Using Bear for Task Management? Here's What's Missing
Written By The Aftertone Team
Why people leave Bear
Using Bear for task management is common among Mac users who want everything in one app. The ceiling is that Bear is a notes tool -- no calendar integration, no scheduling, no focus mode, and no way to see whether your weeks are productive.
How to cancel Bear
Bear uses Apple in-app purchases. Cancel via App Store: go to your Apple ID, then Subscriptions, find Bear and cancel.
What to look for in a Bear alternative
The right replacement depends on why Bear stopped working for you:
If you need better calendar integration. Look for a tool where tasks and calendar live in the same view — not two separate apps you have to manually sync.
If you need less manual overhead. Auto-scheduling (where the tool suggests a plan and you confirm it) cuts the time spent maintaining your system. Avoid tools that reschedule without your input.
If you need clearer output data. A weekly report that shows whether your protected time produced real work is more useful than a productivity score or a streak counter.
What Aftertone does differently
Aftertone is the complement to Bear, not the replacement. Bear handles your notes. Aftertone handles the tasks that come out of them.
How to get your data out of Bear
Step 1. Bear stores tasks as Markdown checkboxes inside notes. It's primarily a note-taking app.
Step 2. Open notes with task lists, copy the unchecked items, and paste into Aftertone's Smart Capture.
Bear is great for notes and writing — keep it for that. Aftertone handles scheduling and execution separately.
How to set up Aftertone
2. Download Aftertone. Free 14-day trial at aftertone.io/get-started. No card required.
3. Connect Google Calendar. Your existing events pull in immediately. Your calendar and tasks are now in one view.
4. Plan your first week. Use Auto Plan to schedule your tasks. The weekly report will tell you at the end of the week whether it worked.
Full migration guide: aftertone.io/university/coming-from-another-tool
Frequently asked questions
How do I cancel Bear?
Bear uses Apple in-app purchases. Cancel via App Store: go to your Apple ID, then Subscriptions, find Bear and cancel. Direct link: https://apps.apple.com/account/subscriptions
How do I export my data from Bear?
Most Bear data can be exported from Settings or as a CSV. Once exported, paste your task list into Aftertone's Smart Capture and it structures everything automatically. See aftertone.io/university/coming-from-another-tool for a step-by-step guide.
Is there a free trial for Aftertone?
Yes. 14 days, no card required. Download at aftertone.io/get-started.
What does Aftertone do that Bear doesn't?
Aftertone is the complement to Bear, not the replacement. Bear handles your notes. Aftertone handles the tasks that come out of them.
Try Aftertone free -- 14 days, no card required
See the full comparison: Aftertone vs other productivity tools
