kitio.aiSemantic Scholar vs Keenious
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Semantic Scholar is completely free, while Keenious 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
- Text-based paper recommendations
- Word and Docs add-ons
- Topic exploration
- Paper explanations
- OpenAlex index
| Feature | Semantic Scholar | Keenious |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free AI-powered search engine for scientific literature | Finds relevant papers by analyzing the text you're writing |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Allen Institute for AI | Keenious |
| Based in | United States | Norway |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Semantic Scholar is completely free, while Keenious is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 3 MB PDF uploads
- Web app, Word and Google Docs access
Plus (Individual)
From $10/mo, billed yearly
- Unlimited searches and topic maps
- Unlimited companion conversations
- Export to RIS, BibTeX, Zotero, CSV
- Up to 20 MB PDF uploads
Team
$20/user/mo, billed yearly
- Per user
- Everything in Plus
- Admin console and central billing
- Dedicated support
University
Custom
- Campus-wide license
- Invoiced annually
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
Keenious
- Works from your own draft
- Finds cross-field papers
- Integrates with Word and Docs
- Full access often via institutions
- Less known than rivals
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 Keenious if you want:
- Works from your own draft
- Finds cross-field papers
- Integrates with Word and Docs
Watch out: full access often via institutions.
Semantic Scholar vs Keenious FAQ
What is the difference between Semantic Scholar and Keenious?
Semantic Scholar: Free AI-powered search engine for scientific literature. Keenious: Finds relevant papers by analyzing the text you're writing. Both are research & search tools.
Is Semantic Scholar or Keenious cheaper?
Semantic Scholar is completely free, while Keenious is freemium.
Do Semantic Scholar and Keenious have free plans?
Semantic Scholar: Yes, fully free. Keenious: Yes.
Who makes Semantic Scholar?
Semantic Scholar is made by Allen Institute for AI, based in United States.
Who makes Keenious?
Keenious is made by Keenious, based in Norway.
Which should I choose, Semantic Scholar or Keenious?
Choose Semantic Scholar if you value completely free and huge paper index. Choose Keenious if you value works from your own draft and finds cross-field papers.