Roam vs SoWork: Virtual Office Comparison (2026)

1. TLDR verdict

For teams seeking an AI‑driven virtual office with flexible immersive graphics, integrated chat/meetings and built‑in analytics, SoWork is the better choice. SoWork also has a Simplified mode (non‑world UI) for teams who prefer a traditional interface. When Roam is a fit, it is typically for teams who want an "all-in-one" bundle that replaces standalone tools like Calendly and Loom with native features, and who prefer a flat "Cloud HQ" dashboard aesthetic with monthly-only billing.

2. Fast comparison

SoWork is best for

• Teams needing spatial video calls, instant text chats, and integrated AI‑meeting summaries.

• Leaders who require detailed team analytics to monitor participation and productivity.

• Companies wanting the option of an immersive virtual world and a static 'Simplified Mode'.

• Teams valuing customizable environments inspired by The Sims to build remote culture.

• Organizations seeking integrations via Zapier, Slack, Miro, GitHub, Google & Outlook Calendar and more.

• Large teams expecting volume discounts when scaling beyond 100 users.

Roam is best for

• Teams looking for an "8-in-1" bundle that replaces external tools like Loom (Magicast) and Calendly (Lobby).

• Organizations that need a "Theater" mode for large basic meetings up to 2,500 people.

• Teams with no budgetary constraints.

3. Feature comparison table

4. Perks

SoWork perks

• Free migration from other virtual offices – SoWork rebuilds your map for free.

• Free custom map for Premium teams over 30 users.

• Free logo on avatar apparel (hoodies, hats, T‑shirts) for Premium teams over 30 users.

• Volume discounts for 100+ users (list price for 100 users shown as upper bound).

• Guests are free: Invite external guests (candidates, clients) to the HQ without paying for a seat.

Roam perks

• Guests are free: Invite external guests (candidates, clients) to the HQ without paying for a seat.

• 14-day trial: Every new member added gets a 14-day trial before billing starts.

• Bundled Tools: Includes "Lobby" (scheduling) and "Magicast" (screen recording) at no extra cost.

5. Definitions

• Active member vs seat – In Roam, you pay only for members who are "active" (logged in) during the month; SoWork pricing is generally based on licensed seats (user slots).

• AI meeting notes – SoWork AI creates a transcript and summary. Roam creates a transcript, summary, and a dedicated group chat where you can "prompt" the meeting context with AI.

• SSO vs SCIM – SSO (single sign‑on) allows users to log in with a single identity provider; SCIM automates user provisioning. Both platforms offer these features for enterprise security.

6. Pricing + price math

1. SoWork Pricing

SoWork’s Basic tier is priced at $6 per user per month or $5.40 per user per month billed annually (10% discount), while its Premium tier costs $15 per user per month or $12 per user per month when billed annually (roughly a 20% discount).

2. Roam Pricing

Roam charges a flat rate of $19.50 per active member per month. There are no annual commitments and no discounts; billing is strictly monthly based on usage.

Cost Calculation for 10, 25, and 50 users

SoWork pricing scales down for 100+ users (volume discounts). For SoWork, contact sales for volume discounts. Roam explicitly states "No Discounts" and "No Upsells," charging the same $19.50 rate regardless of volume.

7. UI / UX

• Onboarding flow – SoWork allows teams to create a workspace and invite colleagues via link; there is a free plan for up to 10 people. Roam offers a "Book Demo" or "Free Trial" flow where every new member gets a 14-day trial.

• Navigation clarity – SoWork’s immersive 2.5D interface includes avatars and rooms; the Simplified Mode simplifies navigation for users who prefer that mode. Roam uses a top-down "Cloud HQ" map view with an "Elevator" to switch between floors and a sidebar for messaging.

• Time to start a meeting – In SoWork, walk up to a colleague’s avatar or click their name to start a video call. In Roam, you can "Knock" on an office, click a seat to join a room, or use "Drop-In" links from the Lobby.

• Admin clarity – SoWork’s Enterprise tier includes role‑based admin controls and SSO/SCIM. Roam provides "Stagehand" controls for the Theater and admin settings for the Map Editor and "Lobby" links.

8. Artistic direction

• SoWork – Offers a 2.5D isometric world inspired by The Sims and Animal Crossing, vibrant and customizable. It includes a Simplified Mode for teams preferring a classic UI.

• Roam – Presents a "Cloud HQ" aesthetic. It features a clean, dark-mode heavy, top-down dashboard look. It uses circular avatars and "rooms" that look like app icons or dashboard widgets rather than a gamified world. It includes specific visual metaphors like "The Elevator" for multi-floor navigation.

9. Ease of use

Simplified Mode is an important lever: users can start with the simplified interface and later graduate to the immersive world. SoWork also minimizes friction by integrating chat, meetings, and AI notes into one application.

Roam attempts to reduce friction by bundling tools: it includes Magicast (screen recording) and Lobby (scheduling) directly in the app, so users don't need to switch to Loom or Calendly.

10. Ease of doing business with

• Pricing clarity – SoWork and Roam each clearly list pricing, simplifying the contract process. However, SoWork offers discounted annual pricing, whereas Roam offers no annual discount.

• Procurement readiness – SoWork offers self‑serve signup and free migration. Roam pushes for a "Book Demo" as the starting point.

• Admin controls – SoWork and Roam provide detailed admin roles and analytics.

• Security & compliance – SoWork’s Enterprise includes SOC 2 compliance. Roam supports SSO/SAML for real-time access control.

11. Customer support / service

• SoWork – Premium plan includes priority live support. Support channels include chat and email, with direct access to the team.

• Roam – Roam mentions "Support" and likely offers standard support channels, but explicit "priority live support" is not detailed as a feature of the single $19.50 plan.

• Verify during trial – You should test response times via chat or email for both platforms.

12. CPU/GPU performance and battery

SoWork’s immersive 2.5D world uses more GPU/CPU resources than a flat UI; but switching to Simplified Mode reduces the load to save battery and resources. Roam is also a rich graphical application with "Live View" maps and "Stadium Mode" for large audiences. While Roam does not advertise a "Lite Mode," its top-down 2D aesthetic may be less demanding. But, large all-hands meetings in Roam with thousands of users will be resource-intensive. SoWork strictly allows users to choose Simplified Mode to save battery.

13. Future direction

SoWork is investing heavily in AI functionality (meeting summaries, action items, team analytics) and deepening integrations. Both SoWork and Roam are aggressively positioning as the "Office of the Future" by integrating AI Agents that act as executive assistants for every employee - scheduling meetings, sending emails, and observing office activity. Their roadmaps focus on replacing the entire legacy SaaS stack (Zoom, Slack, Loom, Calendly) with a single bundle. Teams prioritizing granular data analytics plus AI automation agents may prefer SoWork, while those wanting AI automation agents only might explore Roam.