Comparison

PaintNotes vs Dear Bear

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PaintNotes

This app offers a minimalist digital notebook with an infinite canvas for freeform writing and drawing. Easily import files and organize your thoughts without delay.

Highlights
  • Infinite canvas
  • Freeform writing and drawing
  • File import
  • Minimalist interface
  • Unlimited drafts
Read full description

The PaintNote are simple, freely written notebooks. The minimalist interface and simple features make it easier to use. Start to write without any waiting. Unlimited draft paper, free to move, zoom and position. You can import files in a variety of formats.

About

Dear Bear

Unleash your creativity with a user-friendly drawing application. Offers a variety of brushes, layers, and import options for both finger and Apple Pencil use. Perfect for sketching everyday wonders.

Highlights
  • Variety of brushes
  • Customizable layers
  • Image import function
  • Finger and Apple Pencil support
  • Professional drawing tools
Features
Read full description

Dear Bear - Draw the wonderful things every day. Dear Bear is a simple and cute drawing app, where you can draw all kinds of beautiful things in life. In addition to drawing with your fingers, you can also use the Apple Pencil with the iPad. Provide you with professional drawing tools - A lot of drawing materials - A variety of interesting brushes - custom layers - Image import function Hurry up and download the Dear Bear, let's create wonderful things together in the painting world. This subscription will be automatically renewed through your iTunes account, and the renewal fee will be deducted according to your package within 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You can manage or cancel the automatic renewal at the Account Settings Department. To cancel the automatic renewal, you must at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. If your trial has not ended, the remaining days will automatically expire after you start subscribing. To open the subscription, you need to agree to the following terms: Terms of Service: https://keshoujie.github.io/posts/keshoujie/fuwu Privacy terms: https://keshoujie.github.io/posts/keshoujie/privacy

Screenshots

PaintNotes4 screens
Dear Bear4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Dear Bear at 4.5 against PaintNotes's 3.8. Dear Bear also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). PaintNotes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PaintNotes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dear Bear sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dear Bear holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 68 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of PaintNotes's written reviews are positive against 100% of Dear Bear's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PaintNotes ships an update fortnightly, Dear Bear every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PaintNotes versus Dear Bear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaintNotesDear Bear
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (29 ratings)4.5 (68 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2968 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer心悦 吕受杰 柯

Customer experience

PaintNotes

All ratings29 ratings
Positive65.5%
Neutral10.3%
Negative24.1%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Dear Bear

All ratings68 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral7.4%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PaintNotes

One-time1
  • Unlocking features$3.99
3 purchases

Dear Bear

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Version3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Plus Version Quarterly3 Days trial$3.993 Months
One-time1
  • Pro Version$5.99

Questions

Is PaintNotes free?
PaintNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dear Bear free?
Dear Bear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PaintNotes or Dear Bear?
Dear Bear is rated higher. PaintNotes averages 3.8 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Dear Bear averages 4.5 from 68 ratings.
Do PaintNotes or Dear Bear have ads?
Dear Bear shows ads; PaintNotes does not.
Which is updated more often, PaintNotes or Dear Bear?
PaintNotes ships an update fortnightly, and Dear Bear every 2 months. Most recently, PaintNotes was updated on October 11, 2026 and Dear Bear on October 5, 2026.

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