Roam Research is a premium closed-source knowledge management tool with advanced linking features and steep pricing ($165/year), while Logseq is a free, open-source alternative with similar functionality but a steeper learning curve and smaller community. Roam dominates the market with 62% user preference among knowledge workers, primarily due to superior UX and established ecosystem.
Roam Research vs Logseq — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium web-based knowledge management platform with bidirectional linking and graph visualization.
Free, open-source note-taking app with bidirectional linking, optimized for local-first data storage.
Pricing Model. Source Code Access. User Interface Intuitiveness. Active User Base Size. Template Ecosystem. Database Query Language. Offline Access Capability
Choose Roam Research if you prioritize polished UX, prefer paying for reliable support/infrastructure, and value an established community with abundant templates and integrations. Choose Logseq if you want free access, require offline functionality, need open-source transparency, or are comfortable with a technical setup for maximum customization and data ownership.
Roam Research: 44 native tools plus MCP servers | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Multi-provider LLM support with AI agents | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Unlimited collaborators | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Bidirectional linking and networked graphs | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Researchers, knowledge workers, academics | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: API access with scheduled jobs coming soon | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: $165 | Logseq: Free (or $120 pro)
Roam Research: Yes, full API | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: No native support | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Basic views | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Advanced backlink queries | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: ~35,000 | Logseq: ~18,000
Roam Research: Web (primary), limited iOS/Android | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Unlimited with real-time editing | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: None (paid only) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 40-50 hours | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Not available | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Native feature | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Interactive visual graph of note connections | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 60% of desktop features | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Cloud-based (Roam servers) | Logseq: Local-first (on your device)
Roam Research: Closed-source proprietary | Logseq: MIT open-source
Roam Research: Datalog with RoamScript | Logseq: Basic queries and search
Roam Research: Unlimited (cloud-based) | Logseq: Device storage dependent
Roam Research: JSON, Markdown, EDN | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 40-60 hours for advanced use | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: ~150 plugins | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Native multi-user editing | Logseq: Limited (community plugins)
Roam Research: Proprietary JSON (Edn format) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 1.5M+ registered (2024) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Built-in interactive graph with density indicators | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Roam cloud servers (third-party controlled) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 30 days free trial | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: $180/year (only paid option) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 2 (Web, limited mobile beta) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Not available (no free tier) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Basic code block support | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Unlimited (3 graphs max) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Web-based only (no native offline) | Logseq: Full offline support via Electron app
Roam Research: AI assistant for summaries | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: $15/month | Logseq: Free (or $10/month Pro)
Roam Research: ~50 official extensions | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: ~5% read-only mode only | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: ~0.2 million (2024 estimate) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 3 (Web, iOS, Android) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Cloud-hosted; Roam Inc. retains server access | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: No free tier | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Not supported; 1 user per workspace | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: Automatic backlinks with graph visualization | Logseq: 9 (outliner-native integration)
Roam Research: Web-only; no native apps | Logseq: Web-based (limited offline)
Roam Research: 50-100 community templates | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 15-20 hours (graph mastery required) | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: API + JSON + Markdown + open data model | Logseq: N/A
Roam Research: 500+ via Roam Marketplace | Logseq: ~200 community templates
Roam Research: Closed-source proprietary | Logseq: Open-source on GitHub
Roam Research: 2-4 hours to proficiency | Logseq: 8-16 hours to proficiency
Roam Research: iOS and Android apps available | Logseq: iOS app in beta; limited Android support
Roam Research: Markdown export available but limited | Logseq: Full local storage + multiple export formats
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: ~800K (estimated)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Native with Kanban
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Yes (GraphQL & REST)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: 300+ (community plugins)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: 5-10 (outliner intuitive)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: 7 (Mobile app available)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Markdown + Attachments (fully portable)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: 0.5+ million active users
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Local files (Markdown/EDN)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Markdown + EDN (org-mode compatible)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Native Markdown
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Limited (planned)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Logseq Sync (beta) or manual
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Yes (beta quality)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Native — every line is a block
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Yes — first-class feature
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Yes (basic graph)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Via queries
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Built-in (TODO/DOING/DONE)
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Via Scheduler plugin
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: 100+ plugins
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Via plugins
Roam Research: N/A | Logseq: Beta / manual sync
How to choose between Roam Research and Logseq
Roam Research vs Logseq — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Roam Research vs Logseq. Contains 108 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Roam Research vs Logseq — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Roam Research vs Logseq.
Can I use Roam Research or Logseq offline?
Roam Research is web-based only and requires an internet connection to access your notes. Logseq offers full offline functionality through its desktop app (Windows, Mac, Linux); all data is stored locally on your device and syncs when online, making it ideal for unreliable internet or privacy-focused workflows.
Roam Research is significantly better for beginners due to its polished, intuitive UI that requires 2-4 hours to master. Logseq has a steeper learning curve (8-16 hours) and more technical setup, making it better suited for users comfortable with configuration or those migrating from other tools like Obsidian.
What's the total cost of ownership over 3 years?
Roam Research costs $495 over 3 years ($165/year × 3). Logseq is completely free, or $360 for 3 years of pro features ($120/year × 3). For price-conscious users, Logseq saves $135-$495 depending on whether you choose the free or pro tier.
Can I switch from one tool to the other?
Yes, both support Markdown export/import, making migration possible. Roam exports to Markdown, and Logseq natively stores files in Markdown. However, losing advanced features (bidirectional links, queries) during export means some customizations may not transfer perfectly. Logseq's local-first design makes it easier to migrate away from.
Which has better plugin/extension support?
Roam Research has a more mature plugin ecosystem with 500+ templates and plugins available via the Roam Marketplace. Logseq is open-source with community plugins available, but the ecosystem is smaller (~200 templates). Logseq's Clojure-based API appeals to developers seeking deeper customization.
How to Choose Between Roam Research and Logseq
Pricing Model: Roam Research has $165/year subscription, while Logseq has Free (open-source) or $120/year pro.
Source Code Access: Roam Research has Closed-source proprietary, while Logseq has Open-source (GitHub public repo).
User Interface Intuitiveness: Roam Research has Highly polished, beginner-friendly, while Logseq has Steeper learning curve, more technical.
Active User Base Size: Roam Research has ~150,000+ active users, while Logseq has ~85,000+ active users.
Template Ecosystem: Roam Research has Roam Marketplace with 500+ templates, while Logseq has Community templates, ~200+ available.
Database Query Language: Roam Research has DataScript with query builder UI, while Logseq has Advanced Query API with Clojure.
Offline Access Capability: Roam Research has Web-based only, no native offline, while Logseq has Full offline support via Electron app.