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Research · head to head

Mouseflow vs Roam Research

Mouseflow logo

Mouseflow

Research

Session replay and heatmaps

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 Mouseflow has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mouseflow the free plan is 500 sessions a month, one website and one month of data retention; Roam Research cloud-dependent: no local-first option, all data stored on Roam servers
  • They diverge on capability: Mouseflow covers Session Replay, 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 Mouseflow and Roam Research actually diverge.

Attributes where Mouseflow and Roam Research differ
AttributeMouseflowRoam Research
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, macOS, Windows
Founded20092017

Identical on both: 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 Mouseflow

  • Session Replay
  • 6 Types of Heatmaps
  • Funnels
  • Form Analytics
  • User Feedback
  • Google Analytics
  • Segment
  • HubSpot

Only in Roam Research

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Mouseflow

  • Session replay to watch how visitors use a pagenot Roam Research
  • Click, scroll and geographic heatmapsnot Roam Research
  • Conversion funnel and form analyticsnot Roam Research
  • Friction detection on problem pagesnot Roam Research
  • On-site feedback surveysnot Roam Research

Roam Research

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

Where each one falls short

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

Mouseflow

  • The free plan is 500 sessions a month, one website and one month of data retention
  • Data retention is tiered, from 1 month on free to 12 months on Premium at $319 a month
  • Essential at $25 a month covers a single website project
  • SSO, custom privacy settings and priority support are on the higher tiers only
  • The 14 day money-back guarantee applies to annual subscriptions and excludes Enterprise

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

Mouseflow

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 500 monthly sessions
    • 1 website project
    • 1 conversion funnel
  • Essential$25/month
    • 5,000 monthly sessions
    • 1 website project
    • 1 conversion funnel
  • Advanced$109/month
    • 25,000 monthly sessions
    • 2 website projects
    • 5 conversion funnels
  • Premium$319/month
    • 100,000 monthly sessions
    • 5 website projects
    • 10 conversion funnels

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 Mouseflow if

  • You need session replay.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want 6 types of heatmaps.
Mouseflow 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 Mouseflow or Roam Research better?
Neither clearly leads. Mouseflow 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, Mouseflow or Roam Research?
Mouseflow has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mouseflow and $15/month for Roam Research.
Does Mouseflow or Roam Research run on more platforms?
Mouseflow runs on Web. Roam Research runs on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Mouseflow for free?
Yes. Mouseflow has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Roam Research starts at $15/month.
What is Mouseflow best used for?
Mouseflow is most often used for session replay to watch how visitors use a page, click, scroll and geographic heatmaps, conversion funnel and form analytics, friction detection on problem pages. Of those, session replay to watch how visitors use a page and click, scroll and geographic heatmaps are not what Roam Research is typically brought in for.
What can Mouseflow do that Roam Research cannot?
Mouseflow covers Session Replay, 6 Types of Heatmaps, Funnels, Form Analytics. Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking, Block references, Daily notes, Graph visualization. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mouseflow: Is there a free version of Mouseflow?

Yes, Mouseflow offers a free plan with up to 500 monthly sessions, 1 website project, and 1-month data retention.

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
Mouseflow: What is the most popular Mouseflow plan?

The Advanced plan at $109/month is marked as most popular, offering 25,000 monthly sessions and 6 months of data retention.

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
Mouseflow: Does Mouseflow offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, Mouseflow offers up to 35% savings when billed annually instead of monthly, and provides a 14-day money-back guarantee.

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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