What is the difference between Roam Research and Anytype?

Roam Research is best for Researchers and writers who think in networks, while Anytype is best for Users wanting a local-first, encrypted Notion alternative. Roam Research starts at $15/mo and Anytype starts at Free.

Is Roam Research or Anytype cheaper?

Roam Research starts at $15/mo. Anytype starts at Free and is free.

Is there a free alternative to Roam Research?

Yes, Anytype offers a free tier.

Roam Research vs Anytype

Roam Research is networked note-taking tool with bidirectional links and graph-based knowledge management, while Anytype is local-first, end-to-end encrypted workspace for notes, tasks, and knowledge management. The biggest difference up front: Anytype is free, while Roam Research starts at $15/mo. Roam Research is built for researchers and writers who think in networks, whereas Anytype targets users wanting a local-first, encrypted notion alternative.

At a glance

	Roam Research	Anytype
Best for	Researchers and writers who think in networks	Users wanting a local-first, encrypted Notion alternative
Starting price	$15/mo	Free
Free tier	—	✓
Open source	—	✓
Free tier available	—	✓
Open source	—	✓
Backlinks	✓	—
Block References	✓	—
Daily Notes	✓	—
E2E Encrypted	—	✓
Graph View	✓	—
Local-First	—	✓
Object Types	—	✓
Relations	—	✓

Roam Research

Strengths

Backlinks let you build a connected knowledge graph from your notes
Includes Graph View as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows
Pricing starts at $15/mo, which includes the full note taking feature set
Includes daily notes alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

Starts at $15/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Moving notes out to another platform can be difficult — export options vary
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try Roam Research → Full review

Anytype

Strengths

Open source and transparent
Local-first architecture means your files work offline and load instantly
Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
The core product is free with no paywalled essentials

Weaknesses

May lack some advanced features
Self-hosting is free but requires server maintenance and DevOps knowledge
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Moving notes out to another platform can be difficult — export options vary

Try Anytype → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Anytype is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Roam Research starts at $15/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: Roam Research offers Backlinks, Block References and Daily Notes that Anytype lacks. Anytype brings E2E Encrypted, Local-First and Object Types that Roam Research does not have.

Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.

Open source: Anytype is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Roam Research is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: Roam Research's biggest strengths are: backlinks let you build a connected knowledge graph from your notes. includes graph view as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows. Anytype's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. local-first architecture means your files work offline and load instantly.

Watch out for: With Roam Research, users commonly note that starts at $15/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users. With Anytype, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.

Choose Roam Research if...

You need a tool built for researchers and writers who think in networks
You specifically need Backlinks and Block References
You care about includes graph view as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows

Choose Anytype if...

You need a tool built for users wanting a local-first, encrypted notion alternative
Budget is a hard constraint — Anytype is free, Roam Research is not
You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
You specifically need E2E Encrypted and Local-First
You care about local-first architecture means your files work offline and load instantly