App Showcase: Bear - Markdown Notes

What it does

Bear is a focused markdown editor for a wide range of writing, from quick notes and to-do lists to longer essays and code snippets. It combines a clean, distraction-free writing environment with powerful organization tools. Instead of using traditional folders, it relies on a flexible tagging system, allowing notes to live in multiple categories at once.

Where it shines

Bear excels by getting out of the user's way. The writing experience is front and center, supported by a rich but unobtrusive set of tools. At 01:58, the app shows how easily users can format text into a checklist, turning simple lines into actionable items with a single tap. Another strong moment is the handling of attachments; at 02:49, a pasted link automatically generates a clean, rich preview, integrating external content without cluttering the note. Finally, the app’s commitment to personalization shines through in the extensive theme library (09:06), allowing users to tailor the writing environment to their exact preference.

UX highlights

• Frictionless Start: The app has no traditional onboarding. At 00:01, it opens directly to a set of helpful welcome notes, using the product itself as the tutorial.
• Intuitive Formatting: A persistent style bar at the bottom provides quick access to markdown formatting without requiring users to memorize syntax (01:13).
• Tag-Based Organization: The sidebar (08:40) provides a clear, hierarchical view of all tags, making it simple to filter and navigate a large collection of notes.
• Rich Link Previews: Pasting a URL generates a visual preview card, making notes more dynamic and useful as a repository for web content (02:49).
• Detailed Note Info: A dedicated info panel (04:23) offers valuable statistics like word count, character count, and read time, which is essential for writers.
• Deep Customization: Users can fine-tune everything from themes and typography to the app icon itself (10:15), creating a strong sense of personal ownership.

Monetization & growth

Monetization is handled through a Pro subscription, but the strategy is notably user-friendly. The app doesn't present a paywall upon launch. Instead, it appears contextually when a user attempts to access a premium feature, such as exporting to PDF or JPG (06:19). The paywall itself is straightforward, offering a monthly and discounted annual plan, both with a 14-day free trial. This 'soft paywall' approach respects the user by proving the app's value first, making the upgrade decision feel earned and relevant rather than forced.

Who it’s for

Bear is primarily for writers, developers, students, and anyone who values a clean, organized digital space for their thoughts. Its robust markdown support and code block formatting appeal to a technical audience. At the same time, its simplicity and elegant design make it accessible for everyday note-taking, journaling, and creating to-do lists. The focus on a distraction-free environment makes it ideal for those who need to concentrate on long-form writing.

Notes & opportunities

While the app is highly polished, the process of adding a new tag can feel a bit manual. At 03:48, the user types a new tag from scratch. An autocomplete suggestion system for existing tags could speed up this workflow. Additionally, while the welcome notes are an excellent tutorial, a small, one-time tooltip pointing to the info panel (04:22) could help new users discover the powerful statistics feature more quickly, as it's slightly hidden behind an icon.