kitio.aiSemantic Scholar vs Explainpaper
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Semantic Scholar is completely free, while Explainpaper is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Paper search
- TLDR summaries
- Research feeds
- Semantic Reader
- Free API
- Highlight to explain
- Paper-grounded chat
- Auto outlines
- Equation explanations
- PDF upload
| Feature | Semantic Scholar | Explainpaper |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free AI-powered search engine for scientific literature | Highlight confusing text in a paper and get a plain explanation |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $16/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Allen Institute for AI | Explainpaper |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Semantic Scholar is completely free, while Explainpaper is freemium.
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
Semantic Scholar
- Completely free
- Huge paper index
- Useful public API
- No chat-style answers
- Full text not always available
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 Semantic Scholar if you want:
- Completely free
- Huge paper index
- Useful public API
Watch out: no chat-style answers.
Choose Explainpaper if you want:
- Very easy to use
- Good for unfamiliar fields
- Free tier available
Watch out: one paper at a time.
Semantic Scholar vs Explainpaper FAQ
What is the difference between Semantic Scholar and Explainpaper?
Semantic Scholar: Free AI-powered search engine for scientific literature. Explainpaper: Highlight confusing text in a paper and get a plain explanation. Both are research & search tools.
Is Semantic Scholar or Explainpaper cheaper?
Semantic Scholar is completely free, while Explainpaper is freemium.
Do Semantic Scholar and Explainpaper have free plans?
Semantic Scholar: Yes, fully free. Explainpaper: Yes.
Who makes Semantic Scholar?
Semantic Scholar is made by Allen Institute for AI, based in United States.
Who makes Explainpaper?
Explainpaper is made by Explainpaper.
Which should I choose, Semantic Scholar or Explainpaper?
Choose Semantic Scholar if you value completely free and huge paper index. Choose Explainpaper if you value very easy to use and good for unfamiliar fields.