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Capacities vs Roam Research

Capacities logo

Capacities

Software

A studio for your mind with object-based notes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roam Research logo

Roam Research

Software

A note-taking tool for networked thought

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Capacities has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Capacities pro plan pricing not prominently displayed on website; Roam Research cloud-dependent: no local-first option, all data stored on Roam servers
  • They diverge on capability: Capacities covers Object-based notes, Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Capacities and Roam Research differ
AttributeCapacitiesRoam Research
Starting priceFree$15/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, macOS, Windows
Founded20202017

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Capacities

  • Object-based notes
  • Properties and relations
  • Graph view
  • AI assistant
  • Web clipper
  • GDPR
  • German hosting
  • Desktop support

Only in Roam Research

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

Both cover

  • Daily notes
  • Readwise
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • English language support

What people use each for

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

Capacities

  • Productivitynot Roam Research
  • Collaborationnot Roam Research
  • Task managementnot Roam Research
  • Organizationnot Roam Research

Roam Research

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

Where each one falls short

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

Capacities

  • Pro plan pricing not prominently displayed on website
  • Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Notion or Obsidian
  • Limited third-party integration marketplace

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

Capacities

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited spaces and objects
    • Device synchronization
    • Unlimited custom object types
  • Pro$10/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Unlimited notes
    • Advanced graph views
  • Believer$149.88/year
    • Everything in Pro
    • Beta access to new features

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 Capacities if

  • You need object-based notes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want properties and relations.
Capacities review

Choose Roam Research if

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

Questions people ask

Is Capacities or Roam Research better?
Neither clearly leads. Capacities starts at Free and Roam Research at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Capacities or Roam Research?
Capacities has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Capacities and $15/month for Roam Research.
Does Capacities or Roam Research run on more platforms?
Capacities runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android. Roam Research runs on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Capacities for free?
Yes. Capacities has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Roam Research starts at $15/month.
What is Capacities best used for?
Capacities is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization. Of those, productivity and collaboration are not what Roam Research is typically brought in for.
What can Capacities do that Roam Research cannot?
Capacities covers Object-based notes, Properties and relations, Graph view, AI assistant. Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking, Block references, Graph visualization, Sidebar navigation. Both handle Daily notes, Readwise, Cloud deployment, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Capacities: What platforms does Capacities support?

Capacities is available on Web, Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux), and Mobile (iOS, Android), allowing seamless work across devices.

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
Capacities: Does Capacities have a free plan?

Yes, Capacities offers a free plan with unlimited spaces, objects, and blocks, device synchronization, unlimited custom object types, and 5GB media uploads total.

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
Capacities: What AI features does Capacities include?

Capacities includes an AI Assistant available on Pro and higher plans for brainstorming, summarization, and contextual Q&A about your notes.

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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