kitio.aiConsensus vs Explainpaper
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Consensus starts at See pricing page and Explainpaper starts at $16/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Answers from research papers
- Consensus Meter
- Deep Search reviews
- Study filters
- Citation export
- Highlight to explain
- Paper-grounded chat
- Auto outlines
- Equation explanations
- PDF upload
| Feature | Consensus | Explainpaper |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AI search engine that answers questions from peer-reviewed studies | Highlight confusing text in a paper and get a plain explanation |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | See pricing page | $16/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Consensus | Explainpaper |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Consensus starts at See pricing page and Explainpaper starts at $16/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Free
Free
- Unlimited highlight explanations
- Follow-up questions
- Zotero import
- Basic AI models
Pro
$16/mo
- Explain graphs, figures, equations
- Advanced AI models
- Automatic paper outlines
- 7-day free trial
Teams
Contact sales
- Everything in Pro
- Team management
- Priority support
- Volume discounts
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Consensus
- Answers grounded in studies
- Useful study-quality filters
- Easy for non-experts
- Free plan has few Pro searches
- Simplifies nuanced findings
Explainpaper
- Very easy to use
- Good for unfamiliar fields
- Free tier available
- One paper at a time
- No library features
Which one should you choose?
Choose Consensus if you want:
- Answers grounded in studies
- Useful study-quality filters
- Easy for non-experts
Watch out: free plan has few pro searches.
Choose Explainpaper if you want:
- Very easy to use
- Good for unfamiliar fields
- Free tier available
Watch out: one paper at a time.
Consensus vs Explainpaper FAQ
What is the difference between Consensus and Explainpaper?
Consensus: AI search engine that answers questions from peer-reviewed studies. Explainpaper: Highlight confusing text in a paper and get a plain explanation. Both are research & search tools.
Is Consensus or Explainpaper cheaper?
Consensus starts at See pricing page and Explainpaper starts at $16/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Consensus and Explainpaper have free plans?
Consensus: Yes. Explainpaper: Yes.
Who makes Consensus?
Consensus is made by Consensus, based in United States.
Who makes Explainpaper?
Explainpaper is made by Explainpaper.
Which should I choose, Consensus or Explainpaper?
Choose Consensus if you value answers grounded in studies and useful study-quality filters. Choose Explainpaper if you value very easy to use and good for unfamiliar fields.