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Roam Research alternatives · Note-Taking

Open-source alternatives to Roam Research

Roam Research is not described as open source on its own site. 50 of the 146 other note-taking apps in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.

Roam Research is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month). All of them are free or have a free plan.

50 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from

The 12 closest to Roam Research

  1. Logseq

    Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files

    • Logseq starts at $5 per month for Open Collective backers, which unlocks Logseq Sync. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • Logseq has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Logseq lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Logseq is open source, according to its own site.
    Logseq vs Roam ResearchLogseq pricing and details

  2. Reflect

    Open-source daily notes app with backlinks and local Markdown

    • Reflect starts at $9.99 per month, or $99 per year, for the iPhone and iPad app. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • Reflect has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Reflect lists a browser extension.
    • Only Roam Research lists a web app.
    Reflect vs Roam ResearchReflect pricing and details

  3. Memos

    Open-source, self-hosted timeline of short Markdown notes

    • Memos is free. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • Memos has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Memos lists a browser extension.
    • Only Roam Research lists macOS and iOS apps.
    Memos pricing and details

  4. GitJournal

    Mobile Markdown notes app that syncs through any Git repository

    • GitJournal starts at $1.99 per month in installments, or $31.99 one-time (US App Store minimums). Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • GitJournal has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only GitJournal lists an Android app.
    • Only Roam Research lists a web app.
    GitJournal pricing and details

  5. flatnotes

    Self-hosted notes web app on a flat folder of Markdown files

    • flatnotes is free. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • flatnotes has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Roam Research lists macOS and iOS apps.
    • flatnotes is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    flatnotes pricing and details

  6. NoteDiscovery

    Self-hosted Markdown knowledge base that runs in the browser

    • NoteDiscovery is free. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • NoteDiscovery has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Roam Research lists macOS and iOS apps.
    • NoteDiscovery is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    NoteDiscovery pricing and details

  7. Zim

    Desktop wiki that keeps linked pages as plain text files

    • Zim is free. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • Zim has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Zim lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Only Roam Research lists a web app.
    Zim pricing and details

  8. Simplenote

    Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform

    • Simplenote is free. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • Simplenote has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Simplenote lists Android, Windows and Linux apps.
    • Simplenote is open source, according to its own site.
    Simplenote pricing and details

  9. Notesnook

    Open source, end-to-end encrypted notes on every platform

    • Notesnook starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year (Essential). Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • Notesnook has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Notesnook lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Only Notesnook lists a browser extension.
    Notesnook pricing and details

  10. Trilium Notes

    Free, open-source hierarchical notes for a personal knowledge base

    • Trilium Notes is free. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • Trilium Notes has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Trilium Notes lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Only Trilium Notes lists a browser extension.
    Trilium Notes pricing and details

  11. SiYuan

    Open-source, local-first notes built on linked content blocks

    • SiYuan starts at $64 one-time payment (PRO Features). Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • SiYuan has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only SiYuan lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Only SiYuan lists a browser extension.
    SiYuan pricing and details

  12. TiddlyWiki

    Open-source personal wiki kept in a single HTML file

    • TiddlyWiki is free. Roam Research starts at $15 per month, or $165 per year ($13.75 a month).
    • TiddlyWiki has a free plan. Roam Research does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only TiddlyWiki lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Only Roam Research lists an iOS app.
    TiddlyWiki pricing and details

38 more that are open source

All 50 in one table

Common questions

Is there an open-source alternative to Roam Research?

Yes. Logseq, Reflect, Memos, GitJournal, flatnotes, NoteDiscovery, Zim, Simplenote and 42 more are open source, according to their own sites.

Is Roam Research open source?

Roam Research is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Oct 4, 2026 against the pages it cites.

When was this checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Roam Research: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.