Your archive must work across several operating systems
The official apps cover Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Obsidian vs Bear
Both tools can support a personal writing archive, but they place different boundaries around it. Obsidian works with a local vault of files across several operating systems. Bear emphasizes native Apple applications with optional iCloud sync and a limited browser companion. Start with your actual device mix.
Which software fits your needs
You write mainly on Mac, iPhone or iPad
Its native workflow combines local notes with optional iCloud synchronization.
The short answer
Shortlist Obsidian for direct file access and a mixed Windows, Linux or Apple setup. Shortlist Bear when your daily writing happens on Apple devices and you prefer its focused notes model. Browser access does not erase Bear's native-platform limits.
Prices and billing terms
Published prices keep their original currency and billing terms. Taxes, promotions and checkout prices can differ.
Obsidian
Core
Free
No account or paid license required
AvailabilityGlobal
Free for personal and commercial use.
SourceSync Standard — monthly
USD 5.00/month
Billed monthly per user
AvailabilityUSD list price
1 vault, 1 GB storage and 5 MB maximum file.
SourceSync Standard — annual
USD 48.00/year
Billed annually per user
AvailabilityUSD list price
Annual total calculated from the advertised $4 per month billed annually.
SourceSync Plus — monthly
USD 10.00/month
Billed monthly per user
AvailabilityUSD list price
10 vaults, 10 GB storage and 200 MB maximum file.
SourcePublish — annual
USD 96.00/year
Billed annually per site
AvailabilityUSD list price
Annual total calculated from $8 per month billed annually; separate from Sync.
SourceBear
Free
Free
No subscription charge
AvailabilityGlobal Apple App Store availability
Local notes with TXT, Markdown, TextBundle and RTF export.
Source 1Source 2Pro — monthly
USD 2.99/month
App Store recurring subscription
AvailabilityUS base price
One subscription across devices with the same Apple ID. Local prices and taxes vary.
SourcePro — annual
USD 29.99/year
App Store yearly subscription
AvailabilityUS base price
7-day trial is documented. Introductory promotions are not assumed to be renewal prices.
SourceThe details, side by side
13 features
Documented differences. An unverified answer means we do not have enough evidence.
Platforms
Offline use
Obsidian
The local vault remains available without a connection; Sync merges changes when connectivity returns.
Vendor documentedSource
Storage format
Obsidian
Notes are Markdown text in a local folder and can be edited with other text editors.
Vendor documentedSource
Bear
Not yet verified for this product.
Collaboration
Obsidian
All collaborators need Sync. Shared vaults do not provide live co-editing cursors or fine-grained permissions.
Vendor documentedSource
Export
Obsidian
Markdown files are directly accessible. Vault settings and extensions live separately in the .obsidian folder.
Vendor documentedSource
Bear
Free exports TXT, Markdown, TextBundle, Bear Note and RTF. Pro adds HTML, DOCX, PDF, JPG and ePub.
Vendor documentedSource
Privacy and storage
Bear
Pro can encrypt individual notes; their password cannot be reset by Bear and titles may remain visible.
Vendor documentedSource
Project portability
Obsidian
API import converts databases and formulas to Bases with limitations. ZIP import does not preserve databases.
Vendor documentedSource
Bear
The Mac importer brings in vault notes and local attachments. Remote HTTP assets and plugin-generated tags are not imported automatically.
Vendor documentedSource
Free plan limits
Obsidian
Core use is free without a mandatory account. Sync and Publish are optional services.
Vendor documentedSource
Use at work
Obsidian
Commercial use is free; the paid commercial license is optional support.
Vendor documentedSource
Bear
Not yet verified for this product.
Team limit
Obsidian
A shared vault supports at most 20 collaborators according to the current help page.
Vendor documentedSource
Bear
Not yet verified for this product.
Sync
Obsidian
Not yet verified for this product.
AI features
Obsidian
Not yet verified for this product.
Bear
Bear 2.8+ on Mac offers a CLI, Claude Connector and MCP server. These require opt-in and cannot read encrypted note content.
Vendor documentedSource
Browser and ADP
Obsidian
Not yet verified for this product.
| Feature | Obsidian | Bear |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps are documented. Vendor documentedSource | Native Mac, iPhone and iPad apps plus a limited browser beta; no native Windows or Android version. |
| Offline use | The local vault remains available without a connection; Sync merges changes when connectivity returns. Vendor documentedSource | Native apps support local notes offline. The web privacy page says notes are not stored locally in the browser. |
| Storage format | Notes are Markdown text in a local folder and can be edited with other text editors. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Collaboration | All collaborators need Sync. Shared vaults do not provide live co-editing cursors or fine-grained permissions. Vendor documentedSource | 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 | Markdown files are directly accessible. Vault settings and extensions live separately in the .obsidian folder. Vendor documentedSource | Free exports TXT, Markdown, TextBundle, Bear Note and RTF. Pro adds HTML, DOCX, PDF, JPG and ePub. Vendor documentedSource |
| Privacy and storage | Official Sync documents end-to-end encryption; local-only use does not send notes to Obsidian. | Pro can encrypt individual notes; their password cannot be reset by Bear and titles may remain visible. Vendor documentedSource |
| Project portability | API import converts databases and formulas to Bases with limitations. ZIP import does not preserve databases. Vendor documentedSource | The Mac importer brings in vault notes and local attachments. Remote HTTP assets and plugin-generated tags are not imported automatically. Vendor documentedSource |
| Free plan limits | Core use is free without a mandatory account. Sync and Publish are optional services. Vendor documentedSource | Local editing and basic export are free; official cross-device iCloud sync is a Pro feature. |
| Use at work | Commercial use is free; the paid commercial license is optional support. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Team limit | A shared vault supports at most 20 collaborators according to the current help page. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Sync | Not yet verified for this product. | Pro synchronizes through Apple CloudKit using the same Apple ID. |
| AI features | Not yet verified for this product. | Bear 2.8+ on Mac offers a CLI, Claude Connector and MCP server. These require opt-in and cannot read encrypted note content. Vendor documentedSource |
| Browser and ADP | Not yet verified for this product. | 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. |
Start with the device you cannot change
If your work laptop is Windows or your phone is Android, that is a practical constraint rather than a minor feature preference. Obsidian lists native apps for those platforms. Bear has a browser companion in public beta, but its own documentation describes that companion as a supplement to the Apple apps. Do not choose based on a screenshot from a device you do not use. List every place where you need to create, edit and retrieve notes, then check the exact route available on each one.
Source 1Source 2Free writing and paid synchronization
Both products support a free local writing workflow. Bear Pro is listed at the US base price of $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year, with local App Store variation. It adds iCloud sync and other features. Obsidian sells official Sync separately from its core editor and Publish separately from both. Neither payment automatically buys the same bundle of outcomes. Decide whether you need phone synchronization, polished exports or a public site, then compare the actual combination. Keep annual commitments distinct from month-to-month costs.
Source 1Source 2Understand what leaving the app would mean
Obsidian's note text is already accessible in a folder. Bear stores notes through its own application and provides exports; its free formats include Markdown and TextBundle, while PDF and Word export are Pro features. A readable export is useful, but it is not the same workflow as maintaining the archive directly as files. Consider how often you need to use another editor and whether attachments travel correctly. If you only occasionally send a finished document, an export menu may be enough. If external file tools are part of everyday work, direct access may matter more.
Source 1Source 2Privacy depends on the chosen features
Bear Pro can encrypt individual notes, but their titles may remain visible and the note password cannot be reset by the vendor. Its web FAQ and privacy page disagree about Advanced Data Protection compatibility. This comparison marks that point unresolved rather than recommending a change to security settings. Obsidian's official Sync documents encrypted synchronization, while local use follows a different data path. Compare the specific content you need to protect and the services you enable. These documented controls are not a security audit or evidence that every configuration has been tested.
Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4Import the hard notes first
Bear has a dedicated Mac importer for Obsidian vaults. It documents importing local attachments and ordinary tags, with exceptions for remote web assets and tags created by scripts or plugins. That makes the migration worth testing rather than assuming that Markdown guarantees identical behavior. Choose notes containing attachments, nested organization and cross-references. Inspect the result and keep the original vault unchanged. If a special extension creates a large part of your workflow, evaluate the replacement separately. This site has reviewed the importer documentation but has not executed a full vault migration.
SourceKeep the writing task central
Bear's recent Mac releases also expose optional automation and AI connectors. Their existence should not turn the choice into a race for the longest feature list. A writer may benefit more from a repeatable capture and export routine than from adding another assistant. Conversely, someone who already uses local file tools may find Obsidian fits an established process. Spend a normal writing session in each candidate using disposable notes, then judge the completed work. Favor the setup that you can explain, maintain and back up without relying on features you have not actually needed.
Source 1Source 2Source 3Our take
Obsidian is the stronger candidate when file access and mixed operating systems are firm requirements. Bear is worth trying for personal writing centered on Apple devices. Make the browser, export and privacy limits part of the decision.
Common questions
Can I use Bear on Windows?
Bear documents a limited web beta but no native Windows app. The web experience is not a full replacement for its Apple apps.
Can Bear import an Obsidian vault?
Yes, through its Mac importer. Remote linked assets and plugin-generated tags have documented limitations.
Check the sources
Evidence used for this comparison. A checked date records when we reviewed the source, not a promise that the vendor has made no changes since.
- Collaborate on a shared vault (opens in a new tab)
help.obsidian.md
- Import from Notion (opens in a new tab)
help.obsidian.md
- Obsidian pricing (opens in a new tab)
obsidian.md
- How Obsidian stores data (opens in a new tab)
help.obsidian.md
- Obsidian Sync plans (opens in a new tab)
obsidian.md
Keep comparing
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Note-taking · Start with Notion for an ongoing team process with shared pages and structured records. Start with Obsidian for a personal archive you want to control as files. Neither wins every workflow and neither should be chosen solely because an old comparison says the other cannot work offline.
Obsidian vs Logseq: local notes with different structures
Note-taking · Obsidian is the clearer shortlist choice when you specifically want a vault of Markdown files. Logseq is worth evaluating when linked blocks and structured graph workflows match how you think. Treat its newer database edition as an evolving product with a separate backup and migration plan.
Evernote vs Joplin: managed capture or an open-source archive?
Note-taking · Shortlist Joplin when you want an open-source notebook and a choice of storage service. Keep Evernote in the shortlist when capture and archive retrieval are already valuable enough to justify the plan. Do a representative migration test before canceling or deleting anything.