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Org-roam vs zk: catalog facts
Org-roam	zk
Free Free and open source under the GPL version 3 or later.	Free Free to download and use from GitHub.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Command line
Plain-text notes that stay fully under your control Backlinks and a graph view for connecting ideas	Notes stay as plain Markdown files Works with any text editor
Requires Emacs and familiarity with Org mode No mobile app of its own	Command-line only, no graphical interface Assumes comfort with the terminal
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL-3.0-or-later	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.