Bear is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.5. Bear wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Logseq on 3.
Writers and Apple users who want fast, good-looking Markdown notes
Students, researchers and writers who like outlines and linked daily notes
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Bear | Logseq |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity & Notes | Productivity & Notes |
| Category rank | #4 of 17 | #10 of 17 |
| Developer | Shiny Frog | Logseq, Inc. |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Linux | — | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Bear better than Logseq?
Bear is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.5. Bear wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Logseq on 3.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Logseq?
Bear: Free without sync; Bear Pro is $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. Logseq: Free and open source; optional Open Collective backing starts at $5 a month. On value for money, Logseq scores higher.
Do Bear and Logseq work on the same devices?
Only Logseq runs on Windows, Linux, Android.
Which is more private, Bear or Logseq?
Logseq scores higher on privacy (9.6/10). App Store label: no tracking, and only crash and performance data, not linked to you. Your notes live on your device, and the beta sync is end-to-end encrypted with a password you set.
Strengths and weaknesses
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
Logseq
- Free and open source
- Your notes stay on your own device
- Linking, searches and plugins for building a big knowledge base
- The new database version is still in beta
- iPhone App Store version last updated in April 2024
- Android app isn't on Google Play
Logseq is a free, open-source outliner for people who think in bullet points. Each day starts with a journal page, and linking ideas with double brackets slowly builds a web of connected notes. Add tasks, saved searches, flashcards and notes on PDFs, and keep it all on your own device. A big change is underway, though: the new database version is still in beta, and the iPhone App Store app dates from 2024.
Full Logseq review
