In the competitive world of digital note-taking and personal knowledge management, two apps stand out from the crowd: Roam Research and Obsidian. Both are highly regarded for their ability to help users organise thoughts, ideas, and vast amounts of information, making them go-to tools for fans of the ‘second brain’ method. But how do they stack up against each other? And which app will work better for you?
Let's explore Roam Research vs Obsidian. We’ll compare their key features, strengths, and weaknesses. And we’ll also offer up an intriguing alternative, Horse Browser, which integrates note-taking directly into the web browsing experience.
What is Roam Research?
Roam Research is a note-taking and PKM app that mirrors the way our brains naturally process information, allowing for a non-linear approach to organising and retrieving data. It's designed with the concept of networked thought at its core, where the focus is on creating connections between ideas rather than strictly adhering to a hierarchical structure.
Key Features of Roam Research
Key features of Roam Research include:
- Bi-directional linking: Automatically create links between pages and notes in both directions, enabling you to trace the evolution of ideas and concepts effortlessly.
- Daily notes: Begin each day with a new note, making it easy to capture and link daily thoughts to broader themes or projects.
- Graph overview: View the entire structure of your notes in a dynamic network graph, revealing connections and knowledge gaps. It’s a great mind-mapping experience.
- Block references: Embed or reference blocks of text from other notes, enabling a rich, interconnected content experience.
Roam Research is particularly effective for individuals managing complex, interconnected ideas, making it a favorite among academics, researchers, and anyone engaged in deep, long-term projects.
Pricing: Roam Research operates on a subscription model, with pricing starting at $15 per month or $165 per year for personal use. Users can also pay $500 for 5 years of access. For organisations, custom pricing plans are available.
What is Obsidian?
Obsidian is a Markdown-based note-taking app designed to help users build a ‘second brain’ by capturing and managing knowledge. It emphasises creating connections between notes through bi-directional links and visual mind maps, much like Roam Research, but with a different approach to customization and flexibility.
Key Features of Obsidian
Top features of Obsidian include:
- Backlinks: Instantly see all notes that reference the current one, making it easier to explore related ideas and content.
- Graph view: Visualize your notes in an interactive, mind map-style graph that highlights connections and note clusters.
- Plugins: Extend Obsidian's functionality with a wide range of community-created plugins or even develop your own.
- Offline access: All notes are stored locally on your device as Markdown files, ensuring you have access even without an internet connection.
Obsidian excels as a personal knowledge management tool. Its ability to link and map ideas is invaluable for anyone looking to generate insights by connecting disparate pieces of information.
Pricing: Obsidian is free for personal use, but features such as Obsidian Sync and Obsidian Publish incur additional costs, from $4 - $8 per month. Any commercial use costs $50 per user per year. Make sure to check if your use of the app falls under personal or business use.
Roam Research vs Obsidian: Key Differences
While both Roam Research and Obsidian are powerful tools, they cater to slightly different user needs:
- Collaboration: Roam Research is web-based and supports real-time collaboration, making it suitable for team-based projects. Obsidian is primarily geared toward individual use, although you can share and sync notes through Obsidian Sync, which starts from an additional $4 per month.
- Structure: Roam Research promotes a non-linear, free-form structure, where the organisation emerges through linking. This leads to a slightly more freewheeling approach. Obsidian offers more traditional, hierarchical organisation with a sidebar of folders but it still supports dynamic linking between notes and mind-map style visuals.
- Customisation: Roam Research offers a streamlined experience focused on networked thought, while Obsidian’s extensive plugin system provides flexibility and customisation, making it adaptable to various workflows.
- Pricing: Roam Research’s subscription starts at $15/month, making it a pricier option. Obsidian offers a free version, but you will need to pay for additional features and commercial / business use.
In summary, Roam Research is ideal for those who thrive in a networked, non-linear, collaborative environment, while Obsidian is perfect for users who value flexibility, offline access, and a highly customisable experience. Both tools, however, require operating within a separate application outside your web browser.
Exploring an Alternative: Horse Browser
But what if you could integrate note-taking directly into your web browser? That’s exactly what Horse Browser aims to do. Horse Browser is a web browser with built-in research and personal knowledge management features, which eliminates the need for a separate note-taking app.
Opening web links from Obsidian or Roam Research can be confusing due to frequent switching between the app and your browser. With Horse Browser, you’ll always stay in one place and won’t get overwhelmed by browser tabs. It’s a great option for researchers or note-takers who reference a lot of online information.
Key Features of Horse Browser
Horse Browser allows you to:
- Organise webpages into ‘Trails’: Horse automatically saves ‘Trails’ of your internet journeys, infinitely nested in your sidebar. Perfect for deep research and organisation.
- In-browser notes: Add notes directly in your ‘Trails,’ keeping your web content and notes together in one place.
- Visual knowledge tracker: Track your research journeys and see how your saved pages connect to each other.
By incorporating these capabilities directly into the browser, Horse Browser simplifies your workflow. There’s no need to jump between your browser and a separate note-taking app—everything happens seamlessly in one environment.
Advantages of Horse Browser include:
- Streamlined workflow: Eliminate the need to transfer links and notes between apps; everything stays within your browser.
- Focused organisation: ‘Trails’ help keep your saved web pages and notes organised by topic, project, or research area, allowing for deep dives into specific subjects.
- Enhanced privacy: Your data remains on your device, not stored in a cloud, and Horse Browser is supported by users rather than through data monetisation.
Pricing: Horse Browser offers lifetime access for a one-time fee of $99. This means you can unlock endless note-taking and research capabilities, without ongoing costs.
While Roam Research and Obsidian are excellent note-taking tools, Horse Browser offers a unique alternative that could be particularly beneficial for researchers and heavy web users. By integrating research tools and note-taking into the browser, Horse Browser reduces app-switching and keeps you focused on refining your thoughts, as you gather and synthesise online information.
In Conclusion
Roam Research and Obsidian both offer robust solutions for managing and organising information, but they approach the task differently. Roam Research is tailored for those who prefer a networked, collaborative environment, while Obsidian shines in its flexibility and customization, especially for solo use.
Horse Browser introduces a fresh perspective by integrating note-taking directly into your browsing experience, making it an appealing choice for those who spend significant time researching online.
Ultimately, the best tool for you will depend on your specific needs, workflow, and preferences. Whether you choose Roam Research, Obsidian, or Horse Browser, the options for building your ideal knowledge base have never been better. The future of digital note-taking is looking bright!
