Bear Goes Web: Is It the Best Choice for Writers Now?

One of my favorite apps just launched a new web version. The Bear app, an excellent writing tool can now be used everywhere, not just on Apple devices. I've used Bear, Ulysses, and iA Writer for several years, but one reason I never committed to any of them is that they either don't work across all platforms or require a separate license for each one. As far as I know, Bear is the first among them to release a web version, which makes it useful no matter what operating system or platform you're using. That's the beauty of web apps—and their main advantage over native apps.

I stopped paying for Bear's subscription a while ago and focused on using iA Writer and Ulysses. iA Writer doesn't require a subscription, which I really appreciate. You buy the license once per platform, and it's yours. However, if you want to use it on both your Mac and iPad, you need to purchase separate licenses for each.

Ulysses is the one I pay an annual subscription for. I like how it organizes writing; in my opinion, it's more polished than iA Writer. But I’ve had issues with cloud syncing in the past, which is why I also purchased iA Writer.

Now, there's a new feature in Bear that I can't ignore: the Bear Web app I'm using right now to write this post. The interface is almost identical to the native app, the writing experience is enjoyable, and I can access all the features I need. Most importantly, I can access it from anywhere. With a paid subscription, I can also sync my writing across devices.

Bear Web might be the reason I return to their subscription for note-taking and short stories. Ulysses still wins for long-form writing—its project management tools and flawless export options make it ideal for that. Features like Goals and Sheets are excellent and unique.

What do you use for writing? Do you have a preferred app?

Below are the writing apps and the platforms where you can use them: