The alphaXiv Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about alphaXiv in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
alphaXiv
The Insider’s Guide
arXiv reading and discovery site with an AI research assistant
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from alphaXiv’s own pages.
Made by alphaXiv Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from alphaXiv’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on alphaXiv’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 6 of the 27 other AI research tools we grade
alphaXiv is a reading and discovery site built on top of arXiv. It offers a community-curated feed of trending research, pages that connect papers, researchers and organizations, and an AI assistant that answers questions and writes literature reviews grounded in the papers it cites. A reader view supports highlights, notes and chat on a paper, and there are an iPhone and iPad app, a Chrome extension and an MCP server for AI agents.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about alphaXiv, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, so the B rests on what the listing shows, and it shows nothing to set up: open a paper and start reading.
- 1
Best for following and reading arXiv papers
It's built on arXiv and bioRxiv, so other papers are yours to upload.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $8 per month (alphaXiv Go).
- 3
There is a free plan
Chat with any arXiv paper, with preset models only and strict usage limits on the assistant.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
Web and iOS, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Trending feed
A feed of research curated by what the community is reading, with a short summary for each paper and a view tailored to your research interests.
- 6
AI assistant
Answers research questions and produces literature reviews grounded in the underlying papers, and can point to who is working on a topic.
- 7
Paper reader
Read a paper with highlights and personal notes, chat with the assistant about a highlighted section, and add other papers to the conversation with an @ mention.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 6 of 27
That is against the other AI research tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace alphaXiv you would be making a library of papers and sources to search. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
alphaXiv at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $8 per month (alphaXiv Go)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Browser extension
- Made by
- alphaXiv Inc.
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for following and reading arXiv papers
alphaXiv is a reading site built on arXiv, with a feed of what people are reading, a reader with highlights and notes, and an assistant that answers from the papers it cites. It's built on arXiv and bioRxiv, so other papers are yours to upload. The free limits are called strict with no numbers given, there's no public pricing page, picking your own model costs $20 a month, and there's no Android or desktop app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Go is $8 a month, the low end for this category, and $5 if you link an academic email. But Go only lifts limits on lower-cost open-source models: your pick of model and the longer context sit on Pro at $20, the dear end. Low plan, dear plan, ordinary money. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free chats with any arXiv paper, but on preset models only, and the site calls the assistant's limits strict without putting a number on them. Caps you'll run into, then, and you can't see where they are until you hit one. |
| Features | C | Finding, reading and citing all work, with a trending feed, literature reviews that cite their papers, highlights and notes, BibTeX and an MCP server. The gap is the listing's own: it's all built on arXiv and bioRxiv, so a paper that isn't there is yours to upload. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so the B rests on what the listing shows, and it shows nothing to set up: open a paper and start reading. Every item in the feed carries a short summary, and you can highlight a passage and ask about it right there. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web with an integration list: an iPhone and iPad app, a Chrome extension, and an MCP server handing Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code and Zed 19 tools for searching and reading papers. No Android and no desktop app, which is what keeps it off an A. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who alphaXiv is for
- Fits if you follow machine learning and AI research and want to see what's trending on arXiv
- Works for people who code with Claude Code or Cursor and want paper search inside the agent
Who it is not for
- Skip it if your field isn't on arXiv or bioRxiv, since that's what the whole site is built on
- Tight if you're staying free, with preset models and limits the site only calls strict
- Pricey if you want to pick the model, which needs Pro at $20 a month, as Go at $8 covers open-source models only
- Not for you if you're on Android or want a desktop app, as the only apps are for iPhone, iPad and Chrome
- Watch out: there's no public pricing page, so plans and prices only show inside account settings
Good to know
Good for
- Following new machine learning and AI research on arXiv
- Asking questions about a paper while reading it
- Reading papers on an iPhone or iPad
- Developers who want paper search inside a coding agent
Worth knowing
- The site has no public pricing page; plans and prices are shown on the Subscription/Usage page in account settings.
- The free plan limits the assistant to preset models with strict usage limits; choosing any model needs alphaXiv Pro.
- alphaXiv Go raises limits on open-source models only and does not include Pro-tier models.
- There is an iPhone and iPad app and a Chrome extension; the site lists no Android or desktop app.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8
A month to start. There is a free plan too
alphaXiv has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8 per month (alphaXiv Go).
Caps you'll run into, then, and you can't see where they are until you hit one.
Free
$0
For occasional reading and quick follow-up questions: chat with any arXiv paper on preset models, under strict usage limits.
alphaXiv Go
$8
per month
Higher limits on lower-cost open-source models; Pro-tier models are not included. $5 a month for student researchers.
alphaXiv Pro
$20
per month
Higher assistant usage limits, a choice of any model, longer context windows and early access to beta features.
alphaXiv Pro 5× usage
$100
per month
The Pro plan with 5 times the assistant usage and priority routing.
The free plan
Chat with any arXiv paper, with preset models only and strict usage limits on the assistant.
Read from alphaxiv.org on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
alphaXiv Go at $5 a month for student researchers
Linking a recognized academic email, such as an .edu address, to the account lowers alphaXiv Go from $8 to $5 a month.
Stated on alphaxiv.org
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Browser extension
arXiv reading and discovery site with an AI research assistant. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, chat assistant, AI search, research, highlights.
The gap is the listing's own: it's all built on arXiv and bioRxiv, so a paper that isn't there is yours to upload.
- Trending feed
- A feed of research curated by what the community is reading, with a short summary for each paper and a view tailored to your research interests.
- AI assistant
- Answers research questions and produces literature reviews grounded in the underlying papers, and can point to who is working on a topic.
- Paper reader
- Read a paper with highlights and personal notes, chat with the assistant about a highlighted section, and add other papers to the conversation with an @ mention.
- AI visual blogs
- Turns a paper into a blog-style explanation with figures, equations and key insights in one click, readable in several languages.
- Library
- Bookmark papers to read later with BibTeX citations generated automatically, and upload a paper that is missing to get the same assistant and overviews.
- MCP server
- Gives AI agents 19 tools to search and read papers, analyze PDFs, explore paper codebases and find researchers. It works with clients such as Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Browser extension
What it works with
- arXiv
- bioRxiv
- Claude Code
- Claude Desktop
- Cursor
- VS Code
- Zed
alphaXiv is made by alphaXiv Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
6/27
Other AI research tools it is graded above
alphaXiv's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 27 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 13 of 27) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $8 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 6 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 28 AI research tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. alphaXiv’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 4 of 27
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 27
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 27
- BEase of useAbove 13 of 27
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 27
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 25 AI research tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. alphaXiv is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace alphaXiv you would be making a library of papers and sources to search. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 13 of the 27 other AI research tools grade higher. It costs $96 a year.
What you could make
- Highlights: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- A real app for iOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, arXiv, bioRxiv and Claude Code among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. alphaXiv’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Semantic Scholar, SciSpace, R Discovery, ResearchRabbit and ChatPDF
The 5 tools alphaXiv is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Semantic Scholar
Free
Free AI-powered search engine for scientific literature.
- Only alphaXiv lists an iOS app.
- alphaXiv also covers chat assistant and highlights.
- Semantic Scholar also covers citations.
- 2.4GPA
SciSpace
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature review and reading papers.
- alphaXiv also covers highlights.
- SciSpace also covers AI agents and citations.
- 2.8GPA
R Discovery
Free plan · from $69/yr
Paper discovery app with an AI assistant, PDF chat and audio.
- Only R Discovery lists an Android app.
- alphaXiv also covers highlights.
- R Discovery also covers citations.
- 2.2GPA
ResearchRabbit
Free plan · from $10/mo
Literature discovery tool that maps how papers connect.
- Only alphaXiv lists an iOS app.
- Only alphaXiv lists a browser extension.
- alphaXiv also covers chat assistant, AI search and highlights.
- 2.8GPA
ChatPDF
Free plan · from $89.99/yr
Ask questions about PDFs and get answers with citations.
- Only alphaXiv lists a browser extension.
- Only ChatPDF lists macOS, Windows and Android apps.
- alphaXiv also covers highlights.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is alphaXiv free?
alphaXiv has a free plan. Chat with any arXiv paper, with preset models only and strict usage limits on the assistant.
How much does alphaXiv cost?
alphaXiv lists 4 plans. Free: $0. alphaXiv Go: $8 per month. alphaXiv Pro: $20 per month. alphaXiv Pro 5× usage: $100 per month.
What platforms does alphaXiv work on?
alphaXiv is available on Web and iOS. It also has a browser extension.
Does alphaXiv offer any discounts?
alphaXiv publicly lists the following: alphaXiv Go at $5 a month for student researchers.
Does alphaXiv have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. alphaXiv is listed for Web and iOS.
Does alphaXiv have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. alphaXiv is listed for Web and iOS.
Is alphaXiv open source?
alphaXiv is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does alphaXiv have an API?
Yes. alphaXiv offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does alphaXiv integrate with?
alphaXiv's listing names arXiv, bioRxiv, Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code and Zed.
Does alphaXiv have a student discount?
alphaXiv Go at $5 a month for student researchers. Linking a recognized academic email, such as an .edu address, to the account lowers alphaXiv Go from $8 to $5 a month.
Who makes alphaXiv?
alphaXiv is made by alphaXiv Inc.
What are the alternatives to alphaXiv?
The closest alternatives to alphaXiv in our directory are Semantic Scholar, SciSpace, R Discovery, ResearchRabbit and ChatPDF.
How does alphaXiv compare with other AI research tools?
alphaXiv's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 27 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 8.
Is alphaXiv good value for money?
ToolGPA grades alphaXiv C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 6 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of alphaXiv?
To replace alphaXiv you would be making a library of papers and sources to search.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from alphaXiv’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from alphaXiv's own pages on 5 October 2026. Its plans sit behind a sign-in, so we could not read them again on 9 October. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-01-22.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by alphaXiv Inc. Prices change, so check alphaxiv.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- alphaXiv, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/alphaxiv
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "alphaXiv: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/alphaxiv
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/alphaxiv/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after alphaXiv, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Research Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 28 AI research tools we grade, compared
- Ai2 Asta Insider's GuideAI research assistant for finding papers and analyzing data3.2 GPA
- Semantic Scholar Insider's GuideFree AI-powered search engine for scientific literature3.2 GPA
- ChatPDF Insider's GuideAsk questions about PDFs and get answers with citations2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what alphaXiv’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. alphaXiv is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by alphaXiv Inc. Prices and plans change: check alphaxiv.org before you buy.