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Project Management · head to head

Craft Docs vs Roam Research

Craft Docs logo

Craft Docs

Project Management

Beautiful document and note-taking app for Apple devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roam Research logo

Roam Research

Research

A note-taking tool for networked thought

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Craft Docs has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Craft Docs primarily designed for Apple ecosystem; limited support for Windows or Android; Roam Research cloud-dependent: no local-first option, all data stored on Roam servers
  • They diverge on capability: Craft Docs covers Rich document editing, Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Craft Docs and Roam Research actually diverge.

Attributes where Craft Docs and Roam Research differ
AttributeCraft DocsRoam Research
Starting priceFree$15/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, WebWeb, iOS, macOS, Windows
CategoryProject ManagementResearch
Founded20192017

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

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 Craft Docs

  • Rich document editing
  • Beautiful templates
  • Collaboration in real-time
  • Comments and discussions
  • iCloud sync
  • Powerful search
  • Dark and light themes
  • File attachments

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.

Craft Docs

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

Roam Research

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

Where each one falls short

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

Craft Docs

  • Primarily designed for Apple ecosystem; limited support for Windows or Android
  • Smaller ecosystem and community compared to Notion or Obsidian
  • Collaboration features less mature than dedicated team document platforms
  • Requires learning Craft-specific formatting and structure

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

Craft Docs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Craft Docs review.

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 Craft Docs if

  • You need rich document editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Web.
  • You also want beautiful templates.
Craft Docs 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 Craft Docs or Roam Research better?
Neither clearly leads. Craft Docs 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, Craft Docs or Roam Research?
Craft Docs has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Craft Docs and $15/month for Roam Research.
Does Craft Docs or Roam Research run on more platforms?
Craft Docs runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Web. Roam Research runs on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Craft Docs for free?
Yes. Craft Docs has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Roam Research starts at $15/month.
What is Craft Docs best used for?
Craft Docs 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 Craft Docs do that Roam Research cannot?
Craft Docs covers Rich document editing, Beautiful templates, Collaboration in real-time, Comments and discussions. Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking, Block references, Daily notes, Graph visualization.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Craft Docs: What platforms does Craft Docs support?

Craft Docs is available on iOS, iPad, and Mac, with deep integration into Apple's ecosystem. A web version is also available.

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
Craft Docs: Can you collaborate on documents in Craft Docs?

Yes. Craft Docs supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously.

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
Craft Docs: Does Craft Docs have AI features?

Yes. Craft Docs includes AI-powered writing assistance and editing features.

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
Craft Docs: Can you use Craft Docs offline?

Yes. Craft Docs allows offline editing with synchronization when connectivity is restored.

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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