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.
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.
Based on the documented differences below. Your priorities can change the choice.The official apps cover Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
All collaborators need Sync. Shared vaults do not provide live co-editing cursors or fine-grained permissions.
SourceIts native workflow combines local notes with optional iCloud synchronization.
Published prices keep their original currency and billing terms. Taxes, promotions and checkout prices can differ.
No account or paid license required
AvailabilityGlobal
Free for personal and commercial use.
SourceBilled monthly per user
AvailabilityUSD list price
1 vault, 1 GB storage and 5 MB maximum file.
SourceBilled annually per user
AvailabilityUSD list price
Annual total calculated from the advertised $4 per month billed annually.
SourceBilled monthly per user
AvailabilityUSD list price
10 vaults, 10 GB storage and 200 MB maximum file.
SourceBilled annually per site
AvailabilityUSD list price
Annual total calculated from $8 per month billed annually; separate from Sync.
SourceNo subscription charge
AvailabilityGlobal Apple App Store availability
Local notes with TXT, Markdown, TextBundle and RTF export.
Source 1Source 2App Store recurring subscription
AvailabilityUS base price
One subscription across devices with the same Apple ID. Local prices and taxes vary.
SourceApp Store yearly subscription
AvailabilityUS base price
7-day trial is documented. Introductory promotions are not assumed to be renewal prices.
SourceEnter the offers you see at checkout. These are your estimates, separate from our sourced prices above. Use the same currency and region for every offer. This worksheet supports monthly bills, annual bills and purchases that cover the full year. Day-based passes and introductory rates need their actual renewal schedule checked separately.
The scenario starts with a payment today and assumes 12 months of use at the same entered price, including any renewal. Monthly extras repeat 12 times; one-time extras are counted once. It excludes discounts, price changes, refunds, cancellation fees and anything you have not entered. Amounts are rounded to the currency’s usual precision. Confirm the actual charge and contract with the vendor.
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13 features
Row headings group related topics. Each answer keeps its specific scope. An unverified answer means we do not have enough evidence.
Offline access
The local vault remains available without a connection; Sync merges changes when connectivity returns.
Storage format
Notes are Markdown text in a local folder and can be edited with other text editors.
Not yet verified for this product.
Shared vaults
All collaborators need Sync. Shared vaults do not provide live co-editing cursors or fine-grained permissions.
Portability
Markdown files are directly accessible. Vault settings and extensions live separately in the .obsidian folder.
Export
Free exports TXT, Markdown, TextBundle, Bear Note and RTF. Pro adds HTML, DOCX, PDF, JPG and ePub.
Note encryption
Pro can encrypt individual notes; their password cannot be reset by Bear and titles may remain visible.
Notion migration
API import converts databases and formulas to Bases with limitations. ZIP import does not preserve databases.
Obsidian import
The Mac importer brings in vault notes and local attachments. Remote HTTP assets and plugin-generated tags are not imported automatically.
Core app cost
Core use is free without a mandatory account. Sync and Publish are optional services.
Use at work
Commercial use is free; the paid commercial license is optional support.
Not yet verified for this product.
Team limit
A shared vault supports at most 20 collaborators according to the current help page.
Not yet verified for this product.
Not yet verified for this product.
Not yet verified for this product.
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.
Not yet verified for this product.
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.
| Feature | Obsidian | Bear |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Devices Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps are documented. Vendor documentedSource | Devices Native Mac, iPhone and iPad apps plus a limited browser beta; no native Windows or Android version. |
| Offline use | Offline access The local vault remains available without a connection; Sync merges changes when connectivity returns. Vendor documentedSource | Offline access Native apps support local notes offline. The web privacy page says notes are not stored locally in the browser. |
| Storage format | 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 | Shared vaults All collaborators need Sync. Shared vaults do not provide live co-editing cursors or fine-grained permissions. Vendor documentedSource | 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 | Portability Markdown files are directly accessible. Vault settings and extensions live separately in the .obsidian folder. Vendor documentedSource | Export Free exports TXT, Markdown, TextBundle, Bear Note and RTF. Pro adds HTML, DOCX, PDF, JPG and ePub. Vendor documentedSource |
| Privacy and storage | Sync privacy Official Sync documents end-to-end encryption; local-only use does not send notes to Obsidian. | Note encryption Pro can encrypt individual notes; their password cannot be reset by Bear and titles may remain visible. Vendor documentedSource |
| Project portability | Notion migration API import converts databases and formulas to Bases with limitations. ZIP import does not preserve databases. Vendor documentedSource | Obsidian import 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 app cost Core use is free without a mandatory account. Sync and Publish are optional services. Vendor documentedSource | Free plan Local editing and basic export are free; official cross-device iCloud sync is a Pro feature. |
| Use at work | Use at work Commercial use is free; the paid commercial license is optional support. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Team limit | 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. | Sync Pro synchronizes through Apple CloudKit using the same Apple ID. |
| AI features | Not yet verified for this product. | 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. Vendor documentedSource |
| Browser and ADP | Not yet verified for this product. | 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. |
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 2Both 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 2Obsidian'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 2Bear 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 4Bear 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.
SourceBear'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 3Obsidian 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.
Bear documents a limited web beta but no native Windows app. The web experience is not a full replacement for its Apple apps.
Yes, through its Mac importer. Remote linked assets and plugin-generated tags have documented limitations.
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.
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Note-taking · Choose Joplin when notebook organization and an Evernote import route fit your archive. Choose Obsidian when direct access to ordinary Markdown files is a firm requirement. Both offer free local use. Cloud sync is a separate decision, with different storage limits and currencies. This is a documentation comparison, not a matched speed or reliability test.
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.
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.
