Roam Research
Ulysses
| Feature | Roam Research | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $15/mo | From $5.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | researchers, writers, academics, knowledge-workers | authors, bloggers, journalists, apple-users |
| Founded | 2019 | 2013 |
| Bidirectional Links | ✓ | ✗ |
| Block References | ✓ | ✗ |
| Daily Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Graph View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Queries | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Version History | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown Editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Library Organization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals And Deadlines | ✗ | ✓ |
| Publishing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Icloud Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split View | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Ulysses Pros
- Beautiful distraction-free writing
- Excellent library management
- Direct publishing to blogs
- iCloud sync across devices
✗ Ulysses Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Subscription model controversial
- No Windows support
The Verdict
Roam Research is built for researchers and writers, with a focus on bidirectional-links and block-references. Ulysses targets authors and bloggers and leads with markdown-editor and library-organization.
On pricing, Ulysses is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5.99/mo compared to $15/mo for Roam Research. That $9.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Ulysses edges out on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Roam Research offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Ulysses takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Ulysses has a slight overall edge — but if bidirectional links surface unexpected connections matters most to you, Roam Research may still be the right call.