Roam Research Review 2025
The pioneer of networked thinking and block references
Quick Facts
Key Features
What Roam Research Does
Roam Research pioneered the "networked thinking" approach to notes that inspired tools like Obsidian and Logseq. It's built around the idea that notes shouldn't be isolated documents but interconnected blocks of thought that resurface when relevant.
The tool uses an outliner format where every bullet point is a referenceable block, creating a web of connected ideas.
Key Features
Block References: Roam's signature feature. Any bullet point can be referenced and embedded in other notes. Changes to the original update everywhere it's referenced.
Daily Notes: Each day gets its own page automatically. This encourages capturing ideas without worrying about organization—just write, and link to relevant topics.
Bidirectional Links: Link between concepts with [[brackets]]. The linked page shows all notes that reference it, surfacing unexpected connections.
Queries: Build dynamic views of your notes by querying for specific tags, attributes, or conditions.
Pricing
Roam Research is on the expensive end at $15/month (billed annually) or $165/year. There's no free tier, only a trial period. A "Believer" plan offers 5 years for $500.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Powerful block references
- • True networked thinking
- • Great for research
- • Daily notes workflow
- • Active community
Cons
- • Expensive ($15/month)
- • Steep learning curve
- • No local storage
- • Development has slowed
- • Competitors have caught up
Who It's Best For
Roam Research suits researchers and academics connecting ideas across sources, writers building complex arguments, and PKM enthusiasts who value block-level referencing. The price and learning curve filter for committed users.