Notes, tasks, passwords, journal, files, calendar, contacts and bookmarks, with mood and medication tracking. Encrypted on your device. Open source, no ads, no trackers. Free forever; Pro is a one-time purchase.
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Which is more popular?
Bear might be a bit more popular than
Things.
We know about 60 links to it since March 2021
and only 58 links to Things.
social mentions
60 vs 58
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
Base details
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
User-Friendly Interface Bear features a clean, intuitive design that makes it easy for users to navigate and manage their notes, even for those who are not tech-savvy.
Markdown Support Bear supports Markdown, allowing users to format their text efficiently and maintain consistency across documents with simple syntax.
Cross-Device Synchronization Bear offers seamless synchronization across iOS and macOS devices, ensuring your notes are always up-to-date regardless of which device you use.
Powerful Tagging System The app includes an advanced tagging mechanism, enabling users to easily categorize and find their notes through hashtags.
Focus Mode Bear offers a Focus Mode that hides distractions, allowing users to concentrate entirely on their writing.
Export Options Users can export their notes in various formats including PDF, HTML, DOCX, and others, making it versatile for different use cases.
Possible disadvantages
Apple Ecosystem Only Bear is only available on iOS and macOS devices, limiting its accessibility to users who are not within the Apple ecosystem.
Limited Free Version The free version of Bear comes with restricted features, requiring users to subscribe to Bear Pro for full functionality, including cross-device sync and export options.
No Collaboration Features Bear does not support real-time collaboration, which can be a significant drawback for users looking to work on notes with others simultaneously.
Storage Constraints Bear stores data locally and does not offer cloud storage, which could be a limitation for users with multiple devices or those who need extensive storage capabilities.
Learning Curve for Markdown While Markdown is powerful, it can be challenging for new users to learn and use effectively, potentially slowing down the note-taking process initially.
User Experience Things is known for its clean, intuitive, and beautifully designed user interface, making it easy to use.
Integration with Apple Ecosystem Seamlessly integrates with macOS and iOS devices, offering features like Handoff and deep Apple Calendar integration.
Powerful Task Management Supports projects, areas, headings, and tags, providing a robust system for managing complex tasks and workflows.
Quick Entry Provides a quick entry function allowing users to capture tasks efficiently, which can later be categorized and detailed.
Updates and Support Regularly updated with new features and enhancements, backed by reliable customer support.
Keyboard Shortcuts Offers extensive keyboard shortcuts for power users to navigate and manage tasks quickly.
Natural Language Processing Allows users to input tasks using natural language, which is then intelligently parsed and scheduled.
Possible disadvantages
Cost Things requires a one-time purchase for each platform (macOS, iOS), making it relatively expensive compared to some subscription-based competitors.
Platform Limitation Only available on Apple devices (macOS and iOS), making it inaccessible for users on Windows, Android, or other platforms.
No Collaboration Features Lacks built-in collaboration tools, which can be a drawback for teams looking to share and manage tasks collectively.
Learning Curve for Advanced Features While the basic interface is user-friendly, fully utilizing advanced features can require time and a deeper understanding.
Limited Automation Offers fewer automation options and integrations compared to some competitors like Todoist or Microsoft To Do.
Analysis
An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.
BearThings
Overall verdict
Bear is an excellent note-taking app for individuals who value a minimalist design coupled with powerful features. It's especially appealing to users who need a reliable, aesthetically pleasing application for organizing and capturing notes.
Why this product is good
Bear is highly praised for its clean and intuitive interface, allowing users to focus on writing without distractions. It supports Markdown, making it easy to format notes, and offers seamless organization with tags and nested tags. Additionally, Bear provides robust search functionality, cross-note linking, and impressive export options to various formats. It's also known for its synchronization capabilities across Apple devices, making it convenient for users in the Apple ecosystem.
Recommended for
Writers
Students
Apple device users
Markdown enthusiasts
People who prefer a focused writing environment
Overall verdict
Things is widely regarded as an excellent productivity tool, especially for Apple ecosystem users. It combines elegance with functionality, making it a top choice for those who prefer a minimalist but powerful task manager.
Why this product is good
Things by Cultured Code is highly acclaimed for its clean, intuitive design and effective task management features. It provides a seamless user experience with its natural language input, powerful integration with macOS and iOS, and features like projects, areas, deadlines, and reminders that help users organize their tasks efficiently. The app is particularly praised for its focus on simplicity and ease of use, which allows users to focus on their tasks without being overwhelmed by features.
Recommended for
Things is ideal for individuals who are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem and appreciate a minimalist design approach. It's perfect for users who prefer a straightforward, no-frills task management system that emphasizes ease of use, efficiency, and aesthetic appeal.
When Bear users talk about it, the common theme you will hear across all people is Bear’s minimalistic UI. Bear comes with no bells and whistles save for a few formatting options. Bear users can link their notes to...
Bear Markdown Notes is an app for macOS and iOS devices with an excellent interface and selection of features that could make me regret my faithfulness to Android. Even the free version offers a number of tweaks — for...
With Bear Pro, you can encrypt individual notes to keep them safe and lock Bear to keep away nosy friends, family, and coworkers. Set a unique password that only you know, use Face/Touch ID to open your notes, and...
Things 3 is a multi-award-winning personal task manager that assists you in keeping track of your tasks. The environment of the application is attractive with a fresh new look, delightful integrations, and powerful...
Things 3 is one of the few to-do apps that's not subscription based, and it costs $9.99 to purchase. Things 3 is also available for Mac and iPad, though each app must be purchased individually.
Social recommendations and mentions
Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.
Bear60 mentionsThings58 mentions
Bear turns 10, and it still feels like day one
Agreed! You’d have to navigate to the top level on the site… “Bear is a beautiful, powerfully simple Markdown note taking app to capture, write, and organize your life.” https://bear.app/.
- Source: Hacker News
/
5 days ago
Make Your Vault Look and Read the Way You Want
What I liked was Bear. Its dark sidebar, the calm light page next to it, the way nothing competes with the text. So my example is a Bear-style vault with a dark blue rail in the Tokyo Night palette.
- Source: dev.to
/
about 1 month ago
We don't need startups, we need Digital-Mittelstand
Correct: https://culturedcode.com/things/ Looks like the different apps (desktop, mobile, iPad) have different prices, but all are one-time payments of $10-$50.
- Source: Hacker News
/
over 1 year ago
Essential Software for Mac Users: Three Recommended Efficient Tools
Things 3is an award-winning task management application known for its clean, elegant interface and intuitive usability. It employs a minimalist design style, allowing users to easily add, organize, and view tasks, helping individuals...
- Source: dev.to
/
almost 2 years ago
Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.
The #1 task management app used by over 11 million people globally, Any.do is your free mobile and online task manager for Android, iPhone, Web and more.
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