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

The best open source alternative to Bear is Notesnook. 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, Zim and Trilium Notes.

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Alternatives list

  1. Notesnook icon
     213 likes

    Offers open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes with device-based privacy, cross-platform support, private vault, secure sync, offline access, markdown editor, exports to multiple formats, automatic backups, organizational tools, and strong encryption.

    384 Notesnook alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak
    • Self-Hosted
     
  2. Standard Notes icon
     708 likes

    Secure note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, unlimited syncing across all platforms, offline access, detailed organization through tags, strong passcode and biometric protections, and premium features like encrypted files, themes, web clipper, super note types, and hardware key support.

    205 Standard Notes alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
     
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    1
    Standard Notes vs Bear Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    No subtags in free version

    • Standard Notes is Freemium and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Standard Notes is Privacy focused, Minimalistic, Security-focused and CustomizableBear is not according to our users
  3. Zettlr icon
     266 likes

    Unified writing platform offering note-taking, easy citations with Zotero integration, LaTeX/Word templates, snippets, themes, dark modes, code highlighting, multi-language support, and knowledge management with Zettelkasten for seamless writing from notes to books.

    238 Zettlr alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
     
  4. Zim icon
     518 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"...

    356 Zim alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
     
    |
    1
    Zim vs Bear Comments
    Gallien
    Negative
    0

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

    • Zim is Free and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Zim is Privacy focusedBear is not according to our users
  5. CherryTree icon
     333 likes

    Hierarchical note-taking software that is free, open-source, cross-platform. Features include rich text, syntax highlighting, multi-level lists, embedded files, customizable interface, code execution, PDF export, spell check, images & tables, and comprehensive project management support.

    147 CherryTree alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
     
    |
    1
    CherryTree vs Bear Comments
    Gallien
    Negative
    1

    cherrytree doesn't sync notes

    • CherryTree is Free and Open SourceBear is Freemium and Proprietary
    • CherryTree is Customizable and Privacy focusedBear is not according to our users
  6. Cryptee icon
     113 likes

    Encrypted, privacy-focused digital storage with zero-knowledge architecture supporting document editing, notes, journals, and photo storage with raw DSLR support, live sync, markdown, code, LaTeX, to-dos, audio, tables, EPUB, PDF, and cross-platform access.

    103 Cryptee alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
     
  7. Manuskript icon
     176 likes

    Open-source software offering a hierarchical outliner, distraction-free editor, character management, plot tools, Snowflake method support, section multi-organization, customizable writing workflows, cross-platform availability, and export to standard formats.

    153 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
     
  8. QOwnNotes icon
     102 likes

    Plain text notepad with markdown support and todo list manager for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows, that works together with the notes application of ownCloud.

    317 QOwnNotes alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Qt
     
  9. Blinko icon
     32 likes

    Open-source note-taking tool offering AI-enhanced retrieval with RAG technology, secure self-hosted data storage, Markdown support, and transparent community collaboration on GitHub for efficient, private, and effortless note management.

    121 Blinko alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
     
  10. HelixNotes icon
     21 likes

    HelixNotes is a local markdown note-taking app built with Rust, Tauri 2.0, and SvelteKit. Your notes are standard .md files on your filesystem - sync with whatever you want or nothing at all.

    147 HelixNotes alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
     
  11. Clean, native Markdown editor for macOS with syntax highlighting, real-time GitHub Flavored Markdown and Mermaid diagram preview, KaTeX math support, synchronized side-by-side editing, QuickLook integration, PDF export, format shortcuts, and no subscriptions.

    72 Clearly Markdown alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
12 of 89 Bear alternatives