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Research · head to head

Attest vs Roam Research

Attest logo

Attest

Research

Straightforward pricing for predictable research costs

From
On request
Rated
-
Roam Research logo

Roam Research

Research

A note-taking tool for networked thought

From
$15/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Attest pricing is metered by credits, where one credit equals one survey question answered by one person, rather than a flat per seat rate; Roam Research cloud-dependent: no local-first option, all data stored on Roam servers
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Attest and Roam Research actually diverge.

Attributes where Attest and Roam Research differ
AttributeAttestRoam Research
Starting priceOn request$15/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, macOS, Windows
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Research).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Attest

Nothing recorded that Roam Research does not also cover.

Only in Roam Research

  • Bi-directional linking
  • Block references
  • Daily notes
  • Graph visualization
  • Sidebar navigation
  • Version history
  • Markdown support
  • TODO management

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Attest

  • Testing product concepts with global audiencesnot Roam Research
  • Monitoring brand health across campaignsnot Roam Research
  • Validating creative concepts before launchnot Roam Research
  • Researching market trends in 70 languagesnot Roam Research

Roam Research

  • Research notesnot Attest
  • Writing projectsnot Attest
  • Personal knowledge managementnot Attest
  • Academic worknot Attest
  • Creative thinkingnot Attest

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Attest

  • Pricing is metered by credits, where one credit equals one survey question answered by one person, rather than a flat per seat rate
  • The Basic tier caps usage at 50,000 credits; going beyond it requires upgrading to Standard (100,000), Elite (200,000) or a custom plan above 400,000
  • Additional credits purchased mid year cost 10 percent more per credit than the plan rate

Roam Research

  • Cloud-dependent: no local-first option, all data stored on Roam servers
  • Offline sync issues: offline databases experience slow startup and synchronization problems
  • No native Android app
  • Requires internet connection for most functionality

Pricing, plan by plan

Attest

On request
  • Basic$undefined/mo
    • Up to 50,000 credits
  • Standard$undefined/mo
    • Up to 100,000 credits
  • Elite$undefined/mo
    • Up to 200,000 credits
  • Custom$undefined/mo
    • Over 400,000+ credits

Roam Research

$15/month
  • Pro$15/month
    • Unlimited graphs
    • Unlimited blocks
    • Daily notes
  • Believer$500/5 years
    • All Pro features
    • Cost effective long-term subscription

Which should you pick?

Choose Attest if

Nothing in the data separates Attest from Roam Research on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Choose Roam Research if

  • You need bi-directional linking.
  • You work on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want block references.

Questions people ask

Is Attest or Roam Research better?
Neither clearly leads. Attest starts at On request and Roam Research at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Attest or Roam Research?
Attest starts at On request and Roam Research at $15/month.
Does Attest or Roam Research run on more platforms?
Attest runs on Web. Roam Research runs on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
What is Attest best used for?
Attest is most often used for testing product concepts with global audiences, monitoring brand health across campaigns, validating creative concepts before launch, researching market trends in 70 languages. Of those, testing product concepts with global audiences and monitoring brand health across campaigns are not what Roam Research is typically brought in for.
What can Attest do that Roam Research cannot?
Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking, Block references, Daily notes, Graph visualization.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Attest: How does Attest's credit system work?

Attest uses a credit-based pricing system where one credit equals one survey answer from one respondent. For example, a 10-question survey completed by 500 people uses 5,000 credits. Only respondents who meet survey criteria consume credits from the qualifying question.

Source
Roam Research: Does Roam Research have a free plan?

No, Roam Research does not offer a free plan. However, it includes a 31-day free trial before requiring a subscription to either the Pro plan ($15/month) or Believer plan ($500 for five years).

Source
Attest: What plans does Attest offer?

Attest offers four subscription plans: Basic (up to 50,000 credits), Standard (up to 100,000 credits), Elite (up to 200,000 credits), and Custom (over 400,000+ credits). All plans include unlimited user seats, designated research expert, customer success team support, and access to 150+ million consumers across 59 countries in 70+ languages.

Source
Roam Research: Can I use Roam Research offline?

Roam Research has limited offline support. Offline databases have significant performance issues, including slow startup times and sync problems. The platform is cloud-dependent and requires internet connectivity for most functionality.

Source
Attest: Can I purchase additional credits on Attest?

Yes. Additional credits are available as add-ons throughout the year. Add-on credits cost 10% more than the per-credit rate in annual plans.

Source
Roam Research: What platforms does Roam Research support?

Roam Research is available as a web app and native mobile apps for iOS and macOS. Windows users access it through the web app or Electron desktop wrapper. Android support is limited.

Source
Roam Research: Can I export my data from Roam Research?

Yes, you can export your entire database or individual pages as JSON or Markdown format by clicking the three-dot menu. However, block references do not translate perfectly, and migration to other tools may require manual cleanup.

Source
Roam Research: Does Roam Research integrate with Slack?

Roam Research integrates with Slack through Zapier, allowing you to send Slack messages to Roam or add Slack messages to your Roam daily notes. No native Slack integration is available.

Source
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