# Bear for Mac

> Beautiful notes, linked and tagged.

Bear pairs a polished Markdown editor with nested tags and backlinks. It is fast, lovely to look at and syncs over iCloud.

## Facts

- Price: Free, with paid upgrades
- Developer: Shiny Frog
- Category: Writing & Notes
- Website: https://bear.app/
- Mac App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bear-markdown-notes/id1091189122
- Requires: macOS 12.4 or later
- App Store version: 3.0.2
- Facts checked: 2026-10-19
- MacWorthy page: https://macworthy.com/apps/bear/

## Install

Mac App Store CLI:

```sh
mas install 1091189122
```

## Questions

### Is Bear free?

Bear is free to download and use, with paid upgrades for extra features.

### Where can I download Bear for Mac?

Download Bear from the Mac App Store and the developer's website (bear.app). MacWorthy links only to official sources.

### Can I install Bear from the Terminal?

Yes. With Mac App Store CLI, run `mas install 1091189122`.

### Which macOS version does Bear need?

The Mac App Store version of Bear requires macOS 12.4 or later.

### What are good alternatives to Bear?

Other writing & notes apps for Mac worth a look are Cirrus (free + pro), iA Writer (one-time purchase), Ulysses (subscription) and Drafts (free + pro).

## Alternatives in Writing & Notes

- [Cirrus](https://macworthy.com/apps/cirrus/): A Markdown note that pops up over whatever you are doing. (Free + Pro)
- [iA Writer](https://macworthy.com/apps/ia-writer/): Focused Markdown writing, nothing more. (One-time purchase)
- [Ulysses](https://macworthy.com/apps/ulysses/): A complete writing environment for long work. (Subscription)
- [Drafts](https://macworthy.com/apps/drafts/): Where text starts, before it knows where it goes. (Free + Pro)
- [Craft](https://macworthy.com/apps/craft/): Documents that look designed by default. (Free + Pro)
- [Tot](https://macworthy.com/apps/tot/): Seven dots. Seven notes. That's it. (Free + Pro)
- [MarkEdit](https://macworthy.com/apps/markedit/): TextEdit, if it spoke Markdown. (Open source)
- [Agenda](https://macworthy.com/apps/agenda/): Notes that live on a timeline. (Free + Pro)

## Collections

- [The writer's room](https://macworthy.com/collections/writers-room/)

Tags: notes, markdown