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Research · head to head

Roam Research vs Zappi

Roam Research logo

Roam Research

Research

A note-taking tool for networked thought

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zappi logo

Zappi

Research

Automated consumer insights platform for testing advertising, product concepts and brand health

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Roam Research cloud-dependent: no local-first option, all data stored on Roam servers; Zappi nothing is published: pricing is a platform subscription plus a prepaid credit bundle quoted per customer, so a buyer cannot benchmark the cost against agency research without going through sales.
  • They diverge on capability: Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking, Zappi covers Validated study templates.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Roam Research and Zappi differ
AttributeRoam ResearchZappi
Starting price$15/monthOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
PlatformsWeb, iOS, macOS, WindowsWeb
Founded2017Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Roam Research

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

Only in Zappi

  • Validated study templates
  • Respondent panel access
  • Normative benchmarks
  • Creative testing
  • Brand health tracking
  • AI analysis over history
  • Unlimited users
  • Exports and integrations

What people use each for

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

Roam Research

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

Zappi

  • A beverage brand screening thirty flavour concepts before committing to two for consumer testingnot Roam Research
  • A marketing team pre-testing three advertising edits in a day so a media booking deadline can be metnot Roam Research
  • An insights function replacing repeated ad-hoc agency studies with a comparable, accumulating body of test resultsnot Roam Research
  • A brand manager running continuous brand health tracking without negotiating a separate tracker contract each yearnot Roam Research

Where each one falls short

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

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

Zappi

  • Nothing is published: pricing is a platform subscription plus a prepaid credit bundle quoted per customer, so a buyer cannot benchmark the cost against agency research without going through sales.
  • Credits are prepaid against a forecast of the year ahead, which means a team that overestimates research volume ends the year having paid for studies it never ran.
  • The template model that makes studies fast also constrains them; a research question that does not fit a validated instrument either gets forced into one or goes to an agency anyway.
  • Normative benchmarks are strongest in fast-moving consumer goods categories where Zappi has depth, and thinner in business-to-business, financial services and niche categories, where the comparison numbers mean less.
  • Because respondents come from Zappi-sourced panels, sample composition is a vendor decision rather than yours, and any team that needs a bespoke recruitment specification or a low-incidence audience will find the automated route unsuitable.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Zappi

On request
  • Premium$undefined/year
    • Platform subscription with unlimited users
    • Access to all research solutions
    • Credit bundle scoped to annual research volume
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Platform subscription with unlimited users
    • Multi-market and global organisation controls
    • Connected insights across markets and brands

Which should you pick?

Choose Roam Research if

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

Choose Zappi if

  • You need validated study templates.
  • You also want respondent panel access.
Zappi review

Questions people ask

Is Roam Research or Zappi better?
Neither clearly leads. Roam Research starts at $15/month and Zappi at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Roam Research or Zappi?
Roam Research starts at $15/month and Zappi at On request.
Does Roam Research or Zappi run on more platforms?
Roam Research runs on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows. Zappi runs on Web.
What is Roam Research best used for?
Roam Research is most often used for research notes, writing projects, personal knowledge management, academic work. Of those, research notes and writing projects are not what Zappi is typically brought in for.
What can Roam Research do that Zappi cannot?
Roam Research covers Bi-directional linking, Block references, Daily notes, Graph visualization. Zappi covers Validated study templates, Respondent panel access, Normative benchmarks, Creative testing.

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
Zappi: Does Zappi publish prices?

No. It publishes the structure, a platform subscription plus credits plus optional services, but not the numbers.

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
Zappi: How fast do results come back?

Automated tests typically return within hours to a day, which is the main reason teams choose it over a commissioned study.

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
Zappi: Do we still need an agency?

For standard concept, creative and brand tests, usually not. For bespoke methodologies and hard-to-reach audiences, yes.

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
Zappi: Is there a per-seat charge?

No. Both published tiers include unlimited users; the variable cost is research credits.

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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