Bear vs Novlr
Bear
bear.app
Novlr
novlr.orgSide by side
| Figure | Bear | Novlr |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2.50/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 5 |
| Spec score · Note And Writing Apps | 9.1 (#1) | 8.5 (#13) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Bear documents Apple Shortcuts support on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with actions such as creating notes, adding tags, and searching notes. | Studio offers additional backups to Google Drive or Dropbox. |
| Purpose | Bear is a Markdown note-taking app for capturing, writing, and organizing notes. | Novlr is a creative writing workspace designed to help writers plan, write, stay motivated, and publish. |
| Support | Bear provides support pages and accepts support requests through its contact page or [email protected]. | Novlr offers in-app support chat, email support, and a writer community on Discord. |
Plans
Bear
- FreeFree
- Bear Pro$2.99 a month
- Bear Pro$29.99 a year
- Bear Pro (monthly)$2.99 a month
- Bear Pro (yearly)$29.99 a year
Novlr
- FreeFree
- Starter$8 a month
- Studio$16 a month
- Lifetime Studio Member$499 a month
- Lifetime Studio Member$499, paid once
In their own words
Novlr
Novlr is a creative writing workspace for planning, drafting, and publishing projects. Its tools include focus and typewriter modes, writing sprints, goals, streaks, analytics, notes, and a planning grid for following story arcs and plot threads alongside a manuscript. Writing and notes can be exported as DOCX, PDF, ODT, EPUB, or RTF. The Free plan costs nothing and includes two projects, online syncing, notes and planning, focus mode, writing sprints, and analytics. Starter costs $8 a month, billed yearly, with up to 10 projects, 30-day version history, goals, streaks, Academy courses, and community access. Studio costs $16 a month, billed yearly, and adds unlimited projects and version history, Novlr Sites, proofing tools, backups to Google Drive or Dropbox, and priority support. Novlr Sites offers themes and custom domains. Novlr works through current major browsers, including Safari on iOS and Chrome or Firefox on Android, but requires an active internet connection even when saved to a phone or tablet home screen. It has no mobile apps. The company says it does not use writing for AI processing or training.