Consensus vs ScienceDirect AI
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Consensus starts at See pricing page and ScienceDirect AI starts at See pricing page. 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
- Cited answers from full text
- Compare experiments table
- Reading assistant
- Peer-reviewed sources
- Institutional access
| Feature | Consensus | ScienceDirect AI |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AI search engine that answers questions from peer-reviewed studies | Elsevier's AI assistant for answers from full-text ScienceDirect articles |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No, 14-day trial |
| Made by | Consensus | Elsevier |
| Based in | United States | Netherlands |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Consensus starts at See pricing page and ScienceDirect AI starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
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
ScienceDirect AI
- Grounded in full-text articles
- Compares studies side by side
- Trusted content
- Limited to Elsevier content
- Mostly institutional pricing
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 ScienceDirect AI if you want:
- Grounded in full-text articles
- Compares studies side by side
- Trusted content
Watch out: limited to elsevier content.
Consensus vs ScienceDirect AI FAQ
What is the difference between Consensus and ScienceDirect AI?
Consensus: AI search engine that answers questions from peer-reviewed studies. ScienceDirect AI: Elsevier's AI assistant for answers from full-text ScienceDirect articles. Both are research & search tools.
Is Consensus or ScienceDirect AI cheaper?
Consensus starts at See pricing page and ScienceDirect AI starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Consensus and ScienceDirect AI have free plans?
Consensus: Yes. ScienceDirect AI: No, 14-day trial.
Who makes Consensus?
Consensus is made by Consensus, based in United States.
Who makes ScienceDirect AI?
ScienceDirect AI is made by Elsevier, based in Netherlands.
Which should I choose, Consensus or ScienceDirect AI?
Choose Consensus if you value answers grounded in studies and useful study-quality filters. Choose ScienceDirect AI if you value grounded in full-text articles and compares studies side by side.