Org Roam
Org-roam is a Roam-inspired note-taking project built around Org-mode, as stated in its repository description.
About Org Roam
Org-roam is a plain-text knowledge management system implemented as an Emacs package. It brings features associated with Roam into the Org-mode ecosystem, borrowing principles from the Zettelkasten method to support non-hierarchical note-taking. It is also positioned as a plug-and-play option for people already using Org-mode for a personal wiki.
Notes are stored in plain text and can be edited offline; the project states that notes can be encrypted with GPG. Connections between notes are made through backlinks, and a built-in graph visualization shows links between notes. The package is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later, and installation is offered through MELPA via package.el or straight.el, through Doom Emacs with the +roam flag, or manually from the source repository or a release download. Installation outside a package manager requires the dependencies org (minimum version 9.6), emacsql, and magit-section.
Key features
- Plain-text knowledge management built on Org-mode
- Non-hierarchical note-taking based on Zettelkasten principles
- Backlinks connecting related notes
- Built-in graph visualization of note links
- Offline editing, with GPG encryption available for notes
- Installable via MELPA, straight.el, Doom Emacs, or manually
Best for: Emacs and Org-mode users who want non-hierarchical, plain-text note-taking with backlinks and graph visualization.
Good for
- Notes are kept in plain text and can be edited offline
- Free and open source under GPLv3
- Extends the existing Emacs and Org-mode package ecosystem
Watch out for
- Requires Emacs and an Org-mode workflow
- Manual installation needs org 9.6 or later, emacsql and magit-section
- No platform, pricing or hosted-service information is stated on the repository page
Org Roam at a glance
- Website
- github.com/org-roam/org-roam
- Category
- Productivity › Notes & Knowledge Management
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Notes & Knowledge Management
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Org Roam FAQ
What is required to install Org-roam?
Installing without a package manager requires the dependencies org, with 9.6 as the minimum version, plus emacsql and magit-section, along with a correctly configured load-path.
How can Org-roam be installed?
The repository lists installation via package.el from MELPA or MELPA Stable, via straight.el, via Doom Emacs with the +roam flag, or manually by cloning the repository or downloading a release.
Is Org-roam open source?
Yes. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later.
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