jotcompare · checked
Jot vs Bear
Bear is one of the nicest places to write on Apple devices. Jot is for getting things in fast, from any app, as plain files.
At a glance
| Jot | Bear | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for 3 days, then $9 once for the first 50 buyers, then $29. No subscription. | Free for local notes. Pro is $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. |
| Platforms | Mac (macOS 12 or later, Apple silicon and Intel) | Mac, iPhone and iPad |
| Where text lives | Plain Markdown files in ~/Documents/Jot, a folder you own | A SQLite database, synced with iCloud. Exports to Markdown. |
| Capture selected text | Select text in any app and tap Shift twice. Images in the selection come too. | Not stated on its site |
| Agents | CLI and MCP server for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor | BearCLI and an MCP server since Bear 2.8 |
Pick Bear if
- You want a beautiful place to write and read.
- You need your notes on iPhone and iPad.
Pick Jot if
- You want capture from any Mac app in one gesture.
- You want local dictation into any app.
- You want notes as files, not a database.
Sources
Bear facts come from its own site, checked on 2026-11-14. Prices and features change. If something here is out of date, email support@sayjot.xyz and I'll fix it.
- bear.app/
- bear.app/faq/where-are-bears-notes-located/
- community.bear.app/t/bear-2-8-bearcli-claude-connector-and-mcp-server/19072