Roam Research

A note-taking tool for networked thought

From $15/mo

About Roam Research

Roam Research pioneered the 'tools for thought' category, introducing bidirectional links and block-level references that let ideas connect organically. Every page automatically shows what links to it, creating a knowledge graph that grows smarter over time. Daily Notes provide a frictionless capture system—just start writing, link concepts with [[brackets]], and let connections emerge. Block references let you embed content across pages while maintaining a single source of truth. While competitors like Obsidian and Logseq have replicated features at lower prices, Roam's community, plugins, and multiplayer collaboration keep it relevant for serious researchers. Pricing: Pro ($15/month or $165/year) for individuals; Believer ($500/5 years) for committed users. No free tier available.

Key Features

Bidirectional links with automatic backlinks

Block references for granular content reuse

Daily Notes for frictionless daily capture

Graph visualization of knowledge connections

Multiplayer real-time collaboration

Powerful query language for dynamic content

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Pioneered networked thinking—mature feature set
• Block references more powerful than page-level linking
• Active community with plugins and themes
• Multiplayer collaboration for research teams
• Query language enables dynamic dashboards

Cons

• Expensive with no free tier ($15/month minimum)
• Dated UI compared to modern alternatives
• Development pace slower than competitors
• Steep learning curve for advanced features

Best For

Researchers building interconnected knowledge bases Academics managing literature and notes Writers developing ideas through connection Teams needing collaborative knowledge management