT, Markdown, TextBundle, Bear Note and RTF. Pro adds HTML, DOCX, PDF, JPG and ePub.
Project portability Microsoft OneNote Restore limits
The documented web notebook importer is deprecated. Exported notebooks can be opened in Windows OneNote.
Bear Obsidian import
The Mac importer brings in vault notes and local attachments. Remote HTTP assets and plugin-generated tags are not imported automatically.
Free plan limits Microsoft OneNote Free app
Supported OneNote versions are free; optional subscriptions unlock premium features.
Bear Free plan
Local editing and basic export are free; official cross-device iCloud sync is a Pro feature.
Handwriting Microsoft OneNote Handwriting
Windows supports ink-to-text conversion. This particular conversion is not offered in OneNote for the web.
Bear Not yet verified for this product.
Image text Microsoft OneNote Image text
Mac OCR uses Microsoft online services and results may take 24–48 hours.
Bear Not yet verified for this product.
AI features Microsoft OneNote Copilot
Microsoft 365 Personal lists OneNote with Copilot; Family AI benefits are limited to the subscription owner.
Bear Optional AI connection
Bear 2.8+ on Mac offers a CLI, Claude Connector and MCP server. These require opt-in and cannot read encrypted note content.
Windows app choice Microsoft OneNote Windows app choice
Use the current OneNote app; OneNote for Windows 10 reached its documented support endpoint in October 2025.
Bear Not yet verified for this product.
Sync Microsoft OneNote Not yet verified for this product.
Bear Sync
Pro synchronizes through Apple CloudKit using the same Apple ID.
Privacy and storage Microsoft OneNote Not yet verified for this product.
Bear Note encryption
Pro can encrypt individual notes; their password cannot be reset by Bear and titles may remain visible.
Browser and ADP Microsoft OneNote Not yet verified for this product.
Bear Browser and ADP
Official pages disagree on whether Bear Web works with Advanced Data Protection enabled.
The web FAQ says ADP prevents use. The privacy page documents ADP login with two-factor authentication. Do not switch security settings based on this comparison.
This workspace aligns existing research. It does not declare a winner or treat missing evidence as a missing feature. Read the methodology .
