BearvsCraft
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Bear
- Apple-only: No native Windows or Android apps(9/10)
- No folders - Bear only organizes with tags(6/10)
- No collaboration features(6/10)
- No graph view for linked notes(5/10)
- No voice recording; sketches lag in heavy notes(4/10)
- Bear Web doesn't work with Advanced Data Protection(5/10)
Craft
- Cluttered UI with confusing navigation(6/10)
- Formatting and editing is cumbersome(6/10)
- New features feel incomplete and buggy(5/10)
- No built-in task management or databases(6/10)
- Craft export loses formatting and images(5/10)
Bear
- Bear notes not syncing between devices(7/10)
- Duplicate 'conflicted' notes after editing on two devices(6/10)
- Evernote import crashes and lost images(6/10)
- Backups are manual and restoring wipes all notes(7/10)
Craft
- Craft still shows free limits after upgrading(5/10)
- Craft not syncing between devices(8/10)
- Craft offline mode limited on Windows, web and Android(6/10)
Bear
- Limited integrations beyond Apple automation(4/10)
Craft
No signals
Bear
- Why is Bear so slow with large notes?(6/10)
Craft
- Craft Windows and web apps lag behind the Mac app(6/10)
Bear
- Forgot Bear note password = locked notes are gone(7/10)
Craft
- iCloud External Storage spaces unreliable across devices(5/10)
- Sign in with Apple and email create separate Craft accounts(8/10)
Bear
No signals
Craft
- Craft free plan limited to 1,500 blocks(7/10)
- Craft AI credits run out fast(4/10)
- Is Craft Plus worth $10 a month?(5/10)
Bear
No signals
Craft
- iPad version lacks desktop-class features(5/10)
Pricing Comparison
Bear
Users: 1 user
Storage: Unlimited local notes (one device)
Limits: No iCloud sync, no encryption, no OCR search in PDFs/images, no PDF/DOCX/HTML/ePub export
Users: 1 user (all Apple devices)
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: Apple devices only
Users: 1 user (all Apple devices)
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: Apple devices only
Users: 1 user (all Apple devices)
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: Not available to new customers; resubscribing after a lapse is not guaranteed to keep the old price
Users: 1 user
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: Request a code from support with school email/ID; not valid with an active subscription or trial; codes expire
Craft
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1 GB, 25 MB per file
Limits: No shared space, 25 MB uploads, short version history
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1 TB per space, 5 GB per file
Limits: 300,000 blocks per space on Apple apps
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1 TB per space, 5 GB per file
Limits: Individual use
Users: Up to 6 people (owner + 5)
Storage: 1 TB per space
Limits: Shared spaces must be created under Settings > Team > Spaces
Users: Up to 10 members
Storage: 1 TB per space
Limits: Larger teams need custom pricing
Users: 1 user
Limits: Must keep student/educator status
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bear | Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Native Apple apps macOS, iOS, iPadOS | ||
| Usability | ||
| Markdown support Excellent inline preview | ||
| Beautiful documents Focus on visual quality | ||
| Bear Web Beta, limited features | ||
| Fast search Excellent performance | ||
| OCR search in PDFs and images Pro only | ||
| Reliability | ||
| Offline-first Full offline editing | ||
| Cross-platform sync Mac, iOS, iPadOS, Vision Pro, Windows, Web, Android | ||
| iCloud sync Pro only, some reported issues | ||
| Automatic backups Manual File > Backup Notes only | ||
| Organization | ||
| Tag organization Nested tags instead of folders | ||
| Databases Not available | ||
| Bidirectional linking [[Wiki links]] + Backlinks panel | ||
| Security | ||
| Note encryption Pro only | ||
| Local file storage Craft cloud by default; External Storage spaces optional | ||
| iCloud sync option External Storage spaces; not recommended across devices | ||
| Productivity | ||
| Templates Available | ||
| Kanban boards Not available | ||
| Task management No built-in tasks | ||
| Customization | ||
| Multiple themes Pro only | ||
| AI | ||
| Craft AI 15 credits free, 50/month on Plus | ||
| Portability | ||
| Export to multiple formats Free: TXT, MD, TextBundle, RTF; Pro: PDF, DOCX, HTML, JPG, ePub | ||
| Export (PDF, Word, Markdown, TextBundle) Word not on Windows; bulk export Mac/iPad only | ||
| Collaboration | ||
| Team collaboration Family and Team plans | ||
| Collaboration Not available | ||
| Pricing | ||
| Education plan Free Pro for students | ||
| Education discount 30% off first year | ||
| Unlimited free blocks 1,500 block limit on free | ||
| Capture | ||
| Web clipper Available | ||
| Drawing support Inline sketcher (Apple Pencil/finger); ruled, dotted, grid backgrounds | ||
| Voice recording Not available | ||
| Platform | ||
| Windows app Not available | ||
| Android app Not available | ||
| Visualization | ||
| Graph view Not available | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Third-party integrations x-callback-url, Shortcuts, BearCLI, MCP server, Claude Connector (2026); no Zapier | ||
| API & MCP 100 requests/min on Free and Plus | ||
| Editing | ||
| Mermaid diagrams Added July 2026 | ||