Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Remember The Milk vs Roam Research

Remember The Milk logo

Remember The Milk

Productivity

The smart to-do app for busy people

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 Remember The Milk has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Remember The Milk interface looks dated compared to modern task managers; Roam Research cloud-dependent: no local-first option, all data stored on Roam servers
  • They diverge on capability: Remember The Milk covers Smart lists, Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Remember The Milk and Roam Research actually diverge.

Attributes where Remember The Milk and Roam Research differ
AttributeRemember The MilkRoam Research
Starting priceFree$15/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsWeb, iOS, macOS, Windows
CategoryProductivityResearch
Founded20042017

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 Remember The Milk

  • Smart lists
  • Location reminders
  • Task sharing
  • Advanced search
  • Subtasks
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Evernote

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.

Remember The Milk

  • Schedulingnot Roam Research
  • Appointment bookingnot Roam Research
  • Time trackingnot Roam Research
  • Resource managementnot Roam Research
  • Team coordinationnot Roam Research

Roam Research

  • Research notesnot Remember The Milk
  • Writing projectsnot Remember The Milk
  • Personal knowledge managementnot Remember The Milk
  • Academic worknot Remember The Milk
  • Creative thinkingnot Remember The Milk

Where each one falls short

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

Remember The Milk

  • Interface looks dated compared to modern task managers
  • Limited mobile app features compared to desktop version
  • No advanced project management features like Gantt charts or timeline views

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

Remember The Milk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Task creation and organization
    • Basic reminders
    • List sharing
  • Pro$39.99/year
    • All free features
    • Advanced sorting
    • Attachments

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 Remember The Milk if

  • You need smart lists.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want location reminders.
Remember The Milk 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 Remember The Milk or Roam Research better?
Neither clearly leads. Remember The Milk 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, Remember The Milk or Roam Research?
Remember The Milk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Remember The Milk and $15/month for Roam Research.
Does Remember The Milk or Roam Research run on more platforms?
Remember The Milk runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Roam Research runs on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Remember The Milk for free?
Yes. Remember The Milk has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Roam Research starts at $15/month.
What is Remember The Milk best used for?
Remember The Milk is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Roam Research is typically brought in for.
What can Remember The Milk do that Roam Research cannot?
Remember The Milk covers Smart lists, Location reminders, Task sharing, Advanced search. Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking, Block references, Daily notes, Graph visualization. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Remember The Milk: Is there a free version of Remember The Milk?

Yes. Remember The Milk is free to download and use with core features like task creation, lists, reminders, and basic sharing. A Pro subscription at $39.99 annually unlocks advanced features like advanced sorting, attachments, and Apple Watch support.

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
Remember The Milk: What devices and platforms does Remember The Milk support?

Remember The Milk is available across desktop, mobile, web, and wearable platforms with native applications, ensuring tasks remain synchronized across all devices.

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
Remember The Milk: Can I share tasks with others in Remember The Milk?

Yes, Remember The Milk allows you to share lists and assign tasks to others to coordinate work and get things done faster.

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
Remember The Milk: Does Remember The Milk integrate with other apps?

Yes, Remember The Milk integrates natively with Gmail, Google Calendar, Evernote, and Zapier, allowing you to capture tasks from multiple sources.

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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Related pages

More on Remember The Milk

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