Bear is a Markdown note-taking app built exclusively for the Apple ecosystem, letting users capture text, photos, tables, and to-do lists in a single, elegantly designed interface. Notes are organized with flexible nested tags rather than folders, and content syncs across Apple devices via iCloud on the paid tier.
Ulysses is a writing app exclusive to Apple platforms, built for writers who manage long or multiple writing projects at once, from novels and articles to blog posts. It combines a distraction-free, markup-based editor with a library system for organizing texts into projects, along with writing goals and deadline tracking to keep longer works on schedule. Built-in grammar and style checking covers more than 20 languages, and finished work can be exported as PDFs, Word documents, ebooks, or published directly to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog. Everything syncs seamlessly across Mac, iPad, and iPhone via iCloud, and the app has won an Apple Design Award for its interface and workflow.
- Polished, minimal interface with many visual themes
- Flexible tag-based organization instead of rigid folders
- Affordable Pro subscription
- Native Apple Pencil and OCR search support
- Direct publishing to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog saves a copy-paste step
- Library system suits writers juggling multiple long-form projects
- Family Sharing extends value to up to five people at no extra cost
- Won an Apple Design Award for interface quality
- Apple-only, no Windows, Android, or Linux apps
- Free tier lacks cross-device sync
- No native web app for accessing notes from a browser
- Exclusive to Apple devices, with no Windows, Android, or web version
- Subscription model rather than a one-time purchase
- Not suited to writers who need real-time collaborative editing with others
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Bear
View all →Minimalist, completely free note-taking app that syncs plain-text and Markdown notes across all devices.
Alternatives to Ulysses
View all →
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataUlysses is a subscription‑based, Apple‑only long‑form writing app with publishing integrations; Bear is a freemium, note‑taking app focused on Markdown and flexible tagging.
Key differences
- •Ulysses targets long‑form projects with library organization and built‑in publishing to blogs; Bear is a note‑taking tool with tag‑based organization.
- •Ulysses requires a paid subscription for all features; Bear offers a free tier and a lower‑cost Pro subscription for sync and OCR.
- •Ulysses includes direct export to ebook formats and goal tracking; Bear’s exports are limited to PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG, etc.
- •Ulysses syncs via iCloud across Apple devices and adds Family Sharing; Bear’s free tier lacks cross‑device sync, Pro adds iCloud sync.
- •Ulysses does not support real‑time collaboration, nor does Bear; both are single‑user focused.
Pricing & value
Bear offers a free tier and cheaper Pro subscription; Ulysses is subscription‑only for all users.
Ease of use / learning curve
Both are native Apple apps with polished interfaces; neither is described as more complex.
Features & depth
Ulysses provides project libraries, writing goals, multi‑format export, and built‑in grammar checking; Bear focuses on note‑taking.
Integrations & ecosystem
Ulysses integrates directly with WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog; Bear only integrates with iCloud.
Collaboration
Neither product mentions real‑time collaborative editing; both are single‑user tools.
Scalability
Ulysses’ library system and goal tracking support large, multi‑project workflows; Bear is oriented to individual notes.
Security & privacy
Bear offers note locking with Face ID, Touch ID, or password; Ulysses does not list comparable lock features.
Choose Bear if…
Apple users who want a simple, cheap Markdown note‑taking app with tag organization and optional sync.
Choose Ulysses if…
Writers needing project management, publishing, and multi‑format export on Apple devices.
Common questions
Can I use the app on Windows or Android?
No. Both Ulysses and Bear are Apple‑only with no Windows, Android, or web versions.
Is there a free version?
Bear has a free tier (no sync); Ulysses requires a paid subscription for any use.
Do either app support real‑time collaboration?
Neither product mentions collaborative editing; both are designed for single‑user workflows.