kitio.aiScite vs Explainpaper
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Explainpaper has the lower starting price: about $16 a month, against $20 for Scite.
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
- Highlight to explain
- Paper-grounded chat
- Auto outlines
- Equation explanations
- PDF upload
| Feature | Scite | Explainpaper |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | See how papers are cited and get AI answers backed by citations | Highlight confusing text in a paper and get a plain explanation |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Freemium |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $16/mo |
| Free plan | No, 7-day trial | Yes |
| Made by | Research Solutions | Explainpaper |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Explainpaper has the lower starting price: about $16 a month, against $20 for Scite.
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
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
Scite
- Shows if findings were disputed
- Draws on full-text articles
- Good for checking references
- Full features are paid
- Classification is not always right
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 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 Explainpaper if you want:
- Very easy to use
- Good for unfamiliar fields
- Free tier available
Watch out: one paper at a time.
Scite vs Explainpaper FAQ
What is the difference between Scite and Explainpaper?
Scite: See how papers are cited and get AI answers backed by citations. Explainpaper: Highlight confusing text in a paper and get a plain explanation. Both are research & search tools.
Is Scite or Explainpaper cheaper?
Explainpaper has the lower starting price: about $16 a month, against $20 for Scite.
Do Scite and Explainpaper have free plans?
Scite: No, 7-day trial. Explainpaper: Yes.
Who makes Scite?
Scite is made by Research Solutions, based in United States.
Who makes Explainpaper?
Explainpaper is made by Explainpaper.
Which should I choose, Scite or Explainpaper?
Choose Scite if you value shows if findings were disputed and draws on full-text articles. Choose Explainpaper if you value very easy to use and good for unfamiliar fields.