scite

Free

A platform for discovering and evaluating scientific articles.

FreeFree tier

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Starting Price

$20/mo

Type

Open Source

Company

Scite

Visit Website GitHub (40 stars)

About scite

Scite is an AI-powered research platform that helps scientists, students, and organizations discover and evaluate scientific literature using Smart Citations. Unlike traditional citation counts, Scite’s deep learning model analyzes 1.6B+ citation statements and classifies each as supporting, contrasting, or mentioning, showing at a glance whether a finding has been upheld or challenged. The platform indexes 280M+ full-text articles (including paywalled content from 30+ publisher partners), patents, clinical trials, grants, preprints, and datasets. Features include Scite Assistant (an AI research tool that answers questions grounded in peer-reviewed literature), full-text search that matches citation statements, citation reports, collections for monitoring papers, and Reference Check for manuscript evaluation. Scite integrates with ChatGPT, Claude, Zotero, and is available via API. Trusted by over 2 million users at top universities and institutions worldwide, Scite is part of Research Solutions.

Key Features

Smart Citations classify each citation as supporting, contrasting, or mentioning – the only platform offering this at scale

Scite Assistant provides AI-powered answers drawn from 280M+ full-text articles, with links to source papers

Full-text Search matches citation statements inside papers, not just abstracts or metadata

Reports give a quantitative and qualitative view of every citation a paper has received, filterable by year, section, and classification

Collections let users organize articles and automatically monitor new supporting/contrasting citations and retractions

Reference Check analyzes a manuscript PDF and flags retracted, contested, or problematic references

Integrates with ChatGPT, Claude, and MCP-compatible assistants, plus Zotero and API access

Covers patents, clinical trials, grants, preprints, and datasets in addition to journal articles

Pros & Cons

Pros

Only tool that classifies citations as supporting, contrasting, or mentioning – provides deeper insight than citation counts
Access to paywalled full-text articles through licensed agreements with 30+ publishers
Every AI answer links to the specific sentence in the source paper, ensuring verifiability
Indexes 1.6B+ citations and 280M+ scholarly sources including patents, trials, and datasets
Seamless integration with ChatGPT, Claude, Zotero, and MCP-compatible tools
Trusted by over 2 million researchers and used by leading universities worldwide
Free 7-day trial with full access to premium features

Cons

No permanent free tier beyond the 7-day trial; paid plans start at $20/month
Some advanced features (e.g., Team analytics, API access) require higher-tier Team or Enterprise plans
Coverage depends on publisher agreements; some niche journals may not be fully indexed
Primarily designed for academic and professional research; less useful for casual or non-scientific queries

Best For

Literature review and research discoveryFact-checking and verifying claims in scientific publicationsEvaluating whether a study's findings have been supported or contradicted by later researchStaying current with new citations and field developments via alertsManuscript preparation: checking references for retractions or contrasting findings before submissionCompetitor monitoring and tracking own publication impactPatent and clinical trial analysis for commercial research

FAQ

What is Scite?

Scite is a platform that helps researchers discover and evaluate scientific articles. It uses Smart Citations to show how a paper has been cited by others, including whether it has been supported or contradicted, helping assess credibility and impact.

Is there a free trial available, and what happens after it ends?

Yes, Scite offers a 7-day free trial for new users, allowing full access to premium features. After the trial ends, you are automatically enrolled in the subscription plan you selected at the start; you can cancel anytime before the trial ends to avoid charges.

Do you offer student or academic discounts?

Yes, discounts are available for students and academics if you recommend Scite to your institution. Email your recommendation to customersupport@researchsolutions.com and sales@scite.ai, and they will send you a discount code.

Do you offer API access?

Yes, Scite offers a variety of API options and data access products. Contact sales@scite.ai for more information.

Can I upgrade my plan?

Yes, you can upgrade your plan directly from your account. Log in, go to the Subscription section, and select the plan that suits your needs. The new plan takes effect immediately.