Bear vs Readwise
Bear and Readwise are both Productivity tools in our directory. This side-by-side comparison covers pricing, user ratings, supported platforms, key features and open-source status so you can decide which one fits your needs.
Side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Bear | Readwise |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Shiny Frog | Readwise |
| Rating | ★ 4.6 | ★ 4.7 |
| Pricing | Freemium | Paid |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS | Web, iOS, Android, Extension |
| Key features | Pretty Markdown, Tags, Light AI rewrite | Spaced-resurfacing of highlights, Sync to Notion/Obsidian/Evernote, Readwise Reader: read-later with Ghostreader AI |
| Headquarters | Parma, Italy | Remote, USA |
| Founded | 2016 | 2014 |
| Open source | No | No |
Key differences
- Readwise has a higher user rating (4.7★ vs 4.6★).
- Bear is Freemium, while Readwise is Paid.
- Bear runs on macOS, iOS; Readwise runs on Web, iOS, Android, Extension.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bear or Readwise better?
By user rating, Readwise scores higher (4.7★ vs 4.6★). Both are capable Productivity tools, so review the feature comparison for your use case.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Readwise?
Bear is Freemium and Readwise is Paid. Check each product page for current plan details.
Are Bear and Readwise open source?
No — neither Bear nor Readwise is open source.