Kalend is the better app overall, scoring 9.6 to 9.1. Kalend wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Bear on 0, with 1 tied.
People who want tasks, a calendar, habits and a journal in one private, free app
Writers and Apple users who want fast, good-looking Markdown notes
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Kalend | Bear |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity & Notes | Productivity & Notes |
| Category rank | #1 of 13 | #3 of 13 |
| Developer | The Big Head | Shiny Frog |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Kalend better than Bear?
Kalend is the better app overall, scoring 9.6 to 9.1. Kalend wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Bear on 0, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Kalend or Bear?
Kalend: Free, no subscription or ads; an optional tip unlocks nothing. Bear: Free without sync; Bear Pro is $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. On value for money, Kalend scores higher.
Do Kalend and Bear work on the same devices?
Only Bear runs on Web.
Which is more private, Kalend or Bear?
Kalend scores higher on privacy (9.8/10). No account and no Kalend server: everything syncs through your own iCloud. Calendar access is optional, and events are read on the device. No ads, analytics or tracking; App Store label: Data Not Collected.
Strengths and weaknesses
Kalend
- Four planners in one, with nothing locked behind a paywall
- Seven themes that make it feel like a real paper diary
- No account or ads; syncs privately through your own iCloud
- Apple devices only, with no Android, Windows or web app
- No shared lists or team features
Kalend puts your to-do list, calendar, habit tracker and journal in one calm app that feels like a paper diary, not a busy dashboard. Plan the day, group tasks into projects with progress bars, see appointments beside your Apple Calendar, build habits and write about your day by typing or talking. Seven themes give it real personality. No account, no ads, no subscription, and it syncs privately through your own iCloud.
Full Kalend review
Bear
- Polished, distraction-free writing
- Notes stay in your iCloud, not on Bear's servers
- Pro costs just $29.99 a year
- No Android or Windows app
- Sync and encryption require Pro
- Tags only, no traditional folders
Bear is a Markdown notes app with a calm, polished editor that makes jotting things down a pleasure. Organize with nested tags instead of folders, add tables, callouts, math and Mermaid diagrams, and search text inside images and PDFs with Pro. Notes sync privately through your iCloud, and the price is gentle. It's Apple-only apart from a web version, and sync needs Pro.
Full Bear review
