# PaintNotes vs Dear Bear

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | PaintNotes | Dear Bear |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintnotes/id1106747531/reviews) | **[4.5 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dear-bear-drawing-app/id1635095759/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **68** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [心悦 吕](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689365127) | [受杰 柯](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634142370) |

## What reviewers say

### PaintNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintnotes/id1106747531)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlocking features | $3.99 | one-time |


### Dear Bear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dear-bear-drawing-app/id1635095759)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $1.99 | per month |
| Plus Version Quarterly | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*