Bear

Bear is a notes & writing product operated by Shiny Frog Ltd. This 2026 review covers operator background, the current tier ladder and the practical decision points before subscribing. The service competes in the notes & writing category against regional and global alternatives, and the choice usually comes down to feature mix, regional availability and renewal economics rather than headline price alone.

Quick facts

• Operator: Shiny Frog Ltd
• Headquarters: Bologna, Italy
• Public-market status: privately held
• Founded: 2010 (Shiny Frog); Bear launched 2016
• Category: notes & writing
• Current tiers: Free / Bear Pro
• Anchor price (2026): Bear Pro USD 2.99/month or USD 29.99/year

What is Bear?

Bear is a SaaS product that delivers its core workflow through a web app with per-seat billing and enterprise upgrades. Its product surface covers web app for the operator's core workflow alongside API and integrations with common business tools, with the recurring subscription paid through direct billing on the operator's site or App Store / Google Play / partner-billing surfaces. Customers buy a tier matching their usage profile; the entry tier suits testing the product and higher tiers add features such as mobile companion app.

Why choose Bear

Operator and ecosystem context

Bear is run by Shiny Frog Ltd out of Bologna, Italy, established 2010 (Shiny Frog); Bear launched 2016. That matters because the notes & writing category is increasingly consolidated and the operator's ownership structure shapes how aggressively the product is supported and how stable the subscription terms are over multi-year renewals.

Plan structure and pricing tiers

The tier ladder splits across Free for testing the service, Bear Pro for everyday use, and a premium / annual option for power users or households. Anchor pricing for 2026: Bear Pro USD 2.99/month or USD 29.99/year. Consult Subger's true-price tracker for Bear for all-in renewal costs after taxes and FX conversion.

Product capabilities and integrations

Beyond the headline features, the 2025-2026 development focus for Bear is 2024 released Bear 2 with new editor, Markdown enhancements, theme system and cross-device sync via iCloud. That signals a credible roadmap for the year ahead and distinguishes the operator from competitors running their notes & writing product on autopilot.

Bear features that matter in 2026

Highlights of the current feature set:

• web app for the operator's core workflow
• API and integrations with common business tools
• mobile companion app
• team or workspace seats with role-based access
• audit log and admin controls on higher tiers
• standard support channels (email, in-app chat)

Buyers should treat this list as a baseline for Bear in the notes & writing category — confirm specific feature availability for your region on the operator's site, since some features and tier names vary between countries.

Bear pricing in 2026

Reference pricing for Bear in 2026: Bear Pro USD 2.99/month or USD 29.99/year. The tier ladder typically looks like:

Subger pairs the public price with the actual all-in cost (taxes, FX conversion, promotional first-period anchors that step up at renewal):

Bear apps and platform support

Surface availability for Bear can vary by region and tier — confirm current app availability and supported devices on the operator's site before subscribing.

Who Bear fits

Bear is most likely a good match for the following buyers:

• Teams who want a focused web app for the operator's category rather than building the workflow in-house — the core target audience for the product.
• The category-focused subscriber who specifically wants web app for the operator's core workflow from a notes & writing operator rather than a generalist platform.
• The household subscriber evaluating the tier ladder (Free / Bear Pro) and willing to pay up for API and integrations with common business tools.
• The cross-device user who needs apps across the surfaces listed above plus a credible upgrade path as new devices are added.
• The price-sensitive shopper who wants to track promotional anchors via Subger's true-price tracker and deals page before committing to annual billing.

Frequently asked questions

What is Bear and who runs it?

Bear is a notes & writing product operated by Shiny Frog Ltd headquartered in Bologna, Italy, founded 2010 (Shiny Frog); Bear launched 2016. It is sold via direct subscription on the operator's website and apps, with payments processed through the operator's billing surfaces.

How much does Bear cost in 2026?

Current tiers are Free, Bear Pro. Anchor reference pricing for 2026: Bear Pro USD 2.99/month or USD 29.99/year. Confirm the live regional price on the operator's site before committing, since promotional cycles and FX conversion can shift the all-in renewal cost.

Is there a free tier or free trial for Bear?

Yes — Free is available without an immediate paid commitment.

Where is Bear available?

Availability follows the operator's licensing and service footprint anchored on Bologna, Italy. Confirm regional availability on the official site before subscribing, especially for products that have country-specific catalog or pricing rules.

What 2025-2026 developments set Bear apart right now?

The current 2025-2026 development focus is 2024 released Bear 2 with new editor, Markdown enhancements, theme system and cross-device sync via iCloud. Together with the headline features listed above, that gives buyers a concrete signal that the subscription is being actively developed rather than coasting on a legacy catalog.

Which devices and platforms does Bear support?

Coverage spans the surfaces shown in the platform table above. The current mobile, web and (where applicable) Smart TV apps are the recommended way to consume the service; older devices may be deprecated in successive releases as the operator focuses engineering effort on supported platforms.

How do I cancel Bear?

Cancel through the account or subscription settings on the surface where you bought the plan: the operator's website for direct subscriptions, the App Store or Google Play for in-app purchases, or the partner billing portal for bundled subscriptions. Subger's cancellation guide for Bear walks through each route step-by-step.

Does Bear offer a family or multi-user plan?

Family or multi-account structures depend on the tier. The Bear Pro tier commonly adds multi-profile or multi-device support; the entry Free tier may restrict simultaneous usage. Confirm the per-tier seat limit on the live pricing page before committing to annual billing.

Is Bear worth it compared to notes & writing alternatives?

Value depends on three factors: the specific feature mix you'll use (see the features list above), the regional price after taxes (Subger's true-price tracker for Bear reconciles the headline price with the actual all-in renewal cost), and the credibility of the operator's 2025-2026 roadmap. Weigh these together rather than relying on headline price alone.

How can I track price changes for Bear?

Subger's renewal tracker for Bear records list-price changes plus promotional anchors over time. Pair it with the deals page for current discount codes and the promo codes page for stackable savings at signup.

Get started with Bear

Confirm the current regional price on the operator's site (Bear Pro USD 2.99/month or USD 29.99/year), choose the tier that matches your usage (Free, Bear Pro are the most common starting points), and check Subger's deals page for Bear for promotional anchors before completing checkout. Track the subscription's true renewal cost with the true-price tracker once you're signed up.

Related Subger guides

• Cancel Bear guide
• Latest Bear deals
• Bear promo codes
• Bear true price and renewal tracker
• Browse the notes & writing category hub
• All services on Subger