The Connected Papers Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Connected Papers 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.
Connected Papers
The Insider’s Guide
Visual graphs of similar academic papers for literature search
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from Connected Papers’s own pages.
Made by Connected Papers · checked Oct 9, 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 Connected Papers’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Connected Papers’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 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
Connected Papers is a web tool that builds a visual graph of the papers most closely related to one you choose. Papers are placed by similarity, measured through co-citation and bibliographic coupling, so related work clusters together even when the papers do not cite each other. It draws on the Semantic Scholar corpus, and separate views list the prior and derivative works for the starting paper.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Connected Papers, taken from its own pages and our grades.
A map is all you get: no assistant, no summaries and no PDF chat.
- 1
Best for seeing a research field as a map
Connected Papers draws a map of the papers most like one you give it, even when they don't cite each other.
- 2
Paid plans start at $6 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $6 per month, billed annually ($72).
- 3
There is a free plan
5 graphs per month with every feature included, among them prior and derivative works, multi-origin graphs, saved papers and graph history.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Similarity graphs
Each graph is built by analyzing about 50,000 papers and keeping the few dozen most strongly connected to the origin paper, arranged so that similar papers sit close together.
- 6
Prior and derivative works
The Prior Works view lists important ancestor papers in the field, and the Derivative Works view lists literature reviews and recent papers that followed the origin paper.
- 7
Multi-origin graphs
A paper found in a graph can be added as another origin, so that one graph is built around several starting papers instead of one.
- 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 Connected Papers 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.
Connected Papers at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $6 per month, billed annually ($72)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Connected Papers
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for seeing a research field as a map
Connected Papers draws a map of the papers most like one you give it, even when they don't cite each other. A map is all you get: no assistant, no summaries and no PDF chat. Free is 5 graphs a month, unlimited is $6 a month only with the year paid up front, commercial work needs Business at $20, prices change with where you are, and it's a website with no app or API.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Unlimited graphs are $6 a month on Academic, the low end of this category, but that's the year paid up front at $72. Quarterly it's $10, and commercial work needs Business at $20 a month, which is the dear end here. Prices are set by where you are, so yours may differ. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Every feature is in the free plan. The problem is the count: 5 graphs a month. Two or three sittings with a new topic and that's the month gone, so it's a cap you will hit. |
| Features | C | It does its own job fully: each graph is built from about 50,000 papers, with views for the prior works and for what came after, more starting papers if you want them, and a .bib download. But drawing a citation map is a smaller job than this category's. Nothing here reads a paper for you. |
| Ease of use | B | No App Store rating on record, so this rests on what the listing shows: paste a DOI, an arXiv link or just a title and the graph appears, with nothing to install and no account to connect. Similar papers sit close together, so there's little to learn. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web and nothing else. The listing shows no phone app, no extension and no API. It reads Semantic Scholar's corpus and takes arXiv and PubMed links, but that's where it gets its papers, not somewhere you plug it in. The .bib download is your only way out. |
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 Connected Papers is for
- Fits if you have one key paper and want to see the field around it
- Works for checking a bibliography for a paper you missed, a few times a month
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want an AI to answer questions or summarize papers, as this draws maps and stops there
- Tight if you're staying free and deep in a review, at 5 graphs a month
- Pricey if your work is commercial, since that needs Business at $20 a month billed yearly or $30 a month billed quarterly
- Watch out: prices are set by where you are, plans renew on their own, and refunds cover only overlapping coverage
- Not for you if you want it on a phone or inside other tools, as it's web only with no app, extension or API
Good to know
Good for
- Getting a visual overview of an unfamiliar research field from one known paper
- Checking a bibliography for important papers that were missed
- Occasional users who need no more than 5 graphs a month
Worth knowing
- Free accounts are limited to 5 graphs per month; unlimited graphs need a paid plan.
- Prices are set by visitor location. The US prices here come from an Internet Archive copy of the pricing page's own price data, captured on October 1, 2026.
- The Academic plan is restricted to academic, non-profit and personal use; for-profit work needs the Business plan.
- Subscriptions run for a full year or quarter and renew automatically, and the terms allow refunds only for overlapping coverage.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$6
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Connected Papers has a free plan. Paid plans start at $6 per month, billed annually ($72).
Prices are set by where you are, so yours may differ.
Free
$0
5 graphs per month, with all features included.
Academic
$6
per month, billed annually ($72); $10 billed quarterly ($30)
Unlimited graphs for academics, non-profits and personal use. Commercial use is not allowed on this plan.
Business
$20
per month, billed annually ($240); $30 billed quarterly ($90)
Unlimited graphs for commercial use in business and industry.
The free plan
5 graphs per month with every feature included, among them prior and derivative works, multi-origin graphs, saved papers and graph history.
Read from web.archive.org on Oct 9, 2026, where its own pages could not be read.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Annual billing costs up to 40% less
Academic works out to $6 a month billed annually against $10 billed quarterly, and Business to $20 against $30. The pricing page offers both billing cycles.
Stated on connectedpapers.comOther savings
Scholarship program for those who cannot pay
The pricing FAQ says researchers who cannot afford a subscription can email the scholarships address to request a discounted or free Premium plan.
Stated on connectedpapers.comBy country
Lower price shown to buyers in India
On October 9, 2026 the pricing page showed Academic at $3 a month, billed annually ($36), to a reader in India. Its US price data, archived on October 1, 2026, gives $72 a year ($6 a month).
Stated on connectedpapers.com
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
Visual graphs of similar academic papers for literature search. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: research, citations.
But drawing a citation map is a smaller job than this category's.
- Similarity graphs
- Each graph is built by analyzing about 50,000 papers and keeping the few dozen most strongly connected to the origin paper, arranged so that similar papers sit close together.
- Prior and derivative works
- The Prior Works view lists important ancestor papers in the field, and the Derivative Works view lists literature reviews and recent papers that followed the origin paper.
- Multi-origin graphs
- A paper found in a graph can be added as another origin, so that one graph is built around several starting papers instead of one.
- Saved papers and graph history
- Papers can be saved to a list and earlier graphs reopened from a history. Graphs, saved papers and history can each be downloaded as a .bib file.
- Search by title or identifier
- Start a graph from keywords, a paper title, a DOI, or a paper URL from arXiv, Semantic Scholar or PubMed.
- Group plans
- On group plans, administrators assign premium access to members from a pool of purchased seats on one invoice, at the same price per seat. Seats added mid-cycle are charged pro rata.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Semantic Scholar
- arXiv
- PubMed
Connected Papers is made by Connected Papers.
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
Connected Papers'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 value for money (B, above 18 of 27) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $6 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 1 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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. Connected Papers’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 18 of 27
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 27
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 27
- BEase of useAbove 13 of 27
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Connected Papers 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 Connected Papers 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 $72 a year.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- Citation records for millions of papers.
What this rests on. Connected Papers’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
ResearchRabbit, Litmaps, Inciteful and Semantic Scholar
The 4 tools Connected Papers is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
ResearchRabbit
Free plan · from $10/mo
Literature discovery tool that maps how papers connect.
- 2.0GPA
Litmaps
Free plan · from $10/mo
Literature review tool that maps papers by their citations.
- 2.8GPA
Inciteful
Free
Free citation-network tools for exploring academic papers.
- Inciteful is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Semantic Scholar
Free
Free AI-powered search engine for scientific literature.
- Only Semantic Scholar lists a browser extension.
- Semantic Scholar also covers AI search.
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 Connected Papers free?
Connected Papers has a free plan. 5 graphs per month with every feature included, among them prior and derivative works, multi-origin graphs, saved papers and graph history.
How much does Connected Papers cost?
Connected Papers lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Connected Papers work on?
Connected Papers is available on Web.
Does Connected Papers offer any discounts?
Connected Papers publicly lists the following: Annual billing costs up to 40% less; Scholarship program for those who cannot pay; Lower price shown to buyers in India.
Does Connected Papers have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Connected Papers is listed for Web.
Does Connected Papers have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Connected Papers is listed for Web.
Is Connected Papers open source?
Connected Papers is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Connected Papers integrate with?
Connected Papers's listing names Semantic Scholar, arXiv and PubMed. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Connected Papers?
Connected Papers is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Connected Papers?
The closest alternatives to Connected Papers in our directory are ResearchRabbit, Litmaps, Inciteful and Semantic Scholar.
How does Connected Papers compare with other AI research tools?
Connected Papers's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 6 of the 27 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 8.
Is Connected Papers good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Connected Papers B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $6 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 1 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Connected Papers?
To replace Connected Papers 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 Connected Papers’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Connected Papers' own pages on 5 October 2026. Its US prices come from an archived copy of the site's own price data, because the site sets prices by country. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-01.
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 Connected Papers. Prices change, so check connectedpapers.com 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
- Connected Papers, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/connected-papers
- 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, "Connected Papers: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/connected-papers
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/connected-papers/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after Connected Papers, 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 Connected Papers’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. Connected Papers is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Connected Papers. Prices and plans change: check connectedpapers.com before you buy.