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Software · head to head

Focus@Will vs Roam Research

Focus@Will logo

Focus@Will

Software

Music and sounds designed to enhance focus and productivity

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 Focus@Will has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Focus@Will the App Store listing (seller Dulcetta Inc) states the free trial is limited to 7 days, after which a paid subscription is required to continue using the music and features; Roam Research cloud-dependent: no local-first option, all data stored on Roam servers
  • They diverge on capability: Focus@Will covers Curated focus music, Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Focus@Will and Roam Research actually diverge.

Attributes where Focus@Will and Roam Research differ
AttributeFocus@WillRoam Research
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, WindowsWeb, iOS, macOS, Windows
Founded20112017

Identical on both: 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 Focus@Will

  • Curated focus music
  • Multiple music channels
  • Built-in focus timer
  • Focus statistics
  • Different music genres
  • Offline access
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Volume control

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.

Focus@Will

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

Roam Research

  • Research notesnot Focus@Will
  • Writing projectsnot Focus@Will
  • Personal knowledge managementnot Focus@Will
  • Academic worknot Focus@Will
  • Creative thinkingnot Focus@Will

Where each one falls short

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

Focus@Will

  • The App Store listing (seller Dulcetta Inc) states the free trial is limited to 7 days, after which a paid subscription is required to continue using the music and features
  • The same listing states a 30 day money-back guarantee applies to the subscription, implying no refund is available after that window

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

Focus@Will

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited access to music
    • Basic 25-min timer
    • Ads
  • Basic$4.95/month
    • Unlimited music access
    • Custom timers
    • No ads
  • Pro$9.95/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support

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 Focus@Will if

  • You need curated focus music.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want multiple music channels.
Focus@Will 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 Focus@Will or Roam Research better?
Neither clearly leads. Focus@Will 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, Focus@Will or Roam Research?
Focus@Will has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Focus@Will and $15/month for Roam Research.
Does Focus@Will or Roam Research run on more platforms?
Focus@Will runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. Roam Research runs on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Focus@Will for free?
Yes. Focus@Will has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Roam Research starts at $15/month.
What is Focus@Will best used for?
Focus@Will 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 Focus@Will do that Roam Research cannot?
Focus@Will covers Curated focus music, Multiple music channels, Built-in focus timer, Focus statistics. Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking, Block references, Daily notes, Graph visualization.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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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