Roam Research
Roam Research: A link-centered outliner for research, references, and connected knowledge. Ranked #17 of 30 in Outliner Software by our editors (7.3/10); pricing: 31-day trial; best for link-heavy research outliners.
At a glance
- Editor score7.3 / 10
- Pricing31-day trial
- Best forLink-heavy research outliners
- Free planNo
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Bidirectional links, linked references, and block references
- Graph sharing with read or edit permissions
- Broad apps, APIs, exports, and media embeds
Where it doesn't
- No permanent free plan
- Not open source
- Priority support and community calls require Believer
Our verdict on Roam Research
Roam Research is a note-taking and knowledge-management application built around interconnected pages, blocks, backlinks, and graph-based organization. It fits researchers, writers, and knowledge workers who want daily notes, linked references, block references, and graph views to connect ideas over time. Web, desktop, mobile, Chrome extension, and API access give it broad coverage across working environments.
The published plans show a 31-day trial rather than a permanent free plan. Pro includes unlimited private or public Roam Graphs, unlimited collaborators, API access, and apps. Believer includes everything in Pro, plus first access to new features, community calls with the team, and priority support. This structure makes Roam a paid commitment after the trial, with the Believer tier aimed at users who value closer involvement with the product team.
Roam’s strongest distinction is the depth of its linking and extension model. Users can combine daily notes, page and block references, hosted and local graphs, encrypted blocks, file uploads and embeds for audio, PDFs, and images, and exports in Markdown, JSON, EDN, and MessagePack. Backend, append, and client-side APIs, along with Roam Depot extensions and custom scripts, support broader workflows. Choose Roam for research that depends on connected references, graph sharing, and programmable access. Choose an alternative if a permanent free plan or open-source software is essential.
Your product? Our editors can test Roam Research in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Roam Research pricing
All 2 Roam Research plans and prices →
Roam Research fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| App platforms | Not verified |
| Export formats | Not verified |
| Offline access | Yes |
| Markdown support | Not verified |
| Real-time collaboration | Not verified |
| Backlinks | Not verified |
| Navigation modes | Not verified |
| Free trial | 31 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 4 integrations: Roam Backend API, Roam Append API, Roam Alpha API, Roam Depot extensions |
| Pricing | 31-day trial (source) |
| Website | roamresearch.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Roam Research integrations
Roam Research lists 4 integrations on its own site.
- Roam Backend API
- Roam Append API
- Roam Alpha API
- Roam Depot extensions
Alternatives to Roam Research
- CheckvistA flexible collaborative outliner with unlimited nesting, offline access, and low-cost task features.9.4
- DynalistDeep outlining and cross-platform access make Dynalist a strong fit for power users.9.2
- WorkflowyA mature outliner with broad platform coverage, sharing, exports, integrations, and AI tools.9.0
See all Roam Research alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Roam Research is ranked in 5 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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