Alternatives · AI Research
STORM alternatives
STORM compared with 5 alternatives: Ai2 Asta, Undermind, Elicit, Perplexity and Gemini Notebook.
STORM is free to use. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| STORMThis tool | Free | Free | Web |
| Ai2 Asta | Free | Free | Web |
| Undermind | Free plan · from $16/mo | Yes | Web |
| Elicit | Free plan · from $49/mo | Yes | Web, Browser extension |
| Perplexity | Free plan · from $17/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Gemini Notebook | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from STORM
- Free
Ai2 Asta
AI research assistant for finding papers and analyzing data
- Ai2 Asta is free. STORM is free.
- Ai2 Asta also covers AI search.
- STORM also covers mind mapping.
Suits: Researchers who want a stated reason for each paper a search returns
- Free plan · from $16/mo
Undermind
AI literature search agent that reads hundreds of papers
- Undermind starts at $16 per month, billed annually, at the academic rate ($60 for industry). STORM is free.
- STORM is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Undermind also covers chat assistant and AI search.
- STORM also covers mind mapping.
Suits: Complex research questions where keyword search misses relevant papers
- 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). STORM is free.
- Only Elicit lists a browser extension.
- STORM is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Elicit also covers AI search.
- STORM also covers mind mapping.
Suits: Researchers running systematic reviews with screening and data extraction
- 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). STORM is free.
- Only Perplexity lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Perplexity lists a browser extension.
- STORM is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Perplexity also covers chat assistant and AI search.
Suits: Research questions where you want the sources behind each answer
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Gemini Notebook
Google's AI research assistant that answers from your own sources
- Gemini Notebook starts at $4.99 per month (Google AI Plus). STORM is free.
- Only Gemini Notebook lists iOS and Android apps.
- STORM is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Gemini Notebook also covers chat assistant, AI search and notes.
- STORM also covers AI agents, research, citations and mind mapping.
Suits: Students and researchers working from a set of their own documents
Limits worth knowing in STORM
- The hosted site is a research preview with limited safety measures, and its terms warn that reports can contain mistakes.
- Inputs on the hosted site are collected for research and may be distributed under a Creative Commons license.
- The developers say the output is not publication-ready and often needs a significant number of edits.
- Running the open-source package yourself requires your own language model and search API keys.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to STORM?
The alternatives to STORM in this directory are Ai2 Asta, Undermind, Elicit, Perplexity and Gemini Notebook. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with STORM.
Is there a free alternative to STORM?
Yes. Ai2 Asta is free to use. Undermind, Elicit, Perplexity and Gemini Notebook have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which STORM alternatives work on Android?
The STORM listing does not include an Android app. Perplexity and Gemini Notebook list one.
Which STORM alternatives work on iOS?
The STORM listing does not include an iOS app. Perplexity and Gemini Notebook list one.
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.