MD HD vs Bear: Focused Markdown Reading
Bear is an elegant note-taking app for Apple devices. MD HD provides focused Dropbox and local markdown reading on iPhone.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | MD HD | Bear |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Experience | PDF-like, mobile-first | Note-style rendering |
| Cloud Storage | Dropbox + local imports | iCloud sync only |
| Platform Support | iPhone | Apple only (iPhone, iPad, Mac) |
| File Migration | None — reads files in place | Import into Bear's database |
| Editing | Not included in 1.0 | Full in-app editor |
| Price | Free / $5.99 / $9.99 mo | Free (limited) / $2.99 mo |
Why Choose MD HD
Bear is a beautiful note-taking app, but it stores notes in its own database. If you have markdown files in Dropbox, Bear cannot read them directly without importing them.
MD HD reads Dropbox and local files on iPhone without converting them into a proprietary format. Your markdown files stay as standard .md files that any tool can open.
- ✓Works with Dropbox files
- ✓Focused iPhone reader
- ✓No migration needed
- ✓Free tier with full rendering
Where Bear Shines
Bear excels as a note-taking and writing app within the Apple ecosystem. Its tagging system, nested tags, and polished editor make it a joy for creating and organizing notes.
- Note-taking and tagging
- Apple ecosystem integration
- Nested tags
- In-app editing
The Bottom Line
Choose Bear if you want an elegant Apple note-taking app with tagging and editing. Choose MD HD if you want focused iPhone reading for Dropbox and local markdown files.
Join the Waitlist →Ready to read markdown beautifully?
MD HD 1.0 is being prepared for iPhone. Join the waitlist for release and beta availability updates.
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