Loam vs Bear
Bear is a polished writing app for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Loam is a Mac notebook whose notes are plain files in a folder. Pick Bear if you write on iPhone and iPad as much as on your Mac and want a simple app with tags. Pick Loam if you want to own the files, extend the app with plugins and work with AI agents.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Loam vs Bear at a glance
Published capabilities, checked on official sites in November 2026.
| Dimension | Loam | Bear |
|---|---|---|
| Where notes live | Plain Markdown files in a folder you choose, called a vault | In Bear's own database, with export options |
| Platforms | macOS 26 or later, on Apple silicon | Mac, iPhone and iPad |
| Account | None. Free and open source | No account; sync uses iCloud |
| Sync | Git sync, with an optional encrypted remote | iCloud sync, part of the paid plan |
| Plugins | Every feature is a plugin. Install from the catalog or a Git URL; an agent can write one | No plugin system |
| Command line and agents | Yes: the loam command runs every action of the app | Limited automation through Shortcuts and x-callback-url |
| Writing experience | Markdown editor with backlinks, tasks and collections | A focused, carefully designed writing app |
| Price | Free | A free tier, and a paid subscription for sync and more |
Sources: Bear ↗ · Bear FAQ ↗
A database or a folder
Bear keeps your notes in its own database on your device, and syncs them through iCloud. Bear can export notes, but the app is the way in.
Loam keeps notes as Markdown files in a folder you choose. Any editor opens them, Time Machine and Git back them up, and nothing depends on Loam being installed.
Writing versus organizing
Bear is built around writing. It is quiet, it looks good, and tags organize your notes with little setup. If writing is most of what you do, Bear is hard to beat on a Mac.
Loam covers the writing, and adds what a notes database does not: backlinks, tasks as checkbox lines, daily notes, collections as tables or kanban boards, and boards.
Plugins and automation
Bear has no plugin system. You can automate it through Shortcuts and x-callback-url.
In Loam every feature is a plugin, and the loam command line runs every action of the app. An AI agent can create and search notes through the same commands. See Agents.
Which one to pick
Choose Loam if
- You want notes as plain files in a folder, not in an app database
- You want plugins, a command line and Git sync
- You want backlinks, tasks and collections over your notes
Choose Bear if
- You write on iPhone and iPad as much as on your Mac
- You want a simple writing app with tags and no setup
Switching from Bear to Loam
- Open an empty folder as a vault in Loam, as described in Your first vault.
- Run the Bear import as a dry run, then for real, as described in Import notes. It reads Bear's database on your Mac, copies notes with their pictures and files, and puts archived notes in
Archive/. macOS may ask for permission once. - Trashed and locked notes stay behind in Bear.
Loam vs Bear: questions
Is Loam a good Bear alternative?
If you want your notes as plain Markdown files, yes. Loam adds plugins, a command line, backlinks and Git sync. It does not run on iPhone or iPad, where Bear does.
How do I move my notes from Bear to Loam?
Run import.bear, with dry-run=true first. Loam reads Bear's database on your Mac and writes plain Markdown, with pictures and files, into your vault.
Does Loam have an iPhone app?
No. Loam runs on macOS 26 or later, on Apple silicon. You can sync a vault with Git and read the files on other devices with any Markdown app.
Do Bear and Loam both use Markdown?
Both write in Markdown. Loam stores each note as a .md file you can open anywhere; Bear stores notes in its own database.