Roam Research vs Supernotes

Roam Research is a note-taking tool built around networked thought, using bidirectional links and a daily notes workflow to help users build a personal knowledge graph. It appeals to researchers, writers, and knowledge workers who think in connections rather than folders. Supernotes takes a different approach with card-based collaborative note-taking, breaking ideas into compact, linkable notecards that can be shared and worked on with others. Founded in 2018, Supernotes targets teams and individuals who want lightweight, structured notes with real-time collaboration baked in. Both tools sit in the networked note-taking space but serve different workflows — Roam for deep individual thinking, Supernotes for fast, collaborative capture.

Starting with pricing, Supernotes has the edge with a free tier and paid plans starting at $10 per month, while Roam Research has no free plan and starts at $15 per month. For budget-conscious users or those wanting to test before committing, Supernotes is the lower-risk entry point. On features, Roam includes kanban board support, which Supernotes lacks — useful if you want lightweight task management alongside your notes. Both tools offer file sharing, calendar integration, and connect to Zapier, Slack, and Google Drive, so core productivity integrations are covered on either side. Supernotes pulls ahead on mobile with a dedicated mobile app, while Roam Research currently has no mobile app — a significant gap for users who capture notes on the go. Supernotes also offers webhook support and Shortcuts integration, giving it slightly more flexibility for custom workflows on Apple devices. Neither tool provides time tracking, Gantt charts, automation, or an AI assistant, so power users looking for those features will need to supplement with other software. On the collaboration front, Supernotes is built around shared notecards, making real-time teamwork a core strength. Roam's multiplayer features exist but the tool is fundamentally designed around individual knowledge work. Both tools were founded within a year of each other — Supernotes in 2018, Roam in 2019 — and both have active development cycles.