kitio.aiReadCube vs Gatsbi
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. ReadCube has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $20 for Gatsbi.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI answers with cited passages
- Chat with up to 20 papers
- PDF annotation
- SmartCite citations
- Literature monitoring alerts
- Dimensions paper index
- Research idea discovery
- Manuscript drafting with citations
- Systematic review screening
- Meta-analysis plots
- Patent disclosure drafts
| Feature | ReadCube | Gatsbi |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Reference manager with an AI assistant for papers and patents | AI research assistant for paper drafts, reviews and meta-analyses |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Free plan | No, trial available | No, trial available |
| Made by | Digital Science | Gatsbi AI Limited |
| Based in | United Kingdom | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
ReadCube has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $20 for Gatsbi.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Essentials
$10/mo
- Per user
- Literature management
- Basic AI chat with PDF
Plus
$20/mo
- Per user
- Extended chat with PDFs
- Chat with up to 20 articles
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Onboarding and training
- Library curation services
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
ReadCube
- Every AI answer links to its source
- Flags AI permissions per paper
- Discount for academics
- Daily limits on AI chat
- Library chat needs the Plus plan
- Priced per user
Gatsbi
- Covers ideation through meta-analysis
- Desktop apps for Windows and Mac
- Patent drafts in 11 languages
- Free trial lasts only one day
- Drafts need careful checking before submission
- Pricing page is hard to read
Which one should you choose?
Choose ReadCube if you want:
- Every AI answer links to its source
- Flags AI permissions per paper
- Discount for academics
Watch out: daily limits on ai chat.
Choose Gatsbi if you want:
- Covers ideation through meta-analysis
- Desktop apps for Windows and Mac
- Patent drafts in 11 languages
Watch out: free trial lasts only one day.
ReadCube vs Gatsbi FAQ
What is the difference between ReadCube and Gatsbi?
ReadCube: Reference manager with an AI assistant for papers and patents. Gatsbi: AI research assistant for paper drafts, reviews and meta-analyses. Both are research & search tools.
Is ReadCube or Gatsbi cheaper?
ReadCube has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $20 for Gatsbi.
Do ReadCube and Gatsbi have free plans?
ReadCube: No, trial available. Gatsbi: No, trial available.
Who makes ReadCube?
ReadCube is made by Digital Science, based in United Kingdom.
Who makes Gatsbi?
Gatsbi is made by Gatsbi AI Limited.
Which should I choose, ReadCube or Gatsbi?
Choose ReadCube if you value every ai answer links to its source and flags ai permissions per paper. Choose Gatsbi if you value covers ideation through meta-analysis and desktop apps for windows and mac.