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Bear vs Ulysses Comparison

Last updated:

Bear

4.6(22 reviews)

Starting at $2.49 per month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Small Business

Bear is a dynamic software platform that empowers users to effortlessly generate, manage, and transfer their notes with ease. Whether it's creating documents swiftly and securely or encrypting them for heightened securit…

Ulysses

4.5(23 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Medium Business

Introducing Ulysses - the must-have writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. This powerful tool offers a delightful writing experience, paired with efficient document management, lightning-fast syncing, and versatile expor…

Bear leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 22 reviews.

Bear vs Ulysses — at a glance

FeatureBearUlysses
Rating4.6 / 54.5 / 5
Reviews2223
Starting price$2.49 per monthContact for pricing
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Small Business, Medium BusinessIndividuals, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryNote Taking SoftwareNote Taking Software
PlatformsMobile - iOS, Installed - MacMobile - iOS, Installed - Mac
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Bear and Ulysses

  • Pricing: Bear starts at $2.49 per month. Ulysses pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: Bear is built for Large Enterprises and Small Business, while Ulysses targets Individuals and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Bear scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
  • Deployment: Bear supports Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac; Ulysses supports Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac.

Bear vs Ulysses — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Note Taking Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Bear
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Ulysses - Note Taking Software
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Bear vs Ulysses: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Bear

Best markdown note-taking app for Apple ecosystem users seeking simplicity.

Choose if
  • You primarily use Apple devices and want seamless syncing across them.
  • You prefer a minimalistic, distraction-free interface for focused writing.
  • You need markdown support for versatile note formatting and exporting.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team requires advanced collaboration and sharing features.
  • You need cross-platform support beyond Apple devices.

Ulysses

Best for

Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business

Bear typically suits Large Enterprises and Small Business. Ulysses tends to fit Individuals and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Bear is a dynamic software platform that empowers users to effortlessly generate, manage, and transfer their notes with ease. Whether it's creating documents swiftly and securely or ... Read More about Bear

Introducing Ulysses - the must-have writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. This powerful tool offers a delightful writing experience, paired with efficient document management, ... Read More about Ulysses

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $2.49 , Billed Yearly
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.0/10

Not Available

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.61

(22)

4.54

(23)

Best Company Size

1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Bear has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

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How do Bear and Ulysses Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

4 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Bear and Ulysses on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $2.49 , Billed Yearly
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Free

        • Local access to your notes

        • Document scanning

      • Pro

        $2.99

        per month

        • Local access to your notes

        • Document scanning

        • Export to: TXT, Markdown, TextBundle, RTF, PDF, JPG, HTML, DOCX, ePub

        Show more +

      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Bear pricing

      Pricing information not available

      Bear vs Ulysses: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Bear vs Ulysses Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✗ No

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✗ No

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✗ No

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      Bear User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      40

      1

      1

      0

      0

      17

      5

      1

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Users generally praise Bear for its clean design, markdown support, and seamless Apple device syncing, though some find its rich features overwhelming and desire more integrations.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Markdown support
      • Apple ecosystem synchronization

      Common complaints

      • Complexity for new users
      • Limited integrations

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 23 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Distraction-free writing
      • Efficient document management
      • Fast syncing

      Common complaints

      • Mac/iOS only
      • Subscription model may deter users
      • Limited collaboration features

      Pros and Cons

      • Supports markdown for versatile writing and exporting

      • Minimalistic UI that reduces distractions

      • Seamless syncing across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch

      • Overwhelming feature set with limited onboarding guidance

      • Limited third-party app integrations and marketplace connectors

      • Highly efficient writing interface

      • Robust document management features

      • Fast and reliable syncing across devices

      • Limited to Apple users

      • Subscription costs may be a barrier

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Bear or Ulysses? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Notes

      1 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Bear and Ulysses in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Bear or Ulysses?
      Bear edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.5). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Bear and Ulysses offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Bear and Ulysses offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Bear vs Ulysses?
      Bear starts at $2.49 per month. Ulysses starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Bear?
      Top alternatives to Bear include Nimbus Note, Evernote, Zoho Notebook, Hugo, MeetingKing.
      What are the top alternatives to Ulysses?
      Top alternatives to Ulysses include Notability, Amanote, Heptabase, Knowt, Zoho Notebook.