macOS support
memrynote Yes
Bear Yes
Bear alternative
The cross-platform Bear alternative with tasks, a calendar & files you own.
memrynote is a cross-platform alternative to Bear for people who need more than a beautiful Apple-native writing app. Bear runs only on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and stores notes in its own database rather than plain files you can open anywhere. memrynote runs natively on macOS, Windows, and Linux, saves every note as a Markdown file in a folder you own, and ships task management, a calendar, a daily journal, and an inbox as built-in features. Sync is end-to-end encrypted with XChaCha20-Poly1305 and zero-knowledge keys, so the server never holds readable data. Bear Pro costs ~$2.99/mo or ~$29.99/yr as of mid-2026; memrynote is free for local use, with optional encrypted sync from $5/mo. It is open source and works fully offline.
memrynote vs Bear
Windows & Linux support
memrynote Yes
Bear No
iPhone & iPad app
memrynote No
Bear Yes
Plain Markdown files you own
memrynote Yes
Bear No
Built-in task management
memrynote Yes
Bear No
Built-in calendar & daily journal
memrynote Yes
Bear No
End-to-end encrypted sync
memrynote Yes
Bear No
Inbox / quick capture
memrynote Yes
Bear Partial
Open source
memrynote Yes
Bear No
Comparison reflects each app’s native, out-of-the-box features as of mid-2026. Competitors may cover some rows through paid add-ons or third-party plugins.
Cross-platform
Native on Windows and Linux too, not just Apple devices — your workspace follows you everywhere.
Files you own
Every note is a plain .md file in a folder you point to, readable in any editor right now, not locked in Bear’s database.
A complete workspace
Tasks, a calendar, a daily journal, and an inbox are built in, not features you add with separate apps.
Encrypted by default
Zero-knowledge, end-to-end encrypted sync — the server only ever holds ciphertext.
Is memrynote a good Bear alternative?
Yes. memrynote covers the same note-taking core — Markdown editing, wiki-links, and backlinks — and adds built-in tasks, a calendar, and a daily journal that Bear does not offer. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, so your workspace is not confined to Apple hardware. Bear remains the stronger choice if you rely on your iPhone or iPad for daily writing; otherwise memrynote delivers a broader toolkit with end-to-end encryption and plain files you control.
Cross-platform: Windows and Linux too
Bear is available only on Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you work on Windows or Linux, your notes are out of reach without a Mac. memrynote runs natively on all three major desktop platforms. Your vault is a folder of plain Markdown files that open in any text editor on any operating system, so your knowledge base follows your hardware, not the other way around.
Plain Markdown files, not a database
Bear stores your notes in its own database. You can export to Markdown, but your notes do not live as portable files you can open without Bear installed. memrynote is the opposite: every note is a .md file in a folder you point to, readable in VS Code, Obsidian, or any text editor right now. Your knowledge base is yours unconditionally.
Tasks and a calendar Bear leaves out
Bear is a focused writing app — no real task system, projects, or calendar. memrynote ships task management with projects, custom statuses, subtasks, and recurring tasks across Kanban, List, and Calendar views, plus a daily journal and a capture inbox. One app covers writing and planning instead of two.
Pricing: memrynote vs Bear
memrynote
Free, local-first forever. Encrypted sync from $5/mo.
Bear
Free tier; Bear Pro ~$2.99/mo or ~$29.99/yr (as of mid-2026).
Switch from Bear
- 1
In Bear, export your notes as a .bear2bk backup archive.
- 2
Open memrynote → Settings → Import, choose the Bear importer, and select the .bear2bk file.
- 3
Your notes and attachments arrive as plain Markdown files in your vault, ready to read offline.
memrynote includes a built-in Bear importer in Settings → Import.
Bear alternative FAQ
Can I import my Bear notes into memrynote?
Yes. Export a .bear2bk backup from Bear, then open memrynote → Settings → Import and choose the Bear importer. Your notes and attachments arrive as plain Markdown files in seconds for most libraries.
Does memrynote run on Windows and Linux?
Yes. memrynote is native on macOS, Windows, and Linux, unlike Bear, which is Apple-only. Your vault works the same on every platform.
Does memrynote store notes as plain files like Bear exports?
Yes — by default. Every note is a plain .md file in a folder you own, readable in any editor at any time. Bear keeps its working notes in its own database and only produces files on export.
Does memrynote have an iPhone app like Bear?
Not yet — memrynote is a desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux today. Because your vault is plain Markdown in a folder you own, the files stay readable on any device in the meantime.
Make the switch.
Notes, tasks, calendar, and journal in one local-first app — private by design, open at heart.