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Consensus vs Scite

Consensus: Search what scientific research says about a question. Scite: Shows how research papers are cited, including whether later work supports or disputes them. Here is how they compare on features, pricing, platforms, pros and cons.

Quick verdict

Consensus

Best for: Students, researchers and health-curious readers.

Stands out for: Answers based on peer-reviewed papers; Links to the original studies.

Scite

Best for: Students and researchers who need to judge how reliable a paper is.

Stands out for: Context for citations, not just counts; Answers come with real sources.

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Consensus, Scite
Visit consensus.app (opens in a new tab)Visit scite.ai (opens in a new tab)
What it isSearch what scientific research says about a question.Shows how research papers are cited, including whether later work supports or disputes them.
Pricing
Free + Paid
Free trial
Free to useYesNo
CategoryAI Search & ResearchAI Search & Research
Editor rank#3 in category#6 in category
Made byConsensusScite (Research Solutions)
Best forStudents, researchers and health-curious readers.Students and researchers who need to judge how reliable a paper is.
Key features
  • Search across academic papers
  • Summaries of research findings
  • Links to every source paper
  • Smart citations labelled as supporting or contrasting
  • Research assistant that cites real papers
  • Citation alerts and dashboards
  • Browser extension for reading papers
Pros
  • Answers based on peer-reviewed papers
  • Links to the original studies
  • Easy for non-experts
  • Context for citations, not just counts
  • Answers come with real sources
Cons
  • Limited to academic topics
  • Advanced features need a paid plan
  • Full access needs a paid plan
Use it to
  • Check what studies say about a health claim
  • Find papers for a literature review
  • Get a quick summary of research findings
  • Check if a key study has been disputed
  • Find evidence for a claim in your essay
  • Track new citations to your own paper
Web app
Chrome extension

Consensus vs Scite: questions

Is Consensus better than Scite?

Neither wins for everyone. Our editors rank Consensus slightly higher overall in AI Search & Research, but Scite can be the better fit: Students and researchers who need to judge how reliable a paper is.

Which is free, Consensus or Scite?

Consensus can be used for free (free + paid), while Scite is free trial.

Can I use Consensus and Scite together?

Yes. Many people keep both and pick per task, for example check what studies say about a health claim with Consensus, and check if a key study has been disputed with Scite.

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