Alternatives to Org-roam

An Emacs package for linked, plain-text personal knowledge management built on Org mode files. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Org-roam.

  • Denote

    An Emacs note-taking package that organises plain-text notes through a predictable, descriptive file naming scheme.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Denote also runs in Emacs with plain-text notes, using a descriptive file naming scheme and no database instead of Org-roam's backlink and graph approach.

  • Obsidian

    A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Obsidian provides backlinks and a graph view over plain Markdown files with desktop and mobile apps, but the application itself is not open source.

  • Logseq

    An outliner that stores notes as plain Markdown files, built around a daily journal and linked blocks.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Logseq offers block-level linking over plain Markdown files with desktop and mobile apps, so Emacs knowledge is not needed, though its database version is in beta.

  • Foam

    A personal knowledge management system built on Visual Studio Code and plain Markdown files.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Foam gives wikilinks, backlinks and a graph view over Markdown files inside Visual Studio Code rather than Emacs, with Git for history and sync.

  • zk

    A command-line tool for maintaining a plain-text Markdown Zettelkasten or personal wiki.

    FreeProprietaryCommand line

    zk is a command-line tool for a Markdown Zettelkasten that works with any text editor, so you are not tied to Emacs or Org files.

  • Roam Research

    A networked note-taking outliner for connecting related ideas into a graph of linked notes.

    PaidProprietaryWeb

    Roam Research is a paid, proprietary web outliner for linked notes with real-time collaboration, moving away from local plain-text Org files.

  • VimWiki

    A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    VimWiki is a plain-text personal wiki inside Vim with links and export to a website, suiting Vim users, but it lacks a graph view.

  • SilverBullet

    Keep linked Markdown notes in a self-hosted browser workspace.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hostedWeb

    SilverBullet keeps linked Markdown notes in a self-hosted browser workspace with queries and extensions, MIT licensed, reachable from any browser rather than Emacs.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Org-roam as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Neorg

    A Neovim plugin and file format for notes, tasks and organising your life inside the editor.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    Org-roam adds backlinks, graph view and GPG encryption to Org mode files for linked notes, but requires Emacs and familiarity with Org mode.

  • The Archive

    A plain-text Zettelkasten note-taking app for macOS that stores notes as Markdown files.

    PaidProprietarymacOS

    Org-roam is a free Emacs package for linked plain-text notes built on Org mode files, with backlinks and a graph view but requiring Emacs.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.