Apple Notes
Roam Research
| Feature | Apple Notes | Roam Research |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | From $15/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best For | apple-users, casual-note-takers, students, families | researchers, writers, academics, knowledge-workers |
| Founded | 2012 | 2019 |
| Rich Text | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scanning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Folders | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Quick Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Icloud Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bidirectional Links | ✗ | ✓ |
| Block References | ✗ | ✓ |
| Daily Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Graph View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Queries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Version History | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Apple Notes Pros
- Free with Apple devices
- Fast and reliable
- Good scanning
- Shared folders
✗ Apple Notes Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Limited organization
- No markdown
✓ Roam Research Pros
- Bidirectional links surface unexpected connections
- Block-level referencing for atomic notes
- Daily notes workflow reduces friction
- Graph view reveals knowledge structure
✗ Roam Research Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- No free tier (expensive for note-taking)
- Mobile experience is poor
- Performance issues with very large graphs
The Verdict
Apple Notes is built for apple users and casual note takers, with a focus on rich-text and scanning. Roam Research targets researchers and writers and leads with bidirectional-links and block-references.
Apple Notes uses custom enterprise pricing, while Roam Research starts at $15/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Apple Notes has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Roam Research requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Roam Research offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Apple Notes takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.