kitio.aiScite vs alphaXiv
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. alphaXiv is completely free, while Scite is free trial.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Smart Citations
- AI research assistant
- Reference check
- Citation alerts
- Browser extension
- Line-level discussions
- AI paper chat
- Paper summaries
- Trending papers feed
- Author responses
| Feature | Scite | alphaXiv |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | See how papers are cited and get AI answers backed by citations | Discuss arXiv papers and chat with them using AI |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free |
| Starting price | $20/mo | Free |
| Free plan | No, 7-day trial | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Research Solutions | alphaXiv |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
alphaXiv is completely free, while Scite is free trial.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Basic
$20/mo
- Full Assistant and Search access
- 250 MCP credits / month
- Collections up to 1,000 papers
- Citation alerts and dashboards
Pro
$50/mo
- Per seat
- API access
- 2,500 MCP credits / month
- Patent, clinical trial and grant data
Enterprise
Custom
- Unlimited users, pooled usage
- SSO, IP or domain access
- Collections up to 50,000 papers
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
Scite
- Shows if findings were disputed
- Draws on full-text articles
- Good for checking references
- Full features are paid
- Classification is not always right
alphaXiv
- Free for researchers
- Active discussion community
- Easy switch from arXiv
- Limited to arXiv papers
- Discussion depth varies
Which one should you choose?
Choose Scite if you want:
- Shows if findings were disputed
- Draws on full-text articles
- Good for checking references
Watch out: full features are paid.
Choose alphaXiv if you want:
- Free for researchers
- Active discussion community
- Easy switch from arXiv
Watch out: limited to arxiv papers.
Scite vs alphaXiv FAQ
What is the difference between Scite and alphaXiv?
Scite: See how papers are cited and get AI answers backed by citations. alphaXiv: Discuss arXiv papers and chat with them using AI. Both are research & search tools.
Is Scite or alphaXiv cheaper?
alphaXiv is completely free, while Scite is free trial.
Do Scite and alphaXiv have free plans?
Scite: No, 7-day trial. alphaXiv: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Scite?
Scite is made by Research Solutions, based in United States.
Who makes alphaXiv?
alphaXiv is made by alphaXiv, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Scite or alphaXiv?
Choose Scite if you value shows if findings were disputed and draws on full-text articles. Choose alphaXiv if you value free for researchers and active discussion community.