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GoodNotes vs Roam Research Comparison

Last updated:

GoodNotes

4.8(36 reviews)

Starting at $7.99

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

GoodNotes is the perfect app for taking hand-written notes on your iPad or iPhone. Our team created it to free users from the hassle of taking clear, legible, and reusable notes. It's helped millions of people, and Apple…

Roam Research

4.7(3 reviews)

Starting at $8.33

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Medium Business

The Roam Study software allows you to easily convert notes taken by hand into digital form for quick and easy searching. You can organize your notes by date, title, or other characteristics.This software creates a centra…

GoodNotes leads on user satisfaction with a 4.8-star rating across 36 reviews.

GoodNotes vs Roam Research — at a glance

FeatureGoodNotesRoam Research
Rating4.8 / 54.7 / 5
Reviews363
Starting price$7.99$8.33
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryNote Taking SoftwareNote Taking Software
PlatformsMobile - iOS, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
API——
Support modesOnlineOnline
Certifications——
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between GoodNotes and Roam Research

  • Pricing: GoodNotes starts at $7.99, while Roam Research starts at $8.33.
  • Free trial: Roam Research offers a free trial; GoodNotes does not.
  • Target audience: GoodNotes is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Roam Research targets Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: GoodNotes scores higher with a 4.8-star average.
  • Deployment: GoodNotes supports Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac; Roam Research supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

GoodNotes vs Roam Research — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Note Taking Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

GoodNotes - Note Taking Software
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Roam Research - Note Taking Software
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GoodNotes vs Roam Research: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

GoodNotes

Best for handwritten note-taking on iPad and iPhone with smooth, customizable writing.

Choose if
  • You need an intuitive app optimized for handwritten notes and handwriting recognition.
  • You are a student, educator, or creative professional focused on personal productivity.
  • You want a simple, streamlined setup without complex integrations or collaboration needs.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team requires advanced collaboration and workflow automation features.
  • You need extensive integrations with other enterprise software and app connectors.

Roam Research

Best for

Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business

GoodNotes typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Roam Research tends to fit Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

GoodNotes is the perfect app for taking hand-written notes on your iPad or iPhone. Our team created it to free users from the hassle of taking clear, legible, and reusable notes. It's ... Read More about GoodNotes

The Roam Study software allows you to easily convert notes taken by hand into digital form for quick and easy searching. You can organize your notes by date, title, or other ... Read More about Roam Research

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $7.99
  • Starts from $8.33

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.4/10

8.1/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.76

(36)

4.67

(3)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
—
Get pricing help
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Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Roam Research has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

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  • Independent advice — matched to your business
  • Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

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How do GoodNotes and Roam Research Compare on Features?

Total Features

4 Features

3 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare GoodNotes and Roam Research on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $7.99
      • $8.33

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Pro

        • Up to 3 Private or Public Roam Graphs

        • Unlimited Collaborators

        • API access and Apps (Coming Soon)

      • Believer

        • Includes features of Pro plan, plus

        • First Access to New Features (like Offline Only)

        • Community Calls with the Team

        Show more +

      Pricing Page

      GoodNotes pricing
      Roam Research pricing

      GoodNotes vs Roam Research: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      GoodNotes vs Roam Research Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      —
      ✗ No

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      GoodNotes User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      34

      2

      0

      0

      0

      2

      1

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Users consistently praise GoodNotes for its intuitive interface and excellent handwriting features, though some find the feature set overwhelming and desire more integrations.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Handwriting recognition
      • Writing smoothness and customization

      Common complaints

      • Limited integrations
      • Complexity for new users

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 3 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Easy note conversion
      • Centralized data repository
      • Organizes notes efficiently

      Common complaints

      • Limited formatting options
      • May require learning curve
      • Not ideal for casual users

      Pros and Cons

      • User-friendly interface accessible to all ages and experience levels

      • Excellent handwriting recognition and search capabilities

      • Smooth writing experience with extensive customization options

      • Limited marketplace for additional apps and connectors restricts advanced functionality

      • Feature richness can be overwhelming without sufficient guidance

      • Transforms handwritten notes into digital format seamlessly.

      • Offers robust organizational features for better productivity.

      • Facilitates collaboration among users for enhanced learning.

      • Users may need time to adapt to the interface.

      • Limited multimedia capabilities could hinder some users.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used GoodNotes or Roam Research? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Overview

      2 Screenshots

      screenshot

      1 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      No videos available.

      Top Alternatives to GoodNotes and Roam Research in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, GoodNotes or Roam Research?
      GoodNotes edges out the other on user ratings (4.8 vs 4.7). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do GoodNotes and Roam Research offer a free trial?
      Roam Research offers a free trial. GoodNotes does not.
      What is the starting price of GoodNotes vs Roam Research?
      GoodNotes starts at $7.99. Roam Research starts at $8.33.
      What are the top alternatives to GoodNotes?
      Top alternatives to GoodNotes include Microsoft OneNote, Milanote, Heptabase, Zoho Notebook, Airstory.
      What are the top alternatives to Roam Research?
      Top alternatives to Roam Research include Amanote, Evernote, Bear, Airstory, Heptabase.