# Roam Research vs SiYuan (2026): Free Alternative to Roam Research

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/vs/roam-research-vs-siyuan
Last updated: 2026-08-10

Compare Roam Research ($15/mo) vs SiYuan ($0/mo open source AGPL-3.0 alternative to Roam Research). Side-by-side breakdown of pricing, self-hosting setup, data storage, and practical trade-offs.

## Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix

| Feature / Metric | Roam Research | SiYuan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $15/mo | $0.00 / month |
| 1-Seat Annual Cost | $180/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 5-Person Team Annual Cost | $900/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 10-Person Team Annual Cost | $1,800/yr | $0.00 / year |
| License Model | Proprietary Commercial SaaS | AGPL-3.0 |
| Hosting / Runtime | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted |
| Data Ownership | Stored on vendor servers | 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 |
| GitHub Stars | Closed Source | ★ 46k |
| Code Repository | None | https://github.com/siyuan-note/siyuan |
| The Catch / Trade-off | Recurring subscription cost | SiYuan supports block references and backlinks but its outliner, graph queries, and collaborative editing feel less fluid and immediate than Roam's. |

## About SiYuan
Block references, backlinks and outlines without making the outliner your entire personality.

- **Installation**: Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting
- **Setup Notes**: 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
- **Data Storage**: 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
- **Supported Platforms**: desktop, mobile, self-hosted, extension, one-click install
- **The Catch vs Roam Research**: SiYuan supports block references and backlinks but its outliner, graph queries, and collaborative editing feel less fluid and immediate than Roam's.

## Cost Savings Breakdown
Switching from Roam Research to SiYuan eliminates ongoing per-seat subscriptions:
- **Solo / 1-seat**: Save **$180/year**
- **5-person team**: Save **$900/year**
- **10-person team**: Save **$1,800/year**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### 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.

## Related

- [All Roam Research Alternatives](https://caniforkit.com/roam-research)
- [SiYuan Full Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/siyuan)
- [notes & knowledge Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/notes-knowledge)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)