Bear vs Ulysses: Which Productivity App Wins in 2026?
Choosing between Bear and Ulysses? This comprehensive comparison covers pricing, features, pros and cons to help you make the right decision.
Quick Summary
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bear | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 8.4/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Starting Price | $3/mo | $6/mo |
| Category | Writing Tools | Writing Tools |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, iPadOS | macOS, iOS, iPadOS |
| Founded | 2016 | 2013 |
Key Features
Bear Features
- Markdown
- Tags
- Nested tags
- Cross-note links
- Export options
- Themes
- Focus mode
- Apple Pencil
Ulysses Features
- Library organization
- Writing goals
- Publishing
- Markdown
- iCloud sync
- Themes
- Export options
- Attachments
Pros & Cons
Bear
Pros
- + Beautiful design
- + Great tag system
- + Affordable Pro
- + Fast and reliable
- + Good markdown
Cons
- - Apple only
- - Limited organization
- - Sync requires Pro
- - No collaboration
Ulysses
Pros
- + Excellent organization
- + Great for long-form
- + Direct publishing
- + Beautiful interface
- + Powerful features
Cons
- - Subscription model
- - Apple only
- - Expensive over time
- - Overkill for simple writing
Pricing Comparison
The Verdict
Both Bear and Ulysses are excellent writing tools tools, but they serve different needs.
Choose Bear if: You value beautiful design and great tag system.
It's best for apple-users and note-takers.
Choose Ulysses if: You prioritize excellent organization and great for long-form.
It's ideal for authors and bloggers.
Bear vs Ulysses FAQ
It depends on your needs. Bear (8.4/10) excels at beautiful design, while Ulysses (8.5/10) is known for excellent organization. Ulysses has the higher overall rating.
Bear is more budget-friendly. Bear has a free tier, while Ulysses starts at $6/mo.
Yes, many users combine Bear and Ulysses in their productivity stack. You can connect them using automation tools like Zapier or Make. This works well if Bear handles your markdown while Ulysses manages library organization.
Bear offers: Markdown, Tags, Nested tags. Ulysses provides: Library organization, Writing goals, Publishing. The "better" features depend on what you need most.
Bear is generally user-friendly. Ulysses is generally user-friendly. Both offer tutorials and onboarding to help you get started.
Bear is available on macOS, iOS, iPadOS. Ulysses supports macOS, iOS, iPadOS. Both offer cross-platform sync.
For teams, consider: Bear is more individual-focused. Ulysses is better for personal use.
Consider switching if Ulysses's strengths (Excellent organization, Great for long-form) address pain points you have with Bear. Both tools typically offer data export, making migration possible. Test Ulysses with a free trial first.
Key differences: Pricing (free tier vs $6/mo), Focus (Writing Tools vs Writing Tools), Platforms (3 vs 3 platforms).
Bear users love: Beautiful design, Great tag system. Common complaints: Apple only. Ulysses users appreciate: Excellent organization, Great for long-form. Common issues: Subscription model.