Obsidian vs. Roam Research: Who Comes Out on Top?
Hi Reader,
Happy Thursday! I have exciting news to share... I'm building an online course!
This has been a long time coming; I've had such a great response to the Obsidian-themed content I've shared in this newsletter, and I've realized how valuable it would be to package these resources for beginning note-takers.
The course is still in the early stages, but I want to hear from you! Next week, I'll send out a survey to give you the chance to shape the direction and content of the course. So keep an eye out. :)
Article of the Week: Obsidian vs. Roam: Which PKM App is Right For You? by Mike Schmitz
Curious about how Obsidian stacks up to popular app Roam Research? This is a really comprehensive article that breaks down the differences between Obsidian and Roam, another leading "personal knowledge management" app that allows users to connect their notes and ideas with hyperlinks.
In this review, Obsidian and Roam go head-to-head in several distinct categories, including...
- User Interface
- Daily Notes
- Backlinks
- Expandability
- Data Portability
- Mobile Experience
...just to name a few. While there is no overall "winner" (spoiler alert!), there's a summary at the end of the article to help you determine which app best meets your needs.
Obsidian, for example, came out on top in the "Graph View" category, as well as "Markdown Support," "Expandability," "Theming," and "Data Portability." Obsidian does have an incredible graph view, which allows you to apply filters and customize its look and functionality (not to mention, the "timelapse" feature is really cool!).
In terms of "Data Portability," Obsidian "wins" because your notes are stored locally on your own computer (and not in a proprietary database). Your files can be easily opened and edited in any other plain text editor.
Ultimately, it's about personal preference and functionality! Ask yourself, how do I plan to use the app, and what features are most important to me?
Have questions about getting started in Obsidian? Feel free to hit "reply" and send me a message! :)
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Brooke H
Brooke Harrison
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