Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Roam Research · 🧠 notes & knowledge
Roam Research vs SiYuan
Block references, backlinks and outlines without making the outliner your entire personality. Here is how SiYuan ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Roam Research ($15/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Roam Research vs SiYuan Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Roam Research (Paid) | SiYuan (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $15 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $180 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $180) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $900 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $900) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,800 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,800) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopmobileself-hostedextensionone-click install |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 46k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Roam Research to SiYuan
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
SiYuan supports block references and backlinks but its outliner, graph queries, and collaborative editing feel less fluid and immediate than Roam's.
How to deploy SiYuan
Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting
What it takes to run
The desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
Where your data lives
A workspace stores block documents as structured .sy JSON files plus assets on disk; SQLite files hold indexes and auxiliary state; documents can export to Markdown, HTML, PDF, and Word
Why fork SiYuan instead of vibe-coding a Roam Research clone?
Roam Research's solo core is compact: build a local-first networked notes app with fast capture, full-text search, backlinks, tags, and Markdown export. A competent builder can reach a useful personal version in one sitting, while the paid product mainly wins on polish, sync, importers.
Roam Research vs SiYuan FAQ
Is SiYuan a good free alternative to Roam Research?+
Yes. SiYuan is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for Roam Research. Block references, backlinks and outlines without making the outliner your entire personality.
What is the catch when switching from Roam Research to SiYuan?+
SiYuan supports block references and backlinks but its outliner, graph queries, and collaborative editing feel less fluid and immediate than Roam's.
How much do you save switching from Roam Research to SiYuan?+
Roam Research costs $15/mo ($180/yr) per seat, whereas SiYuan is $0/mo. Switching saves $180/yr for a solo user, $900/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,800/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host SiYuan instead of Roam Research?+
Install: Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting. Setup: The desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
