Open Source Bear AlternativesTop Note-taking Tools & Todo List Managers like Bear

The best open source alternative to Bear is Anytype. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Bear and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Bear are Standard Notes, Zettlr, Notesnook and Zim.

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Bear alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Todo List Managers or Task Management Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Bear.
Bear iconBear
  93
  • ...

Bear is a beautiful and flexible writing app for note-taking and prose, both on the go for iOS devices and for the Mac OS desktop.

More about Bear
Bear alternatives page was last updated Feb 15, 2024
  1. Anytype icon
     222 likes

    E2E encrypted, local-first, p2p and open. A knowledge graph of your ideas, tasks, wikis, projects, and databases. Supported on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android & iOS. Offline access, markdown export, and on-device storage.

    100 Anytype alternatives
    Movie Database

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Synchronization
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Visual Organization
    5.  Decentralized
    6.  Knowledge Management
    7.  Support for MarkDown
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Local Storage
    10.  Team Collaboration
    11.  Cross-Platform
    12.  Wiki
    Anytype iconBear Icon

    Anytype VS Bear

    Is Anytype a good alternative to Bear?
     
    • Anytype is the most popular Open Source alternative to Bear.

    • Anytype is Freemium and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Anytype is Privacy focused and DecentralizedBear is not according to our users
  2. Standard Notes icon
     642 likes

    Standard Notes is a simple and private notes app. It allows you to write and sync your notes across all your devices, iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, MacOS, and web browser.

    71 Standard Notes alternatives
    Standard Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Clean design
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  Encrypted Notes
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Encrypted Backup
    8.  AES Encryption
    9.  Sync on many devices
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Mobile friendly
    12.  Client side encryption
    Standard Notes iconBear Icon

    Standard Notes VS Bear

    Is Standard Notes a good alternative to Bear?
     
    Comments about Standard Notes as an Alternative to Bear
     
    Guest

    No subtags in free version

    Negative commentNov 2, 2018
    -1
    Bear Icon
    Standard Notes icon
    • Most users think Standard Notes is a great Bear alternative.

    • Standard Notes is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Bear.

    • Standard Notes is Freemium and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Standard Notes is Privacy focused and Security-focusedBear is not according to our users
  3. Zettlr icon
     212 likes

    From idea to publication in one app: Zettlr accompanies you while writing your blog post, newspaper article, term paper, thesis, or entire book.

    159 Zettlr alternatives
    Zettlr Main Window (dark mode)

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Zettelkasten note method
    3.  File Tagging
    4.  Multiple export options
    5. Zotero icon  Zotero integration
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Link files
    8.  Built-in themes
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Hierarchical Structure
    Zettlr iconBear Icon

    Zettlr VS Bear

    Is Zettlr a good alternative to Bear?
     
  4. Notesnook icon
     120 likes

    Notesnook is a simple and cross-platform private notes app that keeps your notes organized and synced on your phone, tablet and computer. Take notes, capture ideas, create to-do lists, keep a journal, write your assignments and manage projects, we have got you covered.

    236 Notesnook alternatives
    Notesnook screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Notes
    2.  Private notes
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Note organization
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Web Clipper
    12.  Reminders
    Notesnook iconBear Icon

    Notesnook VS Bear

    Is Notesnook a good alternative to Bear?
     
    • Notesnook is the most popular SaaS alternative to Bear.

    • Notesnook is Freemium and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Notesnook is Privacy focusedBear is not according to our users
  5. Zim icon
     492 likes

    Zim brings the concept of a wiki to your desktop. Store information, link pages and edit with WYSISYG markup or directly typing some lightweight markup syntax and see it previewed as-you-type. Creating a new page is easy by either clicking on the "Create new note"...

    291 Zim alternatives
    Zim screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Plain text file
    3.  Wiki-like interface
    4.  Hierarchical Structure
    5.  Cross-Platform
    6.  Note organization
    7.  WYSIWYG Support
    8.  Outliner
    9.  Text formatting
    10.  Portable
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Notebook
    Zim iconBear Icon

    Zim VS Bear

    Is Zim a good alternative to Bear?
     
    Comments about Zim as an Alternative to Bear
     
    Gallien

    Zim doesn't enable to sync notes, and is not even meant to take notes, but to write a personnal wiki

    Negative commentJun 5, 2020
    0
    Bear Icon
    Zim icon
    • Most users think Zim is a great Bear alternative.

    • Zim is Free and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Zim is LightweightBear is not according to our users
  6. CherryTree icon
     309 likes

    A hierarchical note taking application, featuring rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.

    64 CherryTree alternatives
    CherryTree screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com

    Top CherryTree Features

    1.  Hierarchical Structure
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Infinite hierarchical depth
    4.  Includes images in notes
    5.  Outliner
    6.  Tree view
    7.  Tree Style Tabs
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Portable
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Support for MarkDown
    12.  Code Formatting
    CherryTree iconBear Icon

    CherryTree VS Bear

    Is CherryTree a good alternative to Bear?
     
    Comments about CherryTree as an Alternative to Bear
     
    Gallien

    cherrytree doesn't sync notes

    Negative commentJun 5, 2020
    1
    Bear Icon
    CherryTree icon
    • CherryTree is Free and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
  7. AFFiNE icon
     81 likes

    There can be more than Notion / and Miro. Affine is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together.

    102 AFFiNE alternatives
    AFFiNE screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Goal Tracking
    4.  Kanban Board
    5.  Interactive Whiteboard
    6.  Real time collaboration
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Pomodoro Timer
    9.  Handwritten Notes
    10.  Subtasks
    11.  Hierarchical Structure
    12.  Works Offline
    AFFiNE iconBear Icon

    AFFiNE VS Bear

    Is AFFiNE a good alternative to Bear?
     
  8. Trilium Notes icon
     90 likes

    Trilium Notes is a hierarchical note taking application.

    342 Trilium Notes alternatives
    Trilium Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Cloudron
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Knowledge base
    2.  Tree of notes
    3.  Note organization
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Encrypted Notes
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  End-to-End Encryption
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Web Clipper
    12.  Support for scripting
    Discontinued

    Trilium transitions into maintenance mode and don't plan adding any new major functionality. You can take a look at this community fork: https://github.com/TriliumNext

    Trilium Notes iconBear Icon

    Trilium Notes VS Bear

    Is Trilium Notes a good alternative to Bear?
     
  9. Cryptee icon
     91 likes

    Cryptee is a safety and privacy focused, encrypted and cross-platform personal data storage service. You can write personal documents, notes, journals, store photos (including raw photos from DSLR cameras) and all sorts of other files.

    39 Cryptee alternatives
    Cryptee screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Notes
    3.  Rich text editing
    4.  Encrypted Photo Storage
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Cloud Hosting
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  File Storage
    11.  WYSIWYG Support
    12.  Evernote import
    Cryptee iconBear Icon

    Cryptee VS Bear

    Is Cryptee a good alternative to Bear?
     
  10. Manuskript icon
     158 likes

    Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.

    107 Manuskript alternatives
    Manuskript screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Top Manuskript Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Tracking of characters
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Support for MarkDown
    12.  File Versioning
    Manuskript iconBear Icon

    Manuskript VS Bear

    Is Manuskript a good alternative to Bear?
     
  11. DeepNotes icon
     32 likes

    DeepNotes is an open source, end-to-end encrypted visual note-taking app with deep page navigation and live collaboration. Create mind maps, diagrams, kanban boards, among others. Infinite nesting of infinite canvases.

    47 DeepNotes alternatives
    Family tree

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Scrum Boards
    3.  Two-factor Authentication
    4. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    5.  Visual Pinboard
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Encrypted Backup
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  End-to-End Encryption
    11.  Unlimited storage
    12.  No Tracking
    DeepNotes iconBear Icon

    DeepNotes VS Bear

    Is DeepNotes a good alternative to Bear?
     
  12. Reor icon
     25 likes

    Reor is an AI-powered desktop note-taking app: it automatically links related ideas, answers questions on your notes and provides semantic search. Everything is stored locally and you can edit your notes with an Obsidian-like markdown editor.

    71 Reor alternatives
    Reor screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux

    Reor Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  No registration required
    5.  AI-Powered
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Semantic Search
    Reor iconBear Icon

    Reor VS Bear

    Is Reor a good alternative to Bear?
     
12 of 63 Bear alternatives