ToolStack
personal_knowledgeCollaboration

Roam Research Review

by Conor White-Sullivan · San Francisco, California · Founded 2019

G2 Score
4.3
Reviews
100
Starting Price
$15/user/mo
Free Tier
No
Learning Curve
Steep
Quick Answer

Roam Research is a personal_knowledge tool rated 4.3/5 on G2 from 100 reviews. It's best for product and researcher teams using zettelkasten or networked_thought. Pricing starts at $15/user/mo.

Pros & Cons

Pros
Pioneered bidirectional linking and block-level referencing — enabling a networked graph of ideas rather than siloed files
Block-level transclusion allows reuse and remixing of individual thoughts across pages, ideal for synthesizing research and PRDs
Daily Notes as a default entry point reduces friction for capturing meeting notes, decisions, and fleeting ideas
Graph overview visualization reveals hidden connections between concepts, stakeholders, and product themes over time
Highly extensible via community-built plugins (Roam42, SmartBlocks) and custom CSS for personalized workflows
End-to-end encryption option available for sensitive product strategy and competitive research notes
Cons
Steep learning curve — the outliner-based, block-reference paradigm is unfamiliar to most users and takes weeks to master
No free tier — $15/month minimum makes it expensive compared to free alternatives like Obsidian or Logseq
Very limited native integrations — no direct connections to Slack, GitHub, Jira, or other core PM tools without third-party workarounds
Not designed for team-wide collaboration — multiplayer editing exists but lacks permissions, roles, and enterprise governance features
Search and performance can degrade on very large graphs with tens of thousands of blocks
Development pace has slowed compared to competitors like Obsidian and Notion; feature releases are infrequent and communication from the team is sporadic

Pricing

Standard
$15
per user / month
Premium
$
per user / month

* Pro plan at $15/month or $180/year ($15/mo). Believer plan was previously offered at $500 for 5 years. No free tier; only a free trial is available. Pricing may have evolved — verify_required for latest tiers.

Key Features

Roadmapping
Sprint Planning
Backlog Management
Kanban Boards
Gantt Charts
Okr Tracking
User Feedback Management
Customer Portal
Idea Management
Analytics Dashboard
Custom Workflows
Custom Fields
Automations
Time Tracking
Resource Management
Portfolio Management
Api Access
Webhooks
Mobile App
Offline Mode
Ai Features
Templates Library
Guest Access
Sso Saml
Soc2 Compliant
Gdpr Compliant
Hipaa Compliant
On Premise Option
Bidirectional Linking
Block References
Graph Visualization
Daily Notes
Block Level Editing
Version History
Markdown Support
Latex Support
Multiplayer Collaboration
End To End Encryption
Custom Css
Roam Plugins Extensions

Integrations

Roam Research supports 25+ integrations.

zapier

Who Is Roam Research Best For?

Team sizes
solostartup
Roles
productresearcherwriterfounderconsultant
Methodologies
zettelkastennetworked thoughtgtdbuilding a second brain
Industries
researcheducationconsultingsaasmedia

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Roam Research does not offer a free tier. It has a 14-day free trial.
Roam Research starts at $15/user/mo for its standard plan. Pro plan at $15/month or $180/year ($15/mo). Believer plan was previously offered at $500 for 5 years. No free tier; only a free trial is available. Pricing may have evolved — verify_required for latest tiers.
Roam Research is best suited for product, researcher, writer, founder, consultant in solo, startup teams using zettelkasten, networked_thought, gtd, building_a_second_brain methodologies.
Roam Research does not have a listed native Slack integration. Check their marketplace for third-party options.
Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available data from G2, official documentation, and third-party sources. Pricing verified on 2026-03-30. Some links may be affiliate links — see our disclosure. Last updated: 2026-03-30.