Platform Availability
| Platform | Tana | Roam Research |
|---|---|---|
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | — | ✓ |
| macOS | ✓ | ✓ |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Tana | Roam Research |
|---|---|---|
| AI Features | ✓ | — |
| API Access | ✓ | — |
| Block References | — | ✓ |
| Custom CSS | — | ✓ |
| Daily Notes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Formatting Options | — | ✓ |
| Graph View | — | ✓ |
| Image Support | — | ✓ |
| Link Previews | ✓ | ✓ |
| Markdown | — | ✓ |
| Queries | — | ✓ |
| Real-time Sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rich Text | ✓ | — |
| Search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sidebar | — | ✓ |
| Tag Browsing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tasks/TODO | ✓ | — |
| Templates | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Tana
Model: Freemium
Monthly: $0-10
Free tier: Yes
Free tier available, Pro at $10/month
Roam Research
Model: Paid
Monthly: $15
Free tier: No
Pro at $15/month or $165/year, Believer at $500/5 years
Pros and Cons
Tana
Pros
- ✓ Powerful supertags
- ✓ Command menu
- ✓ AI features
- ✓ Flexible
Cons
- ⚠ Steep learning curve
- ⚠ Complex for beginners
- ⚠ Limited mobile support
Roam Research
Pros
- ✓ Pioneering bidirectional linking
- ✓ Block references with unique IDs
- ✓ Daily notes with chronological capture
- ✓ Interactive sidebar for cross-referencing
- ✓ Advanced filtering by tags and contributors
- ✓ Entire graph stored locally for speed
- ✓ Active community with sophisticated workflows
Cons
- ⚠ No free tier ($15/month minimum)
- ⚠ Steep learning curve
- ⚠ Can be slow with very large graphs
- ⚠ Limited formatting compared to rich-text editors
- ⚠ Mobile apps less polished than desktop
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Tana if...
- You want a free tier
- You want AI features
- You're building a knowledge base