iA Writer vs Bear

for remote teams

TL;DR: iA Writer Wins
For remote teams

When considering iA Writer and Bear for remote teams, the choice largely depends on specific needs. iA Writer offers a streamlined writing experience perfect for teams that prioritize markdown support and distraction-free environments, while Bear brings flexibility and visually appealing note organization suitable for teams looking to integrate notes seamlessly with other apps.

Feature Comparison

Feature
iA Writer
Bear
Cross-Platform Availability
Available on macOS, iOS, and Windows, supporting a wider range of devices for remote teams
Primarily available for macOS and iOS, limiting use to Apple ecosystem
Collaboration
Limited collaboration features, focusing more on individual writing
Offers note sharing options which can be useful for small team collaboration
Markdown Support
Strong markdown support with syntax highlighting and focus mode
Supports markdown but with less focus on distraction-free writing
Organizational Tools
Offers basic organization features, focusing on simplicity
Offers powerful tagging and cross-note linking options

Pros and Cons

iA Writer

Streamlined and distraction-free writing environment

Robust markdown support with focused writing tools

Limited collaboration features for teams

Simplistic organization tools compared to other options

Bear

Beautifully designed interface with intuitive organizing capabilities

Good integration with Apple's ecosystem for seamless use

Primarily limited to Apple's ecosystem, reducing cross-platform flexibility

Markdown support is present but not the main focus

Who Should Use What?

Choose iA Writer if you:
  • Need strong markdown support for documentation
  • Prefer a distraction-free writing environment
  • Work across multiple platforms including Windows
  • Value minimalist and efficient writing tools
Choose Bear if you:
  • Are embedded within the Apple ecosystem
  • Value powerful organizational features like tagging
  • Prefer a visually appealing note-taking application
  • Need good integration capabilities with other Apple apps

Frequently Asked Questions