Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Roam Research VS BookStack

Compare Roam Research VS BookStack and see what are their differences

Roam Research logo Roam Research

A note-taking tool for networked thought

BookStack logo BookStack

An open source knowledge management application that's focused on ease of use.
  • Roam Research Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-22
  • BookStack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-31

Roam Research features and specs

  • Bidirectional Links
    Roam Research offers bidirectional linking, allowing users to seamlessly connect notes and create a web of interrelated knowledge, making it easier to see connections between different ideas.
  • Graph Visualization
    The platform provides a graph visualization that helps users see the relationships between their notes, aiding in understanding the overall structure and connections within their knowledge base.
  • Block-Based Structure
    Notes are composed of blocks, which can be easily moved, edited, or linked individually, providing a flexible and granular way of organizing information.
  • Daily Notes
    Roam Research encourages the use of daily notes, helping users maintain a regular journaling practice and providing a default space for capturing ideas each day.
  • Extensive Tagging
    Users can tag blocks and pages, enabling a robust organizational system that helps in the easy retrieval and filtering of information.
  • Markdown Support
    Roam Research supports Markdown, allowing users to format their notes efficiently with familiar syntax.
  • Offline Mode
    Offers offline functionality, which allows users to access and edit their notes even without an internet connection.

Possible disadvantages of Roam Research

  • Learning Curve
    The flexibility and extensive features of Roam Research can make it initially overwhelming for new users to learn and adapt.
  • Cost
    Roam Research is relatively expensive compared to other note-taking apps, which could be a barrier for some users.
  • Performance
    As the database grows, some users may experience performance issues, such as slower loading times or lag, particularly with extensive graphs and numerous linked notes.
  • Lack of Native Mobile App
    While Roam Research does have a mobile-friendly website, it lacks a native mobile app, which can be a disadvantage for users who prefer app-based functionality on their smartphones.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Some users have raised privacy concerns since notes are stored in the cloud, and there's no built-in end-to-end encryption for data protection.
  • Limited Collaboration Features
    Roam Research currently lacks robust collaboration features, making it less ideal for team projects or shared note-taking.
  • Export Options
    The export options are somewhat limited, which can make it challenging for users to migrate their notes to other platforms if needed.

BookStack features and specs

  • Open Source
    BookStack is an open-source platform, meaning it is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and contribute to. This ensures a large community support and continuous updates.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software has a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users of all skill levels to create and manage documentation.
  • Integrated WYSIWYG Editor
    The application includes a built-in 'What You See Is What You Get' editor, making it simple to format text and add multimedia without HTML knowledge.
  • Permission Management
    BookStack offers granular permission settings, which allow administrators to control access on a per-page, book, or shelf level.
  • Customizable
    With open-source software, the level of customization available is high, allowing organizations to tailor the software to their specific needs.

Possible disadvantages of BookStack

  • Hosting and Maintenance
    As an open-source product, users need to handle their own hosting and maintenance, which could be challenging for those without technical expertise.
  • Limited Integrations
    BookStack does not natively integrate with as many third-party applications compared to some proprietary knowledge management systems.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, setting up and customizing the platform may require a learning curve, especially for those unfamiliar with open-source software.
  • Performance
    In some instances, performance issues have been reported, especially when handling a large volume of data or concurrent users.
  • Feature Limitations
    Some advanced features found in proprietary knowledge management systems, such as advanced analytics or AI-driven search, may be lacking.

Analysis of Roam Research

Overall verdict

  • Roam Research is a powerful tool for users who value knowledge synthesis and interconnected note-taking. While it can have a steep learning curve and might be considered overkill for simple note-taking tasks, it excels for individuals looking for a dynamic and flexible information management system.

Why this product is good

  • Roam Research is often praised for its unique approach to note-taking and knowledge management. It uses a networked thinking system, allowing users to create bidirectional links between notes. This helps in drawing connections between different pieces of information and fosters a deeper understanding of complex topics. Users appreciate its ability to replicate the way the human brain naturally forms associations. Additionally, Roam's outliner format appeals to those who prefer structured, hierarchical notes over traditional linear note-taking styles.

Recommended for

  • Researchers and academics who need to manage complex information and data sources.
  • Writers and content creators who benefit from connecting different ideas and organizing thoughts.
  • Individuals who enjoy using a nonlinear, networked approach to note-taking.
  • Personal knowledge managers who want to enhance their learning and idea development processes.

Analysis of BookStack

Overall verdict

  • BookStack is a good choice for individuals and teams looking for a straightforward, open-source documentation tool. It's ideal for those who prefer a self-hosted solution without incurring additional costs or dealing with the complexities of some enterprise-level systems.

Why this product is good

  • BookStack is an open-source, self-hosted platform designed to make documentation and knowledge sharing easy. It's praised for its user-friendly interface, which resembles a digital version of a traditional book with chapters and pages, making it intuitive for users to navigate and organize content. The platform supports Markdown editing, which allows for easy formatting and media embedding. In addition, it has built-in support for authentication methods and role-based access control, providing flexibility and security for teams. The active community and frequent updates also contribute to its reliability and ongoing improvement.

Recommended for

    Small to medium-sized teams, open-source enthusiasts, educational institutions, and projects that require a user-friendly documentation system with the flexibility of self-hosting.

Roam Research videos

This Note-Taking App is a Game Changer - Roam Research

More videos:

  • Review - ROAM Research: Our First Impressions
  • Review - A quick overview of Roam Research

BookStack videos

BookStack Review- 7 Brief Lessons in Physics

More videos:

  • Review - Bookstack, a free, open source, self hosted documentation wiki with style.
  • Review - Bookstack - Meine favorisierte Wiki Software

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Roam Research and BookStack)
Note Taking
84 84%
16% 16
WiKis
0 0%
100% 100
Knowledge Management
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Roam Research and BookStack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Roam Research and BookStack

Roam Research Reviews

Supercharge Your Productivity: Three Recommended Tools for Thought
Side note: Those who follow me may be surprised Iโ€™d choose Tana over Roam Research. I have extraordinary love for Roam โ€” it was my introduction to this amazing TfT world! โ€” but Tana is a more powerful environment.
Source: medium.com
Logseq vs Roam Research vs Obsidian: which one should you choose?
Recommending Logseq over Roam Research is easy if you are someone who is searching for a free alternative to Roam Research. You get almost feature-parity between both services and are not missing out on anything essential. But if the price is not a factor, and you just want to select the best note-taking app between the two, here are some reasons why you should select Logseq...
Source: medium.com
Obsidian vs. Roam vs. LogSeq: Which PKM App is Right For You?
Roam doesnโ€™t have plugins like Obsidian, but you can embed scripts and code directly into Roam to extend its capability. One of the most popular Roam โ€œextensionsโ€ is called Roam42. Roam 42 gives you a lot of extra stuff Roam doesnโ€™t support by default, like:
11 Best Notepad.pw Alternatives To Use
Roam Research is an auto-back-linked-wiki that helps people to be more productive. Bi-directional links allow you to create pages as you type. When you visit those pages it lists all bullets in which you have mentioned the tag. You can build a network of interconnected notes, which is not linear or hierarchical.
Source: notepad.link
Best Next-Level Note Apps for 2021
Roam Research is a note-taking app for networked thought, creating groups of information and making knowledge associations naturally. Arguably, the comprehensive app made bi-directional linking popular for note-taking apps. Roam Research enables users an organized and personalized overview over all the notes taken. Known for their high user satisfaction, users new to these...
Source: zenkit.com

BookStack Reviews

Best Gitbook Alternatives You Need to Try in 2023
Bookstack is a simple, self-hosted platform for organizing and storing information, focusing on creating a knowledge base. It is similar to Gitbook in its functionality but differs in how it is organized and presented. It allows you to collect information in a hierarchical structure, similar to a book, with chapters and sections. This can make it easier to navigate large...
Source: www.archbee.com
The 10 Best Self-hosted Wiki Software for Linux System
Another powerful self-hosted Wiki software for Linux is BookStack. One of the most attractive features of BookStack is its cross-book sorting capability. It can sort all books based on tags such as title, author name, publisher, and genre. Users can even use it to search for particular titles based on a keyword. Other features of this open-source software include image...
Best 11 Open-source Free Wiki Engines for teams and enterprise in 2022
The BookStack App is not just a Wiki Engine, but it works the same. It aims for creating books by easing collaboration among writers and editors, we run it for us and some clients as a Wiki Engine, where they use books as projects.
Source: medevel.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Roam Research seems to be a lot more popular than BookStack. While we know about 104 links to Roam Research, we've tracked only 4 mentions of BookStack. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Roam Research mentions (104)

  • The Fall of Roam
    Hey thank you for replying! I understand what the screenshots are saying and this makes it clear that it was a misunderstanding and that NO ONE ACCESSED YOUR GRAPH(S). Please let me explain Lets start with your first screenshot: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g9jv8eh1ugi5qda0c6azx/08112020RoamScreenshot.PNG?rlkey=y90tpdoifxp8zd1bouj1mnkt5&e=1&st=lstp2y6f&dl=0 If you take a look at this screenshot, it shows that... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Taking Notes with Joplin
    I'm somewhat surprised that 44 comments in, it looks like I'm the first to mention Roam: https://roamresearch.com/ It obviously wasn't the first note taking app, and it's very much not Free, but the nature of its linking sparked Obsidian and Logseq's growth. I've been a happy paid user since the early days. The biggest reason I stick with it is that it supports both being E2E encrypted and synchronising,... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Building a Knowledge System That Enhances Rather Than Replaces Thought
    Excellent article. IMHO it tackles the gist of what personal knowledge management should be about. True learning/understanding (and intellectual depth for that matter) seems like something that (due to neurocognitive reasons) cannot possibly be achieved only through the process of reading, but is rather a function of the reader's quality of elaboration on what has been read. This inherently requires the reader's... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • How do I render HTML (and render hyper links in particular) in the field of a card
    Many of my cards include links back to my notes in https://roamresearch.com/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Philosophy of Science 101: What Is the Problem of Induction?
    Popper's criterion in a vacuum could seem to be exclusionary, but his philosophy of science involves his underrated idea of evolutionary epistemology. That all theories, seemingly pseudoscientific and the rest, compete to explain something, testable or not. Explanation is the most fundamental aspect, the rival statements compete to solve some problem in terms of how and why. Read Popper's Ch. 1. Conjectural... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
View more

BookStack mentions (4)

  • Ask HN: Best self-hosted wiki solution in 2025? Mediawiki or something else?
    Check out https://bookstackapp.com (PHP/Laravel). - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Customize the theme a bit?
    That said, is it possible to customize the theme a bit? Specifically, how can I set the code-block background to dark-grey? Also, how can I make the horizontal line a bit taller than 1px? I saw the Customizing Visuals page on bookstackapp.com (specifically the "Changing Code Block Themes" topic) but was a little lost on exactly how to make the changes. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Looking to move internal docs from share Onenote to.. ?
    Maybe look at BookStack to see if it fits your needs. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Self hosting WordPress website
    If youโ€™re looking for a books-styled documentation platform, look into https://bookstackapp.com. Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Roam Research and BookStack, you can also consider the following products

Obsidian.md - A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

DokuWiki - DokuWiki is a simple to use and highly versatile Open Source wiki software that doesn't require a database.

Notion - All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.

TiddlyWiki - a non-linear personal web notebook

Logseq - Logseq is a local-first, non-linear, outliner notebook for organizing and sharing your personal knowledge base.

MediaWiki - MediaWiki is a free software wiki package written in PHP, originally for use on Wikipedia.