How to cancel Roam Research and safeguard your data in canada
Understanding Roam Research before you cancel
Roam Research is a cloud-based note-taking platform that organizes knowledge through bidirectional linking and graph-based structures, allowing you to build interconnected workspaces. You access the service via web browsers, desktop applications, and mobile clients, with subscription tiers designed for individual and professional users. The platform stores your data on Roam's servers, which matters when you prepare to exit.
Roam Research bills primarily in USD through its website, though some users subscribe through Apple's App Store or Google Play, which routes payments through those platforms. This billing method affects your cancellation route and refund eligibility. At Yafee, we recognize that understanding how you pay is the first step toward canceling smoothly.
Whether you're switching to Obsidian, Logseq, or another knowledge-management tool, reducing subscription costs, or simply moving on, this guide explains your rights as a Canadian consumer, your cancellation options, and how to export your work before you leave.
Roam Research pricing and plan structures
| Plan |
Price (CAD approx.) |
Billing cycle |
Best for |
| Monthly |
$20-$22 |
Monthly |
Testing or light users |
| Annual (Pro) |
$240-$250 total |
Annual |
Committed users (saves ~$4/month) |
| Believer |
$750-$800 estimate |
5 years |
Power users wanting extended access |
Prices convert from USD and fluctuate with exchange rates and provincial sales tax. Annual and Believer plans lock you into longer commitments, so understanding your refund rights becomes especially important if you decide to cancel early.
What triggers most cancellations
- The interface or linking system does not match your workflow
- You've switched to a competing tool like Obsidian or LogSeq
- Monthly subscription costs no longer fit your budget
- A specific feature limitation blocks your productivity
- You were auto-charged after a trial period ended
- Your note-taking priorities have shifted
Your consumer rights in canada and what they mean for you
Canadian consumer protection law provides you with enforceable rights when purchasing digital services online, and Yafee believes you should understand them before you act.
The 14-day cooling-off period for distance purchases
Under the federal Consumer Protection Act (Part 2, Division 13) and equivalent provincial laws in Ontario, British Columbia, and most other provinces, you have the right to cancel a distance contract-including online software subscriptions-within 14 days of purchase. This cooling-off period applies even if you've accessed the service, provided you cancel before the 14 days elapse.
The critical exception is that you forfeit this right if Roam Research can demonstrate that you expressly requested access to the service before the 14-day window closed. Once you begin active use, proving that request becomes straightforward for the company, which limits your statutory protection after the trial ends.
Roam Research does not publicly advertise a 14-day refund guarantee in its terms, meaning the company may refuse refunds after your trial expires. Nevertheless, the Consumer Protection Act gives you statutory standing to demand one if you initiated cancellation within 14 days of your original purchase.
Your legal position when canceling
If you cancel within 14 days of purchase: You have a statutory right to a full refund under federal and provincial consumer protection law, regardless of whether Roam Research's terms permit it.
If you cancel after 14 days: You depend on Roam Research's stated refund policy. The company is not legally obligated to refund you unless your cancellation falls under another ground-such as a billing error, unauthorized charge, or failure to deliver promised features.
If you were auto-charged after a free trial: You may have grounds to dispute the charge with your credit card issuer or payment processor, particularly if Roam Research did not clearly disclose the billing date in advance.
Methods for canceling Roam Research
Your cancellation route depends on how you pay and where you manage your subscription.
Canceling a web-based subscription (direct billing)
If you signed up through Roam Research's website and pay directly via credit card or another payment method, you cancel through your Roam account settings.
- Log in to your Roam Research account at roamresearch.com
- Navigate to your account settings or billing dashboard
- Look for "Settings," "Account," or "Billing" in the top menu or user profile
- Select "Subscription" or "Manage subscription"
- Find the "Cancel subscription" or "Downgrade" option
- Read the cancellation confirmation message carefully
- Note whether the company offers a pause option or prorated refund
- Confirm the cancellation and request a confirmation email
- Do not close the page until you see a success message
- Save the confirmation email for your records
- Verify that the charge no longer appears on your next billing cycle
- Check your credit card or bank statement 5-7 business days after cancellation
- If a charge still appears, contact Roam Research support immediately
Canceling an apple app store subscription
If you subscribed to Roam Research through the Apple App Store on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you cancel through Apple's platform, not through Roam directly.
- Open the Apple App Store app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
- Tap or click your profile icon in the top right corner
- Select "Subscriptions"
- Find "Roam Research" in your active subscriptions list
- Tap or click on the Roam Research entry
- Tap or click "Cancel subscription" or "Edit subscription"
- Choose "Cancel" from the options presented
- Confirm your cancellation in the pop-up dialog
- Receive a cancellation confirmation from Apple
- You may request a refund within 14-90 days depending on your province and reason
- Contact Apple Support directly if your refund request is denied
Canceling a google play subscription
If you subscribed via Google Play on an Android device or through the Google Play web store, you cancel through Google's platform.
- Open Google Play on your Android device or visit play.google.com
- Tap or click your profile icon in the top right
- Select "Manage subscriptions"
- Find "Roam Research" in your list
- Tap or click "Manage subscription"
- Select "Cancel subscription"
- Review the cancellation reason (optional but helpful for feedback)
- Confirm the cancellation
- Receive confirmation from Google Play
- Your subscription ends at the end of your current billing period
- Request a refund within 48 hours if you were charged in error
Canceling by direct contact with support
If the above methods fail or you do not see a cancellation option in your account, contact Roam Research support in writing.
- Send a cancellation request to [email protected] or use the contact form at roamresearch.com
- Include in your email:
- Your account email address
- Your full name and billing address
- Your subscription plan and billing cycle (monthly, annual, or Believer)
- The date you wish to cancel (immediately or at the end of your current period)
- A request for confirmation and the effective date of cancellation
- Retain a copy of your email and any response
- Wait for a reply within 5 business days
- If Roam Research does not respond, escalate to their billing team or file a complaint with your payment processor
Data export and protecting your work
Before you cancel, you must export your data so you retain access to your notes and graphs after Roam Research deactivates your account.
Exporting your Roam graph
- Log in to your Roam Research account while it is still active
- Open the graph you want to export
- Navigate to "Settings" or the three-dot menu
- Select "Export all" or "Export graph"
- Choose your preferred format (JSON, EDN, or Markdown)
- JSON and EDN preserve the full structure; Markdown is human-readable
- Download the export file to your computer
- Save it in a clearly labeled folder (e.g., "Roam_Export_2024")
- Store a backup copy on an external drive or cloud storage service (not Roam)
- Verify that the export file opens and contains all your data before you cancel
Migrating to another platform
If you plan to move your notes to Obsidian, LogSeq, or another tool, you can import the exported file into that platform. Most competing tools provide import guides on their websites. Yafee recommends testing the import process with a small sample graph first to confirm that your links, tags, and formatting transfer correctly.
Requesting a refund from Roam Research
Your refund eligibility depends on the timing of your cancellation and the circumstances of your payment.
Refunds within the 14-day cooling-off period
If you cancel within 14 days of your initial purchase, you hold a statutory right to a full refund under the Consumer Protection Act in your province. Roam Research cannot refuse this refund based on its own terms.
- Cancel your subscription using one of the methods outlined above
- If Roam Research does not automatically refund you within 5 business days, send a formal refund request in writing:
- Email: [email protected]
- Subject line: "Refund request within 14-day cooling-off period"
- Include your account email, cancellation date, and original purchase date
- Cite the Consumer Protection Act (Part 2, Section 2.02 federal, or equivalent provincial law)
- Keep copies of all correspondence
- If Roam Research refuses or ignores your request after 7 days, contact the consumer protection authority in your province (detailed below) or dispute the charge with your credit card issuer
Refunds after the 14-day period
After 14 days, Roam Research is not legally required to refund you unless you can demonstrate:
- The service was not delivered as promised (for example, you could not access your data or the platform was down for an extended period)
- You were charged without authorization or multiple times for the same period
- Roam Research failed to disclose material terms before charging you
- A billing error occurred (such as a conversion error for CAD pricing)
If any of these apply, contact Roam Research support with evidence and request a prorated refund. If the company refuses, escalate to your credit card company or payment processor to dispute the charge.
Refunds for app store subscriptions
If you subscribed through Apple or Google Play, contact the respective platform for refunds, not Roam Research directly. Both Apple and Google allow refund requests within a window of 14 to 90 days depending on your province and reason.
Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them
Cancellation is straightforward once you know the pitfalls, and Yafee has seen what goes wrong most often.
Mistake 1: not exporting data before canceling
Once your subscription ends, Roam Research may restrict your access to the account within days or weeks, leaving you unable to download your work. Export your entire graph before you initiate cancellation, and store it offline or in another cloud service. You cannot recover lost notes after account deletion, so this step is non-negotiable.
Mistake 2: assuming auto-renewal has stopped
Canceling your subscription stops future charges, but a small number of users report that Roam Research continued billing after a supposed cancellation. Check your credit card or bank statement 5-7 days after cancellation to confirm no charge appeared. If a charge does appear, contact support immediately and request a reversal.
Mistake 3: missing the 14-day refund window
Your statutory right to a refund under consumer protection law expires after 14 days. If you procrastinate on cancellation and the window closes, you lose this protection. Note your purchase date in your calendar and act within two weeks if you want a guaranteed refund.
Mistake 4: canceling without documenting the request
If you cancel by email or support ticket, always retain a copy of your request and any responses from Roam Research. A confirmation email from the company is your proof of cancellation. Without documentation, you cannot dispute a claim that you never requested cancellation or prove the date you canceled.
Mistake 5: confusing "pause" with "cancel"
Some platforms allow you to pause a subscription temporarily. Roam Research does not offer an official pause feature, so there is no middle ground-cancellation stops billing immediately. If you think you might return in 6 months, you can always resubscribe later.
Escalating a complaint if Roam Research refuses to cooperate
If Roam Research ignores your cancellation or refund request, you have formal recourse through Canadian consumer protection agencies.
Disputing through your credit card or bank
Contact your credit card company or bank and report the unauthorized or disputed charge. Provide your cancellation confirmation email, screenshots of your account settings, and any correspondence with Roam Research. Your bank can reverse the charge and investigate on your behalf, a process called a chargeback.
Filing a complaint with your provincial consumer protection authority
Each province administers its own consumer protection office. The federal competition authority also oversees false or misleading advertising:
- Ontario: Ontario Ministry of Government Services (Ontario Consumer Protection Act)
- British Columbia: BC Consumer Protection Office
- Alberta: Alberta Fair Trading Act
- Across Canada: Competition Bureau (for deceptive marketing or unfair contract terms)
You can file a complaint online or by mail if Roam Research fails to honor your cancellation or refund request. Include all documentation-confirmation emails, screenshots, and correspondence. Yafee recognizes that formal complaints are a last resort, but they carry enforcement weight that private requests may not.
After cancellation: what happens to your account
Cancellation does not delete your account data immediately, but understanding the timeline helps you plan your transition.
The cancellation timeline
| Timeframe |
What happens |
Action you should take |
| Day 0 (cancellation day) |
Your subscription ends; no further charges occur |
Export your data immediately |
| Days 1-7 |
Roam may send a cancellation confirmation and allow account access |
Verify your bank statement shows no charge |
| Days 7-30 |
Account may become read-only; you cannot create or edit notes |
Ensure your export is complete and backed up |
| Days 30-90 |
Roam may delete your data; account becomes inaccessible |
Verify your backup copy contains all exported files |
Retaining your exported data
Your exported files belong entirely to you. Store them in at least two locations-your computer and a cloud storage service like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox-to prevent loss. You can import these files into Obsidian, LogSeq, or other platforms whenever you choose, even years later.
Comparison: keeping Roam versus canceling
Before you finalize cancellation, weigh whether the cost truly outweighs the value to your workflow.
| Factor |
Keep your subscription |
Cancel |
| Cost (annual) |
$240-$250 CAD or $750-$800 (Believer) |
$0; one-time export effort |
| Access to your graphs |
Full editing and sync across devices |
Read-only or no access after 30 days |
| Backup and recovery |
Roam backs up your data on their servers |
You store backups yourself |
| Flexibility |
Locked into monthly or annual billing |
Free to switch platforms or resubscribe later |
| Migration effort |
None required |
Export and import to new tool (1-2 hours) |
| Switching costs |
None; you stay |
Learning curve for new platform |
If budget is tight, canceling saves immediate cash. If you use Roam heavily for your work, keeping it may return more value than the monthly fee costs. Yafee advises you to make this choice consciously, not out of confusion or oversight.
If you need help at any stage, Roam Research's support channels are your first point of contact.
Direct support methods
- Email: [email protected]
- Web contact form: roamresearch.com (look for "Contact" or "Help" in the footer)
- Community forum: community.roamresearch.com may host user guides and billing FAQs
Mailing address for formal correspondence
If email support does not respond within 7 business days, send a certified letter to Roam Research's mailing address. This creates a documented record and triggers legal obligations to respond:
Roam Research Inc. (or current legal entity name)
[Standard North American business address; verify on roamresearch.com or your invoice]
In your letter, include:
- Your full name, email, and account ID
- Your cancellation request or refund claim
- The Consumer Protection Act section that applies (if claiming a 14-day refund)
- A request for written confirmation within 10 business days
- Your original purchase date and invoice number
Keep a photocopy and send the letter via registered mail so you have proof of delivery.
Summary: take control of your subscription today
Canceling Roam Research is a simple process once you follow the correct steps for your payment method, export your data, and understand your consumer rights. Whether you cancel within the 14-day cooling-off period or after longer use, you hold clear legal standing under Canadian consumer protection law to demand a refund if the service was not delivered as promised or if you act within the statutory window.
Export your notes and graphs before cancellation, verify that no charges appear on your next billing cycle, and keep copies of all correspondence with Roam Research. If the company refuses to honor your cancellation or refund, escalate to your credit card company or your provincial consumer protection authority-both have the power to enforce your rights.
Yafee has helped thousands of Canadian consumers cancel SaaS subscriptions and recover refunds by grounding their claims in clear consumer law and following the documented procedures. The same framework applies here. Take your time, document every step, and do not accept vague refusals. Your cancellation and your data are yours to control.