# Compose vs Bear

The clearest difference is rating: Bear at 4.7 against Compose's 3.9. Bear also leads on ratings volume (6.9K vs 7) and review sentiment (77% vs 67%). Compose's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 15.6). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bear sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Compose asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bear holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bear has 6.9K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Compose's written reviews are positive against 77% of Bear's.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compose | Bear |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compose-send-email-without-distraction/id947492678/reviews) | **[4.7 (6.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bear-markdown-notes/id1016366447/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **6.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **76.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | — | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 10 MB | 230 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cluster Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596595035) | [Shiny Frog Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/527618974) |

## What reviewers say

### Compose

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compose-send-email-without-distraction/id947492678)

This app offers a streamlined way to compose and send emails without the distractions of a full inbox. It focuses on a minimalist writing experience, allowing users to quickly draft messages. Email accounts must be pre-configured on the device.

**Highlights:** Minimalist email composition, Distraction-free writing environment, Quick message drafting, Requires device email configuration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bear-markdown-notes/id1016366447)

A beautiful and simple Markdown app for capturing, writing, and organizing your thoughts and ideas. It offers a distraction-free writing environment, flexible formatting, and powerful organizational tools like tags and tasks. Ideal for anyone looking to streamline their note-taking and creative processes.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free writing environment, Flexible Markdown formatting, Tag-based organization, Task management, Note linking (WikiLinks), Web clipping extension, Apple Pencil sketching

**Features:** Safari Extension, Siri integration, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro subscription | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Elegant and minimalist design
- 🚀 Smooth and fast performance
- 💡 Flexible tagging system for organization
- 🔒 Secure and private notes
- 🎨 Customizable themes and fonts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Subscription required for syncing and advanced features
- 🔍 Limited search functionality within notes on iOS
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and resizing
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes reported
- 💻 Lack of web/Windows app for cross-platform access

**Reported bugs**

- Sync issues causing note conflicts and data loss
- Cursor jumping and input issues on iPad
- Inconsistent behavior when importing/exporting content

**Requested features**

- Add password protection for individual notes
- Improve search capabilities to find text within notes
- Implement table support for more robust note-taking
- Develop a web-based version for broader accessibility
- Allow manual sorting and organization of notes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compose free?

Compose is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bear free?

Bear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Compose or Bear?

Bear is rated higher. Compose averages 3.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Bear averages 4.7 from 6.9K ratings.

### Do Compose or Bear have ads?

Neither Compose nor Bear shows ads.

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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.*