Joplin
Roam Research
| Feature | Joplin | Roam Research |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $2.99/mo | From $15/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants | researchers, writers, academics, knowledge-workers |
| Founded | 2017 | 2019 |
| Markdown | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Clipper | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bidirectional Links | ✗ | ✓ |
| Block References | ✗ | ✓ |
| Daily Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Graph View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Queries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Version History | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Joplin Pros
- Free and open-source
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-host option
- Import from Evernote
✗ Joplin Cons
- Less polished UI
- Sync requires setup
- Limited collaboration
✓ 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
Joplin is built for privacy advocates and developers, with a focus on markdown and encryption. Roam Research targets researchers and writers and leads with bidirectional-links and block-references.
On pricing, Joplin is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $2.99/mo compared to $15/mo for Roam Research. That $12.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Joplin 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 Joplin 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.