Obsidian vs Roam Research

Obsidian is a note-taking app for keeping notes and building a personal knowledge workspace. Its core app is free, has no sign-up requirement, and stores notes on the user's device so they remain available offline. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and as a Chrome extension. Canvas provides an open workspace for research, brainstorming, diagrams, and ideas; thousands of plugins and an open API allow workflow customization. Shared vaults support team work with real-time updates. Sync adds synchronization and version history: Standard costs $5 per user per month billed annually, with one vault, 1 GB of storage, a 5 MB maximum file size, and one month of history. Plus costs $10 per user per month billed annually, with 10 vaults, 10 GB, a 200 MB maximum file size, and 12 months of history. Publish is $10 per site per month billed annually and includes up to 4 GB hosting per site. It offers themes, custom domains, password protection, and SEO optimization.

Roam Research is a note-taking tool for networked thought, designed to connect ideas in Roam Graphs. Its site describes a document-like experience paired with a graph-database model, and says it helps users organize research over the long term. The Pro plan costs $15 a month and includes unlimited private or public graphs, unlimited collaborators, API access, and Apps. Roam supports note sharing and offline access. It is available on the web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with a Chrome extension also listed. Integrations include the Roam Backend API, Roam Append API, Roam Alpha API, and Roam Depot extensions. The Pro page offers a 31-day free trial to people who have never had a plan, with billing after the trial. There is no free plan.