Overview
Roam Research is a block-based, networked note-taking tool that lets you link ideas with bi‑directional links and visualize them as a graph for long-term thinking. New AI capabilities layer on semantic search, smart references, and chat-style interactions that help you discover connections, summarize notes, and generate ideas directly from your Roam graph.
Pricing
Pro
- Pro plan costs about 15 USD per month when billed monthly or around 13.75 USD/month when billed annually (≈165 USD/year), with a 31‑day free trial.
- Includes unlimited private or public graphs, all core Roam features, and access to ongoing AI enhancements and integrations.
Believer
- Believer plan is effectively 8.33 USD/month when paid as 500 USD upfront for 5 years, aimed at long-term power users.
- Includes everything in Pro plus early access to new features, community calls with the team, and priority support.
Key Features
- Networked thought & bi-directional links – Block-based notes with backlinks and a graph view to connect concepts, people, and projects.
- AI smart references & contextual search – AI suggests related blocks and pages as you write, and semantic search finds concepts by meaning, not just keywords.
- AI writing assistance – Context-aware suggestions for structure, clarity, and grammar, plus prompts and SmartBlocks workflows that can auto-generate outlines and content.
- Chat with your graph (via AI extensions) – Community tools like LiveAI turn Roam into an AI workspace with a chat panel that can answer questions using your own notes.
- SmartBlocks & automation – Template and automation system (via Roam and RoamJS) to generate daily pages, random prompts, TODOs, and dynamic content.
Best Use Cases
- Researchers & academics – Literature reviews, hypothesis development, and knowledge synthesis using dense webs of linked notes.
- Knowledge workers & creatives – Managing complex projects, ideas, and content with AI surfacing non-obvious connections.
- PKM power users – Users who like graph-based note-taking and want AI that fits into their existing Roam workflows.
- Developers & AI engineers – Using Roam MCP / LiveAI setups to connect external AI agents to a personal knowledge graph.
- Writers & thinkers – Drafting essays, books, and long-term projects with SmartBlocks templates and AI-assisted outlines.
Pros
- ✅ Deep networked-thought model – Block-based graph plus backlinks remains one of the strongest environments for complex, interconnected knowledge.
- ✅ AI features aligned with graph – Smart references and semantic search enhance discovery without replacing manual linking.
- ✅ Powerful automation ecosystem – SmartBlocks, RoamJS, and community tools (like LiveAI) enable highly customized workflows.
- ✅ Focus on serious knowledge work – Designed for researchers, writers, and deep thinkers rather than casual note-taking.
Cons
- ❌ Limited native AI vs competitors – Native AI is more basic; many advanced features rely on third-party extensions and plugins.
- ❌ No freemium plan and higher price – No permanent free tier; starting around 13.75–15 USD/month makes it pricier than many note apps.
- ❌ Steep learning curve & slower development – Block-based workflow and advanced features can be hard to learn, and users report relatively slow feature rollout.
Official Website
Roam Research – Official networked thought & AI workspace: https://roamresearch.com
Release Date: Roam Research gained traction around 2019–2020 as a graph-based note app; AI-powered features such as smart references, contextual search, and AI chat integrations were layered on through 2023–2025.
Last Updated: December 2025