The Citely Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Citely 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.
Citely
The Insider’s Guide
Citation checker that flags fake references and finds sources
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from Citely’s own pages.
Made by Citely · checked Nov 13, 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 Citely’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Citely’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 16 of the 69 other AI research tools we grade
Citely checks whether the references in a paper or an AI-written draft are real, and flags fabricated or mismatched ones. It can also take a claim and return published papers that support it. It verifies against scholarly databases such as Crossref, OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, PubMed and arXiv.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Citely, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Everything runs on credits, with each plan capping how much one check covers.
- 1
Best for checking a paper's references for fakes
Citely checks the references in a paper for fakes and finds sources, using Crossref, OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, PubMed and arXiv.
- 2
Paid plans start at $14 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $14 per month, billed annually ($19 billed monthly).
- 3
You can try it first
Two free checks per new account, no credit card required
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Citation checker
Checks each entry of a reference list and flags fake, mismatched or unverifiable references.
- 6
AI-reference checks
Aimed at references produced by ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, including invented DOIs and mixed-up details.
- 7
Source finder
Paste a claim or paragraph and get published papers with verified metadata; searches are limited to 300 characters.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 16 of 69
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 Citely 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.
Citely at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $14 per month, billed annually ($19 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Two free checks per new account, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Citely
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for checking a paper's references for fakes
Citely checks the references in a paper for fakes and finds sources, using Crossref, OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, PubMed and arXiv. Everything runs on credits, with each plan capping how much one check covers. It checks references only: no library, no writing help.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Yearly is $14 a month, at the category's dearer-quarter line, and Monthly is $19. Believer is $347 one-time. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Two free checks per new account, with no card. After that it is the $9 Trial or a subscription. |
| Features | C | Citation checker and source finder with APA, MLA and Chicago export. It does that job fully, but it is a smaller job: no library and no writing help. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. Paste your references and run a check, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, with scholarly databases behind it. No API or apps are listed. |
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 Citely is for
- Fits if you need to check a thesis for invented references before submitting
- Works for labs that screen many papers and would buy the 5,000-credit pack
Who it is not for
- Tight if you stay free, as you get two checks per new account
- Pricey if you cram it monthly at $19 for 150 credits and a 4,000-character cap per check
- Watch out: no refund once more than 10 credits are used, and one-time packs are non-refundable
- Too light for managing a library or writing the paper, as it only verifies references
Good to know
Good for
- Students checking a bibliography before submitting
- Editors and supervisors screening manuscripts for fabricated references
- Writers who drafted with an AI chatbot and want its citations verified
Worth knowing
- Usage runs on credits, and each plan caps how many characters one check can cover.
- Monthly and Yearly plans renew automatically; the refund policy gives no refund once more than 10 credits are used.
- One-time packages are non-refundable and their credits expire after 1 month (Trial) or 3 years (Believer).
- It verifies references but does not manage a library or help write the paper.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$14
A month to start
Citely is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $14 per month, billed annually ($19 billed monthly).
Two free checks per new account, with no card.
Trial
$9
one-time, 15 credits valid for 1 month
For checking one paper; reference checks up to 2,000 characters and basic verification.
Monthly
$19
per month, billed monthly
150 credits a month, reference checks up to 4,000 characters, and APA, MLA and Chicago export.
Yearly
$14
per month, billed annually ($168 a year)
1,500 credits for the year, the Monthly features and priority support.
Believer
$347
one-time, 5,000 credits valid for 3 years
For heavy users and labs; adds all citation formats, dedicated support and professor guidance sessions.
Trying it first
Two free checks per new account, no credit card required
Read from citely.ai on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Yearly plan at $14 a month
Billed as $168 a year, which works out to about $14 a month against $19 on the Monthly plan.
Stated on citely.ai
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Citation checker that flags fake references and finds sources. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, AI search, research, citations.
Citation checker and source finder with APA, MLA and Chicago export.
- Citation checker
- Checks each entry of a reference list and flags fake, mismatched or unverifiable references.
- AI-reference checks
- Aimed at references produced by ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, including invented DOIs and mixed-up details.
- Source finder
- Paste a claim or paragraph and get published papers with verified metadata; searches are limited to 300 characters.
- Scholarly databases
- Verifies against Crossref, OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, Google Scholar, PubMed, arXiv, Wanfang and CNKI.
- Citation export
- Paid plans export citations in APA, MLA and Chicago; the Believer plan adds all formats.
- Ten site languages
- The site is available in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and Russian.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Crossref
- OpenAlex
- Semantic Scholar
- PubMed
- arXiv
Citely is made by Citely.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
16/69
Other AI research tools it is graded above
Citely's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 16 of the 69 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 14.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 42 of 69) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $14 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 34 of the 48 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 20 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 AI research tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Citely’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 10 of 69
- CFree plan and trialAbove 9 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 42 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 69
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 59 AI research tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Citely 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 Citely 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: 39 of the 69 other AI research tools grade higher. It costs $168 a year.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- Citation records for millions of papers.
- It plugs into other products, Crossref, OpenAlex and Semantic Scholar among them.
What this rests on. Citely’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
Scite, Scholarcy, Paperguide, SciSpace and Keenious
The 5 tools Citely is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Scite
Free trial · from $20/mo
Research assistant that shows how papers have been cited.
- Only Scite lists a browser extension.
- Scite also covers chat assistant.
- 2.6GPA
Scholarcy
Free plan · from $90/yr
Summarizes research papers into interactive flashcards.
- Scholarcy has a free plan. Citely does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Scholarcy lists a browser extension.
- Citely also covers AI search.
- 2.6GPA
Paperguide
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature and systematic reviews.
- Paperguide has a free plan. Citely does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Paperguide lists a browser extension.
- Paperguide also covers chat assistant, AI agents and long-form writing.
- 2.4GPA
SciSpace
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature review and reading papers.
- SciSpace has a free plan. Citely does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only SciSpace lists an iOS app.
- Only SciSpace lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
Keenious
Free plan · from $10/mo
Academic search that recommends papers from your own text.
- Keenious has a free plan. Citely does not, though it has a free trial.
- Keenious also covers chat assistant.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Citely free?
No, Citely is a paid product, but you can try it first. Two free checks per new account, no credit card required.
How much does Citely cost?
Citely lists 4 plans. Trial: $9 one-time, 15 credits valid for 1 month.
What platforms does Citely work on?
Citely is available on Web.
Does Citely offer any discounts?
Citely publicly lists the following: Yearly plan at $14 a month.
Does Citely have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Citely is listed for Web.
Does Citely have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Citely is listed for Web.
Is Citely open source?
Citely is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Citely integrate with?
Citely's listing names Crossref, OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, PubMed and arXiv.
Who makes Citely?
Citely is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Citely?
The closest alternatives to Citely in our directory are Scite, Scholarcy, Paperguide, SciSpace and Keenious.
How does Citely compare with other AI research tools?
Citely's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 16 of the 69 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 14.
Is Citely good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Citely C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $14 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 34 of the 48 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Citely?
To replace Citely 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 Citely’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Citely's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Citely. Prices change, so check citely.ai before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Citely, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/citely
- 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, "Citely: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/citely
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/citely/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after Citely, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Research Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 AI research tools we grade, compared
- Ai2 Asta Insider's GuideAI research assistant for finding papers and analyzing data3.2 GPA
- Brave Search Insider's GuidePrivate web search engine with its own index and AI answers3.2 GPA
- CORE Insider's GuideOpen access research search backed by a free API3.2 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 Citely’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. Citely is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Citely. Prices and plans change: check citely.ai before you buy.