The Covidence Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Covidence 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.
Covidence
The Insider’s Guide
Web platform for screening and extracting data in systematic reviews
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from Covidence’s own pages.
Made by Covidence · checked Nov 12, 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 Covidence’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Covidence’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 7 of the 49 other AI research tools we grade
Covidence is a web platform that holds a systematic review in one place: setup, reference import, screening, data extraction, quality assessment and export. Dual screening, blinding and conflict resolution are part of the process. It is owned by the non-profit Future Evidence Foundation.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Covidence, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You set up a review, invite reviewers and set criteria before anything happens.
- 1
Best for screening and extracting data in systematic reviews
Covidence runs a systematic review from import and duplicate removal through screening and data extraction to PRISMA numbers.
- 2
Paid plans start at $28.25 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $339 per year for one review.
- 3
You can try it first
Free trial with 500 records
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Import and deduplication
References come in from EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, RefWorks or RIS, CSV and PubMed XML files, with duplicates removed automatically.
- 6
Dual screening
Independent dual screening, blinding and structured conflict resolution are described as standard, and exclusion reasons are recorded at full-text stage.
- 7
Data extraction and quality assessment
Extraction and quality assessment are steps inside the same review, so the team works on one copy of the data.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 7 of 49
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 Covidence 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.
Covidence at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $339 per year for one review
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free trial with 500 records
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Covidence
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for screening and extracting data in systematic reviews
Covidence runs a systematic review from import and duplicate removal through screening and data extraction to PRISMA numbers. It charges per review, $339 a year for one, and there is no student discount.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | $339 a year for one review, $907 for up to three. That works out to about $28 a month for one review, inside the research category's dearest tenth, which starts at $20. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A free trial with 500 records. The page does not say whether a card is needed, and 500 records is smaller than most reviews. |
| Features | B | Import, dual screening, extraction, quality assessment, mobile screening and PRISMA numbers. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the review work itself. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You set up a review, invite reviewers and set criteria before anything happens. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, with EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, RefWorks and RevMan. No desktop or app-store 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 Covidence is for
- Fits if you're running a systematic review with two reviewers screening
- Works for a team that already keeps its references in EndNote, Zotero or Mendeley
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you're a student: the page says there's no separate student discount
- Tight if you run more than three reviews, as that means several packages or a site license
- Skip it if you just want to read papers, since it only does review screening
- Watch out: each license covers a set number of reviews for 12 months
- Watch out: the trial is 500 records, and there are no apps beyond the browser
Good to know
Good for
- Review teams whose library or institution already holds a license
- Authors of Cochrane-style systematic reviews
- Single reviews bought with a credit card
Worth knowing
- Each paid license covers a set number of reviews for 12 months: 1 for $339 or up to 3 for $907.
- The pricing page says there is no separate student discount, though it offers concessions to review teams in low and lower-middle-income countries.
- More than three reviews means buying several packages or an institutional license.
- The pages read show it as a browser-based service; no desktop or app-store apps are listed.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$28.25
A month to start, paid by the year
Covidence is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $339 per year for one review.
Single
$339
per year for 1 review
One review with unlimited collaborators, valid for 12 months.
Package
$907
per year for up to 3 reviews
Up to 3 reviews with unlimited collaborators, valid for 12 months.
Institutions
Custom
Departmental or organization-wide licenses with unlimited reviews and users, arranged through sales.
Trying it first
Free trial with 500 records
Read from covidence.org on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
Concessions for low and lower-middle-income countries
Review teams based in a low or lower-middle-income country can contact Covidence about using it for their review.
Stated on covidence.org
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
Web platform for screening and extracting data in systematic reviews. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, real-time collaboration, research, citations.
Import, dual screening, extraction, quality assessment, mobile screening and PRISMA numbers.
- Import and deduplication
- References come in from EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, RefWorks or RIS, CSV and PubMed XML files, with duplicates removed automatically.
- Dual screening
- Independent dual screening, blinding and structured conflict resolution are described as standard, and exclusion reasons are recorded at full-text stage.
- Data extraction and quality assessment
- Extraction and quality assessment are steps inside the same review, so the team works on one copy of the data.
- Mobile screening
- Every plan lists title and abstract screening on a phone.
- PRISMA numbers and export
- The site says PRISMA numbers and the audit trail build as the team works, and the review can be exported.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- EndNote
- Zotero
- Mendeley
- RefWorks
- RevMan
Covidence is made by Covidence.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
7/49
Other AI research tools it is graded above
Covidence's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 7 of the 49 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on features (B, above 34 of 49) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $28.25 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 34 of the 35 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 6 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 50 AI research tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Covidence’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 49
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 49
- BFeaturesAbove 34 of 49
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 49
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 16 of 49
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 40 AI research tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Covidence 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 Covidence 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: 31 of the 49 other AI research tools grade higher. It costs $339 a year.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- Citation records for millions of papers.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, EndNote, Zotero and Mendeley among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Covidence’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
Rayyan, Silvi, Elicit, Scite and Iris.ai
The 5 tools Covidence is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Rayyan
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Systematic review screening with AI relevance predictions.
- Rayyan has a free plan. Covidence does not, though it has a free trial.
- 2.6GPA
Silvi
Free plan · from €19/mo
Literature review platform with AI screening and data extraction.
- Silvi has a free plan. Covidence does not, though it has a free trial.
- 2.4GPA
Elicit
Free plan · from $49/mo
AI research assistant for literature search and systematic reviews.
- Elicit has a free plan. Covidence does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Elicit lists a browser extension.
- Elicit also covers AI search and AI agents.
- 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 and AI search.
- 1.6GPA
Iris.ai
Paid
Enterprise tools that turn documents into AI-ready data.
- Covidence also covers citations.
- Iris.ai also covers AI agents and documents.
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 Covidence free?
No, Covidence is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial with 500 records.
How much does Covidence cost?
Covidence lists 3 plans. Single: $339 per year for 1 review.
What platforms does Covidence work on?
Covidence is available on Web.
Does Covidence offer any discounts?
Covidence publicly lists the following: Concessions for low and lower-middle-income countries.
Does Covidence have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Covidence is listed for Web.
Does Covidence have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Covidence is listed for Web.
Is Covidence open source?
Covidence is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Covidence integrate with?
Covidence's listing names EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, RefWorks and RevMan.
Who makes Covidence?
Covidence is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Covidence?
The closest alternatives to Covidence in our directory are Rayyan, Silvi, Elicit, Scite and Iris.ai.
How does Covidence compare with other AI research tools?
Covidence's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 7 of the 49 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 11.
Is Covidence good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Covidence D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $28.25 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 34 of the 35 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Covidence?
To replace Covidence 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 Covidence’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Covidence's own pages on 12 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 Covidence. Prices change, so check covidence.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Covidence, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/covidence
- 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, "Covidence: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/covidence
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/covidence/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after Covidence, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Research Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 50 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 Covidence’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. Covidence is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Covidence. Prices and plans change: check covidence.org before you buy.