B 
Bear
Survived by being fast, local and cheap.
NOT REALLY
why this verdict
Keep paying — OpenAI has not replaced it
OpenAI's version overlaps, but does not finish the notes & knowledge job, so this one still earns its $3/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- Fast local note-taking is a latency product. OpenAI, May 13, 2024 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 2 of 2 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Obsidian and Apple Notes.
- What the call is worth $36/yr
- $3/mo at the entry paid tier — $36 a year per seat.
Reason composed from the fields above missing: announcement linked recorded: free replacement listed recorded: two or more escape hatches
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- May 13, 2024
- List price
- $3/mo
- Per year
- $36
The backstory
Bear is a markdown notes app with excellent typography and instant sync across Apple devices. AI note tools attacked the "organise and summarise my notes" job; Bear was never sold on that. When a notes app costs $30 a year and opens instantly, there is nothing for a chat product to undercut.
Escape hatches
O 
Obsidian Free, local, plugin-driven.
obsidian.md open_in_new A 
Apple Notes Free and good enough for many.
apple.com open_in_new2 of 2 replacements have a usable free tier.