Obsidian vs Roam Research
type: Article
description: Obsidian is a locally-stored, one-time purchase ($0-$40) knowledge management app that prioritizes privacy and offline access, while Roam Research is a cloud-based subscription service ($15/month) optimized for real-time collaboration and networked thinking with built-in backlinks. Obsidian dominates for personal note-taking, while Roam excels for teams and research workflows.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-27T00:55:09.940Z
date created: 2026-06-27T00:55:09.940Z
date modified: 2026-06-27T00:55:10.584Z
content reference time: 2026-06-27T00:55:10.584Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Obsidian
about: Roam Research
abstract: Obsidian is a locally-stored, one-time purchase ($0-$40) knowledge management app that prioritizes privacy and offline access, while Roam Research is a cloud-based subscription service ($15/month) optimized for real-time collaboration and networked thinking with built-in backlinks. Obsidian dominates for personal note-taking, while Roam excels for teams and research workflows.
text: Storage & Privacy Model. Pricing Model. Real-Time Collaboration. Offline Functionality. Daily Active Users (DAU). Customization & Plugins. Learning Curve
conclusion text: Choose Obsidian if you're a solo researcher, student, or knowledge worker prioritizing privacy, offline access, and cost savings—it's superior for personal knowledge bases and has a vastly larger plugin ecosystem. Choose Roam Research if you're working in a team, conducting collaborative research, or need real-time multi-user editing and advanced bidirectional graph visualization out-of-the-box—you'll pay more but gain seamless collaboration features.
additional property: Storage Location
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Local device | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free (sync $8-10/mo optional) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: ~1M+ | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $0 (free) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Team Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Minimal (plugin-dependent) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Offline Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Complete (100%) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Database Relation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Basic (via plugins only) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve (Ease Score)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 8/10 (gentle) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Native AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (plugin-based only) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1000+ (community plugins) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Community Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1000+ | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: ~2.5M (estimated) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Sync Service Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $96 | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Offline Functionality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 100% | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Built-in Task Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins only | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 30-45 | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Limited (HTTP API beta) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Funding Raised
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Bootstrapped (private) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: One-Time / Lifetime Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $89 | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Monthly Team Subscription (5 users)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $0 (not designed for teams) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Offline Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Full (100% offline functionality) | Roam Research: No offline; web-only
additional property: Real-time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No native support | Roam Research: Native multi-user editing
additional property: Bidirectional Linking Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 9 (advanced graph visualization) | Roam Research: Automatic backlinks with graph visualization
additional property: Setup Time (minutes to usable state)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 5-15 (markdown basics) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Mobile App Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 7 (Obsidian Mobile, good) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Data Export / Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Markdown + Attachments (fully portable) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Active User Base (approximate)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 3+ million active users | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Local Markdown files | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Note format
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Plain Markdown | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Native Markdown (always portable) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (free but proprietary) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (single-player by default) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Sync
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Obsidian Sync ($4/mo) or iCloud/Dropbox | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Mobile App
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Outliner / block linking
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Outliner plugin | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Bidirectional links
  type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Yes (via links) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Graph / network view
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes — link graph | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Database / table view
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Dataview plugin | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes (community + core) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Kanban / tasks
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Spaced repetition
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Spaced Repetition plugin | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1,500+ community plugins | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: AI integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins (Copilot, Smart Connections) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Price (personal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Price (sync)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Obsidian Sync $4/mo | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Price (team)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: N/A (no team plan) | Roam Research: N/A
additional property: Annual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free (with optional $50 Sync) | Roam Research: $165
  value reference: Obsidian
additional property: Supported Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 5 (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android) | Roam Research: Web (primary), limited iOS/Android
  value reference: Obsidian
additional property: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 50+ official + 100+ community | Roam Research: ~50 official extensions
  value reference: Obsidian
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/obsidian
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/obsidian
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/roam-research
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/roam-research
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/obsidian-vs-roam-research
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/obsidian-vs-roam-research
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/notion-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/logseq-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/notion-vs-roam-research
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-remnote
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/notion-vs-obsidian-vs-logseq
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-mem
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-logseq
teaches: How to choose between Obsidian and Roam Research
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Obsidian
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Local-first markdown editor with bidirectional linking, plugins, and complete data ownership.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Obsidian
subject of: Obsidian vs Roam Research
image: ImageObject
  caption: Obsidian

Roam Research
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: RR
language: en-US
description: Networked note-taking platform specializing in bidirectional linking, backlinking, and knowledge graph visualization.
subject of: Obsidian vs Roam Research

Obsidian vs Roam Research — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Obsidian vs Roam Research. Contains 122 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Storage Location
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Privacy
variable measured: Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Monthly Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Team Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration
variable measured: Offline Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Platform Support
variable measured: Database Relation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Learning Curve (Ease Score)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Native AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Integration
variable measured: Plugin Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Community Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Sync Service Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Offline Functionality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Built-in Task Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Installation
variable measured: API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Funding Raised
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Business
variable measured: One-Time / Lifetime Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Team Subscription (5 users)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Offline Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Real-time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Bidirectional Linking Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Core Feature
variable measured: Setup Time (minutes to usable state)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: Mobile App Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Data Export / Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Lock-In Risk
variable measured: Active User Base (approximate)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technical
variable measured: Note format
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture & data
variable measured: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ownership
variable measured: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development Model
variable measured: Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration & sync
variable measured: Sync
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration & sync
variable measured: Mobile App
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Outliner / block linking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Bidirectional links
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Graph / network view
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Database / table view
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Kanban / tasks
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Spaced repetition
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Plugin Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: AI integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Price (personal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Price (sync)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Price (team)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Supported Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capability
variable measured: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Time to First Note (Setup)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Data Format
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Ownership
variable measured: Mobile App Feature Completeness
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Mobile
variable measured: Maximum Note Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capacity
variable measured: Base Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Community Plugins Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Storage Format
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Portability
variable measured: Users (Estimated)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Graph View Visualization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Base Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost (Single User)
variable measured: Real-time Collaboration Users
variable measured: Data Storage Location
variable measured: Mobile App Support
variable measured: Free Trial Period
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost
variable measured: Annual Cost (Standard Use)
variable measured: Estimated Monthly Active Users
variable measured: Platforms Supported
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/obsidian-vs-roam-research

Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Obsidian vs Roam Research.
has defined term: Privacy
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Collaboration
has defined term: Platform Support
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: AI Integration
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Installation
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Business
has defined term: Core Feature
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Lock-In Risk
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Architecture & data
has defined term: Ownership
has defined term: Development Model
has defined term: Collaboration & sync
has defined term: Notes & linking
has defined term: Capability
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Data Ownership
has defined term: Mobile
has defined term: Capacity
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Data Portability
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Data Control
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: User Satisfaction
has defined term: Teamwork
has defined term: Audience
has defined term: Developer Features
has defined term: Study Features
has defined term: Organization
has defined term: Team Features
has defined term: Storage
has defined term: AI Features
has defined term: Knowledge Management
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Philosophy
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Limits
has defined term: Advanced Tools
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Mobile Support

Privacy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: privacy
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Collaboration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: collaboration
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-support
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-integration
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Installation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: installation
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Business
type: DefinedTerm
term code: business
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Core Feature
type: DefinedTerm
term code: core-feature
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Lock-In Risk
type: DefinedTerm
term code: lock-in-risk
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture & data
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture-&-data
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ownership
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-model
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Collaboration & sync
type: DefinedTerm
term code: collaboration-&-sync
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Notes & linking
type: DefinedTerm
term code: notes-&-linking
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capability
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-ownership
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Mobile
type: DefinedTerm
term code: mobile
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capacity
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Portability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-portability
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-control
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Satisfaction
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-satisfaction
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Teamwork
type: DefinedTerm
term code: teamwork
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audience
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Study Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: study-features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Organization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: organization
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Team Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: team-features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Storage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: storage
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Knowledge Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: knowledge-management
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Philosophy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: philosophy
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: limits
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Advanced Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: advanced-tools
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Mobile Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: mobile-support
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Roam Research — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-06-27T00:55:10.584Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: obsidian-vs-roam-research
main entity: Can I use Obsidian offline?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, completely. Obsidian stores all notes locally on your device and requires no internet connection to function. All features—including search, linking, and plugins—work 100% offline. This is one of Obsidian's core advantages over Roam Research.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I collaborate with others in real-time on Obsidian?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Not natively. Obsidian's free core and Pro versions don't support simultaneous multi-user editing. You can share vaults manually or use third-party tools like Git for version control, but this requires technical setup. Roam Research offers native real-time collaboration built-in.
    language: en-US
main entity: How much does Obsidian cost compared to Roam Research?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Obsidian is free (core version) or $120–$240/year if you add optional Sync and Publish features. Roam Research requires a $15/month ($180/year) subscription with no free tier. For individuals, Obsidian is dramatically cheaper; for teams, Roam's collaboration features justify the cost.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has better bidirectional linking?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Both support bidirectional linking, but Roam Research has more polished graph visualization and query tools specifically designed for networked thinking (e.g., datoms, queries). Obsidian's linking is equally functional but requires plugins for advanced querying. Roam is better for knowledge graph-heavy workflows out of the box.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I export my notes if I switch from one to the other?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes. Obsidian stores notes as standard markdown files, making export trivial. Roam allows bulk export via JSON, HTML, or markdown, though formatting may require cleanup. Both avoid hard vendor lock-in, but Obsidian's native markdown format makes migration simpler.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Obsidian and Roam Research
type: HowTo
description: Obsidian is a locally-stored, one-time purchase ($0-$40) knowledge management app that prioritizes privacy and offline access, while Roam Research is a cloud-based subscription service ($15/month) optimized for real-time collaboration and networked thinking with built-in backlinks. Obsidian dominates for personal note-taking, while Roam excels for teams and research workflows.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Storage & Privacy Model
step: Consider: Pricing Model
step: Consider: Real-Time Collaboration
step: Consider: Offline Functionality
step: Consider: Daily Active Users (DAU)
step: Consider: Customization & Plugins
step: Consider: Learning Curve
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Obsidian if you're a solo researcher, student, or knowledge worker prioritizing privacy, offline access, and cost savings—it's superior for personal knowledge bases and has a vastly larger plugin ecosystem. Choose Roam Research if you're working in a team, conducting collaborative research, or need real-time multi-user editing and advanced bidirectional graph visualization out-of-the-box—you'll pay more but gain seamless collaboration features.

Consider: Storage & Privacy Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Storage & Privacy Model: Obsidian has Local files stored on device; end-to-end encrypted if using Obsidian Sync, while Roam Research has Cloud-based storage; data held on Roam servers.

Consider: Pricing Model
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Pricing Model: Obsidian has $0 free (core) + $40 one-time Pro or $10/month for Sync, while Roam Research has $15/month or $165/year subscription required.

Consider: Real-Time Collaboration
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Real-Time Collaboration: Obsidian has Limited to manual exports/shares; no native live co-editing, while Roam Research has Native multi-user editing with real-time presence indicators.

Consider: Offline Functionality
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Offline Functionality: Obsidian has 100% offline-capable; all features work without internet, while Roam Research has Requires internet connection; limited read-only offline mode.

Consider: Daily Active Users (DAU)
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Daily Active Users (DAU): Obsidian has ~1.5 million estimated (2024), while Roam Research has ~200,000 estimated (2024).

Consider: Customization & Plugins
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Customization & Plugins: Obsidian has 1,200+ community plugins via plugin marketplace, while Roam Research has Limited plugin ecosystem (~50 official extensions).

Consider: Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Learning Curve: Obsidian has Intuitive for beginners; advanced customization takes time, while Roam Research has Steeper initial curve; bidirectional links require conceptual shift.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Obsidian vs Roam Research
review body: Obsidian is a locally-stored, one-time purchase ($0-$40) knowledge management app that prioritizes privacy and offline access, while Roam Research is a cloud-based subscription service ($15/month) optimized for real-time collaboration and networked thinking with built-in backlinks. Obsidian dominates for personal note-taking, while Roam excels for teams and research workflows.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Obsidian vs Roam Research

Time to First Note (Setup)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 10-15 minutes | Roam Research: N/A

Data Format
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Standard markdown (high portability) | Roam Research: N/A

Mobile App Feature Completeness
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 70% feature parity (plugins limited on mobile) | Roam Research: N/A

Maximum Note Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Unlimited (device storage dependent) | Roam Research: N/A

Base Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Free (Sync $8/month optional) | Roam Research: $15/month
value reference: Obsidian

Annual Cost (Individual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0-96/year (depending on add-ons) | Roam Research: $180/year
value reference: Obsidian

Community Plugins Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 1,000+ plugins | Roam Research: ~150 plugins
value reference: Obsidian

Storage Format
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Standard Markdown (.md files) | Roam Research: Proprietary JSON (Edn format)

Users (Estimated)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 5M+ downloads on mobile alone | Roam Research: 1.5M+ registered (2024)
value reference: Obsidian

Graph View Visualization
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Built-in graph with plugin enhancements | Roam Research: Built-in interactive graph with density indicators

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0/month (free tier) | Roam Research: $15
value reference: Obsidian

Annual Cost (Single User)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0/year (or $120 with Obsidian Sync) | Roam Research: $180/year
value reference: Obsidian

Real-time Collaboration Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Limited to manual sharing; no native multi-user editing | Roam Research: Not supported; 1 user per workspace

Data Storage Location
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Local device or user-chosen cloud storage | Roam Research: Roam cloud servers (third-party controlled)

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: iOS and Android available (limited features on free tier) | Roam Research: iOS, Android, Web (all full-featured)

Free Trial Period
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Unlimited (fully free tier) | Roam Research: 30 days free trial

Monthly Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0–$10/month (optional sync subscription) | Roam Research: $15/month
value reference: Obsidian

Annual Cost (Standard Use)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0 (free core) or $120/year (with Sync) | Roam Research: $180/year
value reference: Obsidian

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 100% fully functional offline | Roam Research: ~5% read-only mode only

Estimated Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: ~1.5 million (2024 estimate) | Roam Research: ~0.2 million (2024 estimate)
value reference: Obsidian

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 6 (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web) | Roam Research: 3 (Web, iOS, Android)
value reference: Obsidian

Data Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Complete local ownership; markdown files on your device | Roam Research: Cloud-hosted; Roam Inc. retains server access

Monthly Cost (Personal)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0 (free) or $49 one-time | Roam Research: N/A

Annual Cost (Personal, 5-year)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $49 one-time lifetime | Roam Research: N/A

Application Load Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: <500ms | Roam Research: N/A

Search Speed (10,000 notes)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 50-200ms | Roam Research: N/A

Maximum Team Members
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 1-2 (shared vault via third-party) | Roam Research: N/A

Database Relations Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Partial (Dataview plugin, limited querying) | Roam Research: N/A

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: $15/month

User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 8/10

Native Tools/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 44 native tools plus MCP servers

Built-in AI Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Multi-provider LLM support with AI agents

Collaboration Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Unlimited collaborators

Core Strength
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Bidirectional linking and networked graphs

Target User Type
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Researchers, knowledge workers, academics

API Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: API access with scheduled jobs coming soon

Free Plan
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: No

Concurrent Collaborators
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Unlimited

Native API Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Yes, full API

Spaced Repetition Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: No native support

Database/Table Customization
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Basic views

Search Query Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Advanced backlink queries

Annual Cost (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: $165

Discord Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: ~35,000

Native Collaboration Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Unlimited with real-time editing

Annual Cost (Committed Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: $165/year

Free Storage Tier
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: None (paid only)

Typical Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 40-50 hours

AI Search Queries Per Month (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Not available

Bidirectional Linking
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Native feature

Knowledge Graph Visualization
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Interactive visual graph of note connections

Mobile App Feature Parity
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 60% of desktop features

Data Storage Model
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Cloud-based (Roam servers)

Source Code License
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Closed-source proprietary

Advanced Query Language
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Datalog with RoamScript

Maximum Database Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Unlimited (cloud-based)

Storage Capacity (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Unlimited

Export Formats
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: JSON, Markdown, EDN

Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 40-60 hours for advanced use

Annual Cost (Paid Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: $180/year (only paid option)

Platform Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 2 (Web, limited mobile beta)

Maximum Notes (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Not available (no free tier)

Supported Code Languages
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Basic code block support

Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: $15/month

Free Tier Monthly Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Unlimited (3 graphs max)

Time to Productive (New User)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 3-7 days

AI-Powered Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: AI assistant for summaries

Maximum Notes Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Unlimited

Free Tier Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: No free tier

Native Mobile Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: Web-only; no native apps

Public Template Gallery Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 50-100 community templates

Estimated Learning Time to Proficiency
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: 15-20 hours (graph mastery required)

API & Export Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Roam Research: API + JSON + Markdown + open data model

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
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Obsidian — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Roam Research — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Obsidian vs Roam Research
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/obsidian-vs-roam-research
object: Obsidian
object: Roam Research

Annual Cost (Single User)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Real-time Collaboration Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Data Storage Location
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Ownership

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform Support

Free Trial Period
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Onboarding

Monthly Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Annual Cost (Standard Use)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Estimated Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Data Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Control

Monthly Cost (Personal)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Annual Cost (Personal, 5-year)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Application Load Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Search Speed (10,000 notes)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Maximum Team Members
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Database Relations Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Satisfaction

Native Tools/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Built-in AI Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Collaboration Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Teamwork

Core Strength
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

Target User Type
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audience

API Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Free Plan
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Concurrent Collaborators
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Native API Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Features

Spaced Repetition Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Study Features

Database/Table Customization
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Organization

Search Query Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Discord Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Native Collaboration Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Team Features

Annual Cost (Committed Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Storage Tier
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Typical Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

AI Search Queries Per Month (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Features

Bidirectional Linking
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Knowledge Management

Knowledge Graph Visualization
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Mobile App Feature Parity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Mobile

Data Storage Model
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Architecture

Source Code License
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Philosophy

Advanced Query Language
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Database Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Storage Capacity (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Export Formats
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Portability

Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Annual Cost (Paid Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Platform Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Maximum Notes (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Limits

Supported Code Languages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Monthly Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capacity

Time to Productive (New User)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

AI-Powered Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Advanced Tools

Maximum Notes Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Free Tier Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Native Mobile Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Mobile Support

Public Template Gallery Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Estimated Learning Time to Proficiency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

API & Export Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration