Roam Research vs Bear
type: Article
description: Roam Research is a graph-based knowledge management system optimized for bidirectional linking and complex note relationships, while Bear is a lightweight markdown note-taking app focused on simplicity and speed. Roam excels for researchers and knowledge workers managing interconnected ideas, while Bear suits users wanting distraction-free writing with basic organization.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-09T15:13:14.659Z
date created: 2026-07-09T15:13:14.659Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T15:13:14.946Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T15:13:14.946Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Roam Research
about: Bear
abstract: Roam Research is a graph-based knowledge management system optimized for bidirectional linking and complex note relationships, while Bear is a lightweight markdown note-taking app focused on simplicity and speed. Roam excels for researchers and knowledge workers managing interconnected ideas, while Bear suits users wanting distraction-free writing with basic organization.
text: Core Architecture. Learning Curve. Monthly Subscription Cost. Backlink Functionality. Platform Availability. Offline Capability. Max Note Size Performance
conclusion text: Choose Roam Research if you're a researcher, academic, or knowledge worker building interconnected idea networks and willing to invest time in learning a powerful system. Choose Bear if you value simplicity, speed, offline access, and want an affordable writing-first tool for journaling, quick notes, and lightweight organization.
additional property: Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $15/month | Bear: N/A
additional property: User Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 8/10 | Bear: N/A
additional property: Native Tools/Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 44 native tools plus MCP servers | Bear: N/A
additional property: Built-in AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Multi-provider LLM support with AI agents | Bear: N/A
additional property: Collaboration Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Unlimited collaborators | Bear: N/A
additional property: Core Strength
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Bidirectional linking and networked graphs | Bear: N/A
additional property: Target User Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Researchers, knowledge workers, academics | Bear: N/A
additional property: API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: API access with scheduled jobs coming soon | Bear: N/A
additional property: Free Plan
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: No | Bear: N/A
additional property: Concurrent Collaborators
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Unlimited | Bear: N/A
additional property: Native API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Yes, full API | Bear: N/A
additional property: Spaced Repetition Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: No native support | Bear: N/A
additional property: Database/Table Customization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Basic views | Bear: N/A
additional property: Search Query Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Advanced backlink queries | Bear: N/A
additional property: Annual Cost (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $165 | Bear: N/A
additional property: Discord Community Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: ~35,000 | Bear: N/A
additional property: Supported Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Web (primary), limited iOS/Android | Bear: 3 platforms (Mac, iPad, iPhone)
  value reference: Bear
additional property: Native Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Unlimited with real-time editing | Bear: None
  value reference: Roam Research
additional property: Annual Cost (Committed Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $165/year | Bear: N/A
additional property: Free Storage Tier
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: None (paid only) | Bear: N/A
additional property: Typical Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 40-50 hours | Bear: N/A
additional property: AI Search Queries Per Month (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Not available | Bear: N/A
additional property: Bidirectional Linking
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Native with graph visualization | Bear: No automatic backlinks; manual tagging only
additional property: Mobile App Feature Parity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 60% of desktop features | Bear: N/A
additional property: Data Storage Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Cloud-based (Roam servers) | Bear: N/A
additional property: Source Code License
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Closed-source proprietary | Bear: N/A
additional property: Advanced Query Language
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Datalog with RoamScript | Bear: N/A
additional property: Maximum Database Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Unlimited (cloud-based) | Bear: N/A
additional property: Storage Capacity (Free Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Unlimited | Bear: Unlimited
additional property: Export Formats
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: JSON, Markdown, EDN | Bear: Markdown, PDF, HTML
additional property: Learning Curve (hours to proficiency)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 40-60 hours for advanced use | Bear: 2-4 hours for basic use
  value reference: Bear
additional property: Base Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $15/month | Bear: N/A
additional property: Annual Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $180/year | Bear: N/A
additional property: Community Plugins Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: ~150 plugins | Bear: N/A
additional property: Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Native multi-user editing | Bear: No (public links only)
additional property: Storage Format
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Proprietary JSON (Edn format) | Bear: N/A
additional property: Users (Estimated)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 1.5M+ registered (2024) | Bear: N/A
additional property: Graph View Visualization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Built-in interactive graph with density indicators | Bear: N/A
additional property: Base Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $15 | Bear: N/A
additional property: Annual Cost (Single User)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $180/year | Bear: N/A
additional property: Data Storage Location
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Roam cloud servers (third-party controlled) | Bear: N/A
additional property: Free Trial Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 30 days free trial | Bear: N/A
additional property: Annual Cost (Paid Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $180/year (only paid option) | Bear: $36/year (premium subscription)
  value reference: Bear
additional property: Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 2 (Web, limited mobile beta) | Bear: 3 (iOS, macOS, Web)
  value reference: Bear
additional property: Maximum Notes (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Not available (no free tier) | Bear: Unlimited
additional property: Supported Code Languages
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: Basic code block support | Bear: 200+ with syntax highlighting
  value reference: Bear
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: $15/month | Bear: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Monthly Upload Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: None (limited daily notes only) | Bear: Unlimited
additional property: Time to Productive (New User)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Roam Research: 3-7 days | Bear: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/roam-research
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/roam-research
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/bear
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/bear
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/roam-research-vs-bear)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/roam-research-vs-bear)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bear-vs-roam-research
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bear-vs-roam-research)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-remnote
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/apple-notes-vs-bear
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/notion-vs-roam-research
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-mem
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-logseq
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bear-vs-craft
teaches: How to choose between Roam Research and Bear
genre: Software

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

A Versus B
type: Organization

Roam Research
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: RR
language: en-US
description: Networked note-taking tool designed for bidirectional linking, knowledge graphs, and non-linear thinking with emphasis on daily notes.
subject of: Roam Research vs Bear

Bear
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Minimalist markdown note-taking app exclusive to Apple devices with elegant design.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Bear
subject of: Roam Research vs Bear
image: ImageObject
  caption: Bear

Roam Research vs Bear — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Roam Research vs Bear. Contains 155 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: Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: User Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Satisfaction
variable measured: Native Tools/Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Built-in AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Collaboration Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Teamwork
variable measured: Core Strength
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Target User Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audience
variable measured: API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Free Plan
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Concurrent Collaborators
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration
variable measured: Native API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Features
variable measured: Spaced Repetition Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Study Features
variable measured: Database/Table Customization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Organization
variable measured: Search Query Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Annual Cost (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Discord Community Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Supported Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Native Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Team Features
variable measured: Annual Cost (Committed Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Storage Tier
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Typical Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: AI Search Queries Per Month (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Features
variable measured: Bidirectional Linking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Core Features
variable measured: Mobile App Feature Parity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Platform Support
variable measured: Data Storage Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Source Code License
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Philosophy
variable measured: Advanced Query Language
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Maximum Database Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capacity
variable measured: Storage Capacity (Free Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Storage
variable measured: Export Formats
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Portability
variable measured: Learning Curve (hours to proficiency)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
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: Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration
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)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Data Storage Location
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Ownership
variable measured: Free Trial Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: Annual Cost (Paid Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Maximum Notes (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Limits
variable measured: Supported Code Languages
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Tier Monthly Upload Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Time to Productive (New User)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: AI-Powered Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Innovation
variable measured: Maximum Notes Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost (Standard Use)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Offline Functionality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Estimated Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Platforms Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Data Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Control
variable measured: Free Tier Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Real-Time Collaboration Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration
variable measured: Bidirectional Linking Quality
variable measured: Native Mobile Apps
variable measured: Public Template Gallery Size
variable measured: Estimated Learning Time to Proficiency
variable measured: API & Export Options
variable measured: Annual Subscription Cost
variable measured: Supported Operating Systems
variable measured: Offline Access Capability
variable measured: Average Initial Setup Time
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-bear)

Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Roam Research vs Bear.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: User Satisfaction
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Teamwork
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Audience
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Collaboration
has defined term: Developer Features
has defined term: Study Features
has defined term: Organization
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Team Features
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: AI Features
has defined term: Core Features
has defined term: Platform Support
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Philosophy
has defined term: Capacity
has defined term: Storage
has defined term: Data Portability
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Data Ownership
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Limits
has defined term: Innovation
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Data Control
has defined term: Core Feature
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Platform
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Content Library
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Learning & Usability
has defined term: Knowledge Management
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Advanced Features
has defined term: Platforms
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Quality
has defined term: Popularity
has defined term: Writing Features
has defined term: Mobile
has defined term: Search & Recognition
has defined term: Editing
has defined term: Availability
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Storage & Limits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Core Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: core-features
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: innovation
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

Platform
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content Library
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content-library
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Learning & Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: learning-&-usability
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

Advanced Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: advanced-features
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platforms
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platforms
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: quality
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Popularity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: popularity
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Writing Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: writing-features
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Search & Recognition
type: DefinedTerm
term code: search-&-recognition
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Editing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: editing
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Availability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: availability
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Storage & Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: storage-&-limits
in defined term set: Roam Research vs Bear — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T15:13:14.946Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: roam-research-vs-bear)
main entity: Which is better for managing a personal knowledge base?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Roam Research excels at building interconnected knowledge bases with thousands of related notes because bidirectional backlinks automatically surface relevant information. Bear suits smaller, more linear knowledge collections where notes are organized by tags and hierarchy. For complex research or long-form knowledge work, Roam's linking advantage outweighs its learning curve; for simple collections, Bear's ease of use wins.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I use these offline?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Bear provides full offline support on iOS and macOS—you can write, edit, and search your entire library without internet. Roam is primarily cloud-based and requires internet for full functionality, though some caching exists in the web app. If offline access is critical, Bear is the clear choice.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has better performance with large note collections?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Bear maintains consistent speed even with 500,000+ word documents and thousands of notes. Roam's performance noticeably degrades when individual notes exceed 50,000 words due to its graph database architecture. For users managing large amounts of text, Bear is more performant; Roam users typically split large documents into smaller, linked notes.
    language: en-US
main entity: How much does each cost over a year?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Bear costs $1.99 one-time purchase (or $2.99/year for Pro with advanced features)—approximately $2-3 per year total. Roam costs $15/month or $120-180 annually depending on plan. Over 5 years, Bear costs ~$15 while Roam costs ~$750-900, making Bear 50-60x cheaper.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is there a free trial for either?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Roam Research offers a 30-day free trial with full features before the $15/month subscription. Bear is a paid purchase ($1.99) with no trial, though you can evaluate it at the low price point. Roam's trial allows you to test the complex workflow before committing; Bear's affordability serves as a low-risk entry point.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Roam Research and Bear
type: HowTo
description: Roam Research is a graph-based knowledge management system optimized for bidirectional linking and complex note relationships, while Bear is a lightweight markdown note-taking app focused on simplicity and speed. Roam excels for researchers and knowledge workers managing interconnected ideas, while Bear suits users wanting distraction-free writing with basic organization.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Core Architecture
step: Consider: Learning Curve
step: Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost
step: Consider: Backlink Functionality
step: Consider: Platform Availability
step: Consider: Offline Capability
step: Consider: Max Note Size Performance
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Roam Research if you're a researcher, academic, or knowledge worker building interconnected idea networks and willing to invest time in learning a powerful system. Choose Bear if you value simplicity, speed, offline access, and want an affordable writing-first tool for journaling, quick notes, and lightweight organization.

Consider: Core Architecture
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Core Architecture: Roam Research has Graph database with bidirectional links, while Bear has Hierarchical markdown with tags.

Consider: Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Learning Curve: Roam Research has Steep (6-12 weeks for mastery), while Bear has Minimal (under 1 hour).

Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Monthly Subscription Cost: Roam Research has $15/month, while Bear has $1.99/month (one-time).

Consider: Backlink Functionality
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Backlink Functionality: Roam Research has Native bidirectional linking with auto-generated backlinks, while Bear has Limited tag-based cross-referencing.

Consider: Platform Availability
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Platform Availability: Roam Research has Web-first (limited mobile), while Bear has iOS, macOS, web (full cross-platform).

Consider: Offline Capability
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Offline Capability: Roam Research has Limited (primarily cloud-based), while Bear has Full offline support.

Consider: Max Note Size Performance
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Max Note Size Performance: Roam Research has Slows noticeably above 50,000 words, while Bear has Handles 500,000+ word notes smoothly.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Roam Research vs Bear
review body: Roam Research is a graph-based knowledge management system optimized for bidirectional linking and complex note relationships, while Bear is a lightweight markdown note-taking app focused on simplicity and speed. Roam excels for researchers and knowledge workers managing interconnected ideas, while Bear suits users wanting distraction-free writing with basic organization.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Roam Research vs Bear

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

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

Monthly Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: $15/month | Bear: $2.99/month
value reference: Bear

Annual Cost (Standard Use)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: $180/year | Bear: N/A

Available Plugins/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: ~50 official extensions | Bear: ~50 official extensions

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: ~5% read-only mode only | Bear: Full offline support on iOS/macOS; sync when online

Estimated Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: ~0.2 million (2024 estimate) | Bear: N/A

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 3 (Web, iOS, Android) | Bear: N/A

Data Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Cloud-hosted; Roam Inc. retains server access | Bear: N/A

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

Real-Time Collaboration Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Not supported; 1 user per workspace | Bear: Not supported
value reference: Roam Research

Bidirectional Linking Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Automatic backlinks with graph visualization | Bear: N/A

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

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

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

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

Annual Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: $165/year | Bear: $29.99/year
value reference: Bear

Supported Operating Systems
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Web (all browsers), Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Bear: iOS, macOS only

Offline Access Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Limited (web-dependent) | Bear: Full offline support

Average Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 45 minutes | Bear: 5 minutes
value reference: Bear

Export Format Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 4+ formats (Markdown, JSON, EDN, PDF) | Bear: 3 formats (Markdown, PDF, HTML)
value reference: Roam Research

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 30 days | Bear: 7 days
value reference: Roam Research

Active User Base
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: ~150,000+ | Bear: N/A

Available Templates
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 500+ via Roam Marketplace | Bear: N/A

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

UI/UX Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 2-4 hours to proficiency | Bear: N/A

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: iOS and Android apps available | Bear: N/A

Data Portability/Export
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Markdown export available but limited | Bear: N/A

Subscription Cost (Monthly Equivalent)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: $15.00/month | Bear: $1.99/month (one-time purchase)
value reference: Bear

Time to Productivity
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 6-12 weeks | Bear: Under 1 week
value reference: Bear

Bidirectional Backlinks
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Yes, automatic | Bear: No (tags only)

Maximum Document Size (Stable Performance)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 50,000 words | Bear: 500,000+ words
value reference: Bear

Mobile App Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Web + limited mobile features | Bear: Full iOS, macOS, and web

Graph Visualization
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Yes, interactive graph view | Bear: No

Custom Automation (Scripting/Queries)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Yes (DataScript/Clojure) | Bear: No

Annual Subscription Cost (if available)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: $165/year | Bear: N/A

Maximum Notes Storage (Premium Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Unlimited | Bear: N/A

Native Mobile Apps (iOS & Android)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 0 (web-only; third-party clients available) | Bear: N/A

Bidirectional Linking Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Native & automatic backlinks | Bear: No

Full Offline Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Limited (web-based only) | Bear: N/A

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 30+ | Bear: Limited (direct integrations)
value reference: Roam Research

Time to Proficiency (Median)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 8-12 weeks | Bear: N/A

Web Clipper Speed
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 2-4 seconds | Bear: N/A

AI Writing Assistant
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: No native assistant (requires integration) | Bear: N/A

Offline Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Limited offline functionality | Bear: Full (native offline)

Query Language Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Advanced DataLog queries with filtering/sorting | Bear: N/A

Maximum Storage (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Limited (sync only) | Bear: N/A

Monthly Cost (Individual Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: $15/month (paid) or free (limited) | Bear: N/A

Learning Time to Proficiency
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 2-3 hours | Bear: N/A

Available Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 20-30 integrations | Bear: N/A

Community Templates Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: 50-100 | Bear: N/A

Bidirectional Linking (Native Support)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Core feature with graph visualization | Bear: N/A

Database Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Collections/blocks only; no structured databases | Bear: N/A

Performance with Large Knowledge Bases
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Handles 5,000+ notes smoothly | Bear: N/A

Knowledge Graph Visualization
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: Interactive graph showing all connections | Bear: Not available

Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: $27.99/year

User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 4.7

Number of Reviews
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 318

Markdown Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Full support

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: iOS, macOS, Web (3)

Document Scanning
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Basic scanning

Call Recording & Transcription (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Not available

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Extensive

Monthly Subscription Cost (Individual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: $2.99

End-to-End Encryption
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Yes, all notes E2EE

Database/Relational Structure
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Tags and folders only

Native Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: iOS, iPadOS, macOS (Apple only)

Annual Subscription Discount
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 49% (annual: $20.99)

One-Time Purchase Option
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Not available

Built-in AI Writing Assistance
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Yes - native AI assistant

Focus/Distraction-Free Modes
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 2 modes (limited customization)

Time to First Note (Setup)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 2-3 minutes

Data Format
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Proprietary (low portability)

Mobile App Feature Completeness
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 95% feature parity with desktop

Maximum Note Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: ~10MB practical limit

Database Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: No native databases

Real-Time Team Collaboration
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Not supported (external links only)

Offline Access Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Full offline access with automatic sync

Data Export Format
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Standard markdown (.md) format

Free Plan Storage Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Unlimited (with free version)

Typical Setup Time for New Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 5-10 minutes to productive use

API Availability for Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Limited API access

Monthly Subscription Cost (Personal Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: $2.99/month

Annual Subscription Cost (Personal Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: $19.99/year

Free Plan Notebook Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Unlimited notebooks

OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: No

Native Markdown Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Yes (full native support)

Annual Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: $14.99/year

Number of Supported Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 3 (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)

Third-Party Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: ~50 integrations

Native Markdown Editor Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Yes (full native support)

Offline Access Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: iOS/Mac only (subscription required)

Monthly Active Users (Estimated)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: ~5 million active users

Free Tier Offered
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: No free tier (7-day trial only)

Platform Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 3 platforms (macOS, iOS, iCloud Web)

Maximum Note Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Unlimited notes (tested with 50,000+)

API Access for Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Limited - basic web clipper only

Markdown Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Full native markdown with code syntax highlighting

Database View Types
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 0 - flat folder/tag structure only

Premium Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: $1.99

Free Monthly Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 1GB

Markdown Support Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Full markdown with syntax highlighting

Web Clipper Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: No

Organizational Hierarchy Levels
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: 2 levels (Folder > Note)

OCR (Text Recognition in Images)
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: No

Distraction-Free Writing Mode
type: PropertyValue
value: Roam Research: N/A | Bear: Yes (primary design philosophy)

SpeakableSpecification
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Roam Research — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Bear — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

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

Bidirectional Linking Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Core Feature

Native Mobile Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

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

Annual Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Supported Operating Systems
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform

Offline Access Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

Average Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Onboarding

Export Format Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Active User Base
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Available Templates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content Library

Source Code Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

UI/UX Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform

Data Portability/Export
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Control

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

Time to Productivity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Learning & Usability

Bidirectional Backlinks
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Knowledge Management

Maximum Document Size (Stable Performance)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Mobile App Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform Support

Graph Visualization
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Knowledge Management

Custom Automation (Scripting/Queries)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Advanced Features

Annual Subscription Cost (if available)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Notes Storage (Premium Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Native Mobile Apps (iOS & Android)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platforms

Bidirectional Linking Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Core Features

Full Offline Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Time to Proficiency (Median)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Web Clipper Speed
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

AI Writing Assistant
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Offline Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Query Language Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Advanced Features

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

Monthly Cost (Individual Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Learning Time to Proficiency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Available Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Community Templates Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Bidirectional Linking (Native Support)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Core Features

Database Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Core Features

Performance with Large Knowledge Bases
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Knowledge Graph Visualization
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Core Features

Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Quality

Number of Reviews
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Popularity

Markdown Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Document Scanning
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Call Recording & Transcription (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

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

End-to-End Encryption
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Database/Relational Structure
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Organization

Native Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Annual Subscription Discount
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

One-Time Purchase Option
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

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

Focus/Distraction-Free Modes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Writing Features

Time to First Note (Setup)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Data Format
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Portability

Mobile App Feature Completeness
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Mobile

Maximum Note Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capacity

Database Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Real-Time Team Collaboration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Offline Access Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Data Export Format
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Portability

Free Plan Storage Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Typical Setup Time for New Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

API Availability for Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

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

Annual Subscription Cost (Personal Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Plan Notebook Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Search & Recognition

Native Markdown Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Editing

Annual Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Number of Supported Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Availability

Third-Party Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Native Markdown Editor Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Offline Access Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Monthly Active Users (Estimated)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Free Tier Offered
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Platform Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Maximum Note Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

API Access for Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

Markdown Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Writing Features

Database View Types
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Premium Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Monthly Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage & Limits

Markdown Support Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Web Clipper Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Organizational Hierarchy Levels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Organization

OCR (Text Recognition in Images)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Distraction-Free Writing Mode
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience