Alternatives · AI Research
Liner alternatives
Liner compared with 5 alternatives: Perplexity, SciSpace, Elicit, Consensus and Paperguide.
Liner has a free plan. Paid plans start at $14.99 per month, billed annually ($17.99 billed monthly). All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 5, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| LinerThis tool | Free plan · from $14.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Perplexity | Free plan · from $17/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| SciSpace | Free plan · from $12/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Browser extension |
| Elicit | Free plan · from $49/mo | Yes | Web, Browser extension |
| Consensus | Free plan | Yes | Web, Android |
| Paperguide | Free plan · from $12/mo | Yes | Web, Browser extension |
How each one differs from Liner
- Free plan · from $17/mo
Perplexity
AI search assistant that answers questions with cited sources
- Perplexity starts at $17 per month when billed annually ($20 a month on the US App Store). Liner starts at $14.99 per month, billed annually ($17.99 billed monthly).
- Only Liner lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Perplexity also covers chat assistant.
- Liner also covers AI agents, research, citations, long-form writing and highlights.
Suits: Research questions where you want the sources behind each answer
- Free plan · from $12/mo
SciSpace
AI research platform for literature review and reading papers
- SciSpace starts at $12 per month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly). Liner starts at $14.99 per month, billed annually ($17.99 billed monthly).
- Only Liner lists macOS, Windows and Android apps.
- SciSpace also covers chat assistant.
- Liner also covers long-form writing and highlights.
Suits: Students and researchers who want search, reading and writing tools in one place
- Free plan · from $49/mo
Elicit
AI research assistant for literature search and systematic reviews
- Elicit starts at $49 per user / month, billed annually ($11 on academic pricing). Liner starts at $14.99 per month, billed annually ($17.99 billed monthly).
- Only Liner lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Liner also covers long-form writing and highlights.
Suits: Researchers running systematic reviews with screening and data extraction
- Free plan
Consensus
AI search engine that answers questions from peer-reviewed papers
- Only Liner lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Only Liner lists a browser extension.
- Liner also covers long-form writing and highlights.
Suits: Checking what peer-reviewed studies say about a specific question
- Free plan · from $12/mo
Paperguide
AI research platform for literature and systematic reviews
- Paperguide starts at $12 per seat / month, billed annually ($8 with the academic discount). Liner starts at $14.99 per month, billed annually ($17.99 billed monthly).
- Only Liner lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Paperguide also covers chat assistant.
- Liner also covers highlights.
Suits: Teams running systematic reviews that need documented screening decisions
Limits worth knowing in Liner
- The free plan shows ads in answers and allows 1 file upload a day; the plan table lists 0 agent credits for it, though the FAQ mentions limited credits.
- Agents and external models spend credits: Pro includes 1,000 and Max 2,500, and one Literature Review request uses 40.
- The site's FAQ says Liner Scholar and Liner Write are supported only on desktop.
- Liner does not offer refunds; a subscription can be canceled before it renews.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Liner?
The alternatives to Liner in this directory are Perplexity, SciSpace, Elicit, Consensus and Paperguide. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Liner.
Is there a free alternative to Liner?
Yes. Perplexity, SciSpace, Elicit, Consensus and Paperguide have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.