Feeling buried under a mountain of all the notes from work projects, personal goals, and random thoughts? Finding the right note-taking app can help you organize, prioritize, and make sense of all your ideas.
Whether you’re a meticulous planner, a creative mind with ideas all over the place, or just someone trying to keep track of daily tasks, there’s a note-taking app for you.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at two heavyweights in the note-taking arena: Obsidian and Roam Research. Each has unique strengths and quirks, and choosing between them can be a bit of a puzzle.
But don’t worry. We’re here to guide you through the Roam Research vs. Obsidian debate. We’ll compare their features, pricing, and differences so that you can find the perfect match for your needs.
Obsidian vs. Roam Research: Which Note-Taking Tool Is Best?
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is Obsidian?
Imagine having a digital notebook that can store your project plans, research ideas, and daily to-do lists all in one place. Obsidian is designed to help you do just that. Unlike other note-taking apps that save your notes online, Obsidian stores everything locally on your device. This gives you full control over your data and allows you to access your notes without an internet connection.
With the Obsidian mobile app, you can take your notes with you wherever you go, ensuring that you always have access to your important information.
Obsidian features
Obsidian is packed with features that make it a favorite among note-taking enthusiasts:
1. Markdown support
Obsidian uses Markdown, a simple text formatting system. This makes writing and organizing your notes straightforward and intuitive. Markdown is widely supported, so your notes can be easily shared or imported into other applications without losing their formatting. This is particularly helpful for users who want to keep their notes accessible and consistent across different platforms.
2. Graph view
One of Obsidian’s standout features is its Graph View. This interactive visual representation shows how your notes are interconnected. It helps you see the big picture and discover relationships between ideas you might have missed.
For example, you can see how notes from a project planning session link to research ideas or how daily to-do lists tie into larger goals. This feature is incredibly useful for visual learners and those who prefer to see their information on a connected web.
3. Community plugins
Obsidian supports a variety of plug-ins developed by its active user community. These plugins allow you to add extra features to the app to suit your specific needs. Whether you need advanced task management, calendar integration, or enhanced graph visualizations, there’s likely a plugin that can help.
This means you can tailor Obsidian to work precisely how you want, making your note-taking process more efficient and personalized. This level of customization is perfect for those looking for advanced note-taking methods.
4. Local storage
By storing notes locally on your device, Obsidian ensures you have complete control over your data. This is a major advantage for those concerned about privacy, as your notes aren’t stored on external servers.
Local storage also means you can access your notes anytime, anywhere, without an internet connection. This feature is perfect for users who work in environments with limited or no internet access.
Obsidian pricing
- Free forever
- Commercial: $50/user per year
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is Roam Research?
Roam Research is a note-taking tool designed to help you organize your thoughts in a networked structure. It’s particularly popular among researchers, writers, and anyone who needs to manage complex information.
Roam stands out with its ability to create a web of interconnected notes, allowing you to see the relationships between different pieces of information at a glance.
Roam Research features
Roam Research offers a range of features that make it a powerful tool for note-taking and knowledge management:
1. Bi-directional linking
Roam’s core feature is its bidirectional linking, which allows you to link notes to one another easily. You can reference other notes directly within your current note, and Roam will automatically create a backlink.
This is incredibly helpful for creating a web of connected information, making it easy to see how your ideas are related and navigate between them. This feature ensures easy linking of ideas and content.
2. Daily notes
Every day, Roam generates a new daily note for you to jot down tasks, ideas, or anything else that comes to mind. This feature helps you keep track of your thoughts on a day-to-day basis and ensures that no idea gets lost. Daily notes are an essential part of effective note-taking strategies.
3. Block references
Roam allows you to reference and reuse individual blocks of text across your notes. This means you can take a paragraph from one note and include it in another without duplicating content.
It’s a powerful feature for keeping your notes organized and ensuring that important information is easily accessible wherever you need it. This flexibility makes Roam a key player among second-brain apps.
4. Plain text files
Roam stores your notes as plain text files, which makes them easy to read, edit, and export. This ensures that your notes are future-proof and can be accessed with any text editor.
It’s a straightforward approach that keeps your information flexible and portable. This simplicity is beneficial for users who prefer note-taking templates.
Roam Research pricing
- Pro: $15/month
- Believer: $500 for 5 years
Also Read: 20 Best Obsidian Alternatives in 2024
Summarize this article for me pleaseObsidian vs. Roam Research: Features Compared
The big difference between Obsidian and Roam Research is how they structure and store your notes. Obsidian saves your notes locally and uses a Markdown file system, while Roam Research focuses on a networked, online-first approach.
Let’s take a closer look at other key differences between these two note-taking tools:
| Feature | Obsidian | Roam Research |
| Markdown support | Yes | No |
| Bi-directional linking | Yes | Yes |
| Graph view | Yes | Yes |
| Daily notes | No | Yes |
| Block references | No | Yes |
| Community plugins | Yes | No |
| Local storage | Yes | No |
| Online access | No | Yes |
| Customization | Yes | No |
| Pricing flexibility | Yes | No |
Now let’s look at these differences in detail:
Feature 1: Markdown support
- Obsidian: Obsidian excels with its Markdown support, allowing you to write and format notes with simple syntax. This makes your notes easy to read and edit, ensuring compatibility with other text editors. For instance, to create a quick checklist, you can use simple Markdown syntax like – [ ] Task to keep things organized. This is perfect for users who prefer a clean, text-based approach to note-taking
- Roam Research: Roam does not support Markdown, which might be a drawback for users who prefer this format for its simplicity and widespread use. Instead, Roam uses its block-based structure, which can be powerful but less straightforward for users accustomed to the Markdown format
Winner: Obsidian for its versatile and accessible Markdown support.
Feature 2: Bi-directional linking
- Obsidian: Obsidian’s bi-directional linking lets you create a network of connected notes, making it easy to see relationships and navigate between related ideas. For example, suppose you’re writing a research paper. In that case, you can link notes on different sources, theories, and findings, allowing you to cross-reference and build a comprehensive understanding of your topic easily
- Roam Research: Roam Research is renowned for its bi-directional linking, allowing you to connect notes seamlessly and see backlinks automatically. This feature is particularly useful for users who need to manage complex webs of information, such as researchers or writers, enabling them to keep track of how ideas evolve and interconnect
Winner: Tie. Both tools offer strong bi-directional linking capabilities.
Feature 3: Graph view
- Obsidian: Obsidian’s Graph View provides a visual representation of your notes and their connections, helping you understand the relationships between different pieces of information. For example, if you’re planning a project, you can use the graph view to visualize how different tasks, resources, and deadlines are interconnected, helping you to see the big picture and identify any gaps or dependencies
- Roam Research: Roam Research also offers a Graph View that shows how your notes are interconnected, but it’s not as visually detailed as Obsidian’s. While useful, Roam’s Graph View may not provide the same level of insight into the structure of your notes
Winner: Obsidian, for its more detailed and interactive Graph View.
Feature 4: Daily notes
- Obsidian: While Obsidian does not have a built-in daily notes feature, you can create templates or use plugins to achieve a similar effect. For example, you can set up a daily note template that prompts you to record your tasks, thoughts, and key events for the day, helping you maintain a consistent journaling or planning habit
- Roam Research: Roam Research automatically generates a new note daily, making it easy to capture daily tasks and thoughts. This feature is incredibly useful for keeping a daily log of your activities and ideas, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks
Winner: Roam Research, for its convenient and automatic daily notes feature.
Feature 5: Block references
- Obsidian: Obsidian does not natively support block references, but you can achieve similar functionality through plugins. This means you can link to specific sections or paragraphs within your notes, which can be useful for referencing key points or quotes in different contexts. For example, if you have a key insight in one note, you can reference it in another note without duplicating the content
- Roam Research: Roam’s block references allow you to reuse and reference individual blocks of text across your notes, enhancing flexibility and organization. This feature is compelling for creating dynamic and interconnected documents where you can pull in relevant information from various sources without cluttering your workspace
Winner: Roam Research, for its powerful and seamless block reference feature.
Summarize this article for me pleaseObsidian vs. Roam Research on Reddit
We visited Reddit to see where people land on the Obsidian vs. Roam Research debate. When you search for discussions on these two tools, you’ll find a variety of opinions based on users’ personal preferences and needs.
Many users appreciate Obsidian for its customization and control:
This sentiment is shared among Obsidian users who value the ability to tailor the app to their specific workflow. Obsidian stores notes locally and uses plain text files, so you have complete control over your data and can customize the interface with various plugins.
On the other hand, some users prefer Roam Research for its innovative approach to note-taking:
Roam’s block-based structure allows for flexible and dynamic note-taking. Each block can be easily linked, referenced, and manipulated. This feature is particularly appealing to users who need to manage complex, interconnected information and enjoy the fluidity of Roam’s interface.
Overall, the choice between Obsidian and Roam Research often comes down to personal preference and specific needs. Obsidian’s strength lies in its customization and control, while Roam Research excels with its block-based approach and seamless linking capabilities.
Final Verdict
Overall, the choice between Obsidian and Roam Research often comes down to personal preference and specific needs. Obsidian’s strength lies in its customization and control, while Roam Research excels with its block-based approach and seamless linking capabilities.
Also Read: 10 Best AI Tools for Note-Taking in 2024
Summarize this article for me pleaseMeet ClickUp: The Best Alternative to Obsidian vs. Roam Research
If you’re looking for a note-taking tool that combines the best features of Obsidian and Roam Research, look no further than ClickUp.
ClickUp offers a comprehensive tool suite to meet all your note-taking and task-management needs. Here’s why ClickUp stands out as the ultimate alternative to Obsidian and Roam Research:
1. ClickUp Notepad
ClickUp Notepad is a versatile tool for quickly jotting down ideas, tasks, and reminders. It’s perfect for capturing fleeting thoughts and keeping your daily notes organized.
Whether brainstorming for a project or making a quick list, ClickUp Notepad ensures you never lose track of important information. Plus, with seamless integration into your workspace, you can easily convert your notes into tasks and projects.
You can also use the ClickUp Meeting Notes Template to draft meeting agendas or outline class notes. Organize and share your notes efficiently, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
This template ensures your team’s discussions stay focused and organized by providing clear guidelines and structures for capturing agendas, notes, and action items.
Whether planning a detailed weekly team meeting or a quick daily standup, this template helps make every meeting productive and well-documented.
Another useful notepad template is the ClickUp Class Notes Template. It can help you structure your notes in a clear and organized manner, making them easy to reference and share.
This template is particularly helpful for students. It helps them more efficiently manage cluttered folders, piles of printouts, and misplaced school notes.
ClickUp’s note-taking template helps students:
- Keep class notes, homework, and useful links all in one location
- Develop a system for schoolwork to enhance study efficiency
- Customize and format templates for each project, class, or semester
2. ClickUp Docs
ClickUp Docs is designed to help you create documents for yourself and collaborate with your peers. It allows you to write, edit, and share documents in real-time, making it an excellent tool for collaborative projects.
The rich text editor supports various formatting options. You can embed tasks directly into your documents, linking your notes to actionable items.
3. ClickUp Brain
ClickUp Brain, an AI-powered assistant, takes your productivity to the next level by offering intelligent suggestions and automating routine tasks.
Whether drafting a document, organizing your notes, or planning a project, ClickUp Brain can help facilitate your workflow and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. It’s like having a personal assistant ready to help you manage your tasks more efficiently.
ClickUp Brain also offers an AI Writer for Work that allows users to capture ideas, meeting notes, and research efficiently with AI-assisted note-taking. It can also generate documents like reports, emails, and presentations, saving time with customizable templates and real-time collaboration.
This feature saves time and enhances productivity by automating repetitive tasks and providing valuable insights.
Why ClickUp?
ClickUp integrates the best aspects of Obsidian’s customization and Roam Research’s dynamic linking into a single, powerful platform.
Here are some additional reasons why ClickUp might be the perfect choice for you:
- Comprehensive task management: Beyond note-taking, ClickUp excels in task management, allowing you to create tasks from your notes, set deadlines, track projects, and collaborate with your team
- Unified workspace: ClickUp combines your notes, tasks, and projects into one seamless workspace, reducing the need to switch between multiple tools
- Customization and flexibility: ClickUp offers a range of templates and customization options, ensuring that your workspace fits your unique needs
Summarize this article for me pleaseFind Your Perfect Note-Taking Tool
Choosing the right note-taking tool depends on your specific needs and preferences. Obsidian and Roam Research each offer unique features that cater to different styles of note-taking and knowledge management.
However, if you’re looking for a tool that combines the best of both worlds and adds even more functionality, ClickUp is the ultimate solution.
With features like ClickUp Notepad, ClickUp Docs, and ClickUp AI, you can simplify your workflow, enhance collaboration, and stay organized in one unified platform. Ready to take your note-taking and project management to the next level?
Sign up to ClickUp today and see how it can transform the way you work!
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
