The Liner Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Liner 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.
Liner
The Insider’s Guide
AI search with cited answers, research agents and a writer
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from Liner’s own pages.
Made by Liner · 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 Liner’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Liner’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
2.6
GPA, above 15 of the 27 other AI research tools we grade
Liner is an AI search and research tool sold as three products on one subscription. Liner answers questions with a citation on each line and can run Deep Research reports, Liner Scholar adds agents for literature reviews, citation recommendations and hypothesis work over an index of more than 480 million papers, and Liner Write drafts and edits documents. It has web, desktop and mobile apps and browser extensions, plus a search API for developers.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Liner, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for AI answers with a source on every line
Liner is AI search with a citation on every line of an answer, and one subscription also covers Liner Scholar's research agents and a writing tool.
- 2
Paid plans start at $14.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $14.99 per month, billed annually ($17.99 billed monthly).
- 3
There is a free plan
Unlimited Advanced Search with ads in the answers, 1 file upload a day of up to 25 MB and 10 Research Assistant uses a day.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Cited answers
Answers carry a citation on each line that opens the source. Follow-up questions continue the thread, and an answer can be turned into a mind map.
- 6
Deep Research
Gathers information on a topic and returns it as an organized report while showing its line of reasoning. Each request uses 40 agent credits.
- 7
Liner Scholar agents
Agents for academic work include Literature Review, Citation Recommender, Research Tracer, Hypothesis Generator and Peer Review. Each request costs between 30 and 80 credits.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 15 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 Liner 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.
Liner at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $14.99 per month, billed annually ($17.99 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Liner
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.4 on the App Store, 1,371 ratings
The report card
Best for AI answers with a source on every line
Liner is AI search with a citation on every line of an answer, and one subscription also covers Liner Scholar's research agents and a writing tool. The free plan puts ads in your answers and allows 1 upload a day, and the agents run on credits that paid plans ration: Pro's 1,000 go at 30 to 80 a request. Scholar and Write are desktop only, there are no refunds, and unlimited uploads mean Max at $29.99.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Pro is $14.99 a month billed annually, or $17.99 monthly, which sits above this category's middle of about $12. It does cover all three products and drop the ads. But the agents run on credits: Pro gets 1,000 and one Deep Research request spends 40, and unlimited uploads mean Max at $29.99. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Advanced Search is unlimited, but the rest is thin: ads in the answers, 1 file upload a day, and the plan table lists 0 agent credits, though the FAQ says there are some. So Deep Research and the Scholar agents, the reason you'd come here, are shut. Caps you'll hit. |
| Features | B | It covers the whole job: a citation on every line of an answer, Deep Research reports, Scholar agents for literature reviews, citation finding and peer review across 480 million papers, and Liner Write for the drafting. What it hasn't got is a trick its rivals lack. |
| Ease of use | C | 4.4 on the App Store from 1,371 ratings, which is middling rather than good: our higher band starts at 4.5. Asking a question is simple enough, but credits are the thing to learn, since each agent request costs between 30 and 80 of them. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android and extensions for Chrome and Edge, plus a search API and MCP servers that hand its scholar search to other AI agents. The catch is that Liner Scholar and Liner Write are desktop only. |
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 Liner is for
- Fits if you want every line of an AI answer tied to a source you can open
- Works for students drafting a literature review or hunting for citations, on a desktop
Who it is not for
- Skip it if ads in your answers would bother you and you don't plan to pay
- Tight if you lean on the agents, since Pro's 1,000 credits go at 30 to 80 a request
- Not for you if you do your research on a phone, as Liner Scholar and Liner Write are desktop only
- Watch out: Liner doesn't offer refunds, so cancel before the renewal date
- Too light for agent work on the free plan, which allows 1 upload a day and lists 0 agent credits
Good to know
Good for
- People who want every line of an AI answer tied to a source
- Students drafting a literature review or looking for citations
- Users who want search, research and writing on one subscription
- Small teams: the Team plan covers 2 to 20 members
Worth knowing
- The free plan shows ads in answers and allows 1 file upload a day; the plan table lists 0 agent credits for it, though the FAQ mentions limited credits.
- Agents and external models spend credits: Pro includes 1,000 and Max 2,500, and one Literature Review request uses 40.
- The site's FAQ says Liner Scholar and Liner Write are supported only on desktop.
- Liner does not offer refunds; a subscription can be canceled before it renews.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$14.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Liner has a free plan. Paid plans start at $14.99 per month, billed annually ($17.99 billed monthly).
It does cover all three products and drop the ads.
Free
$0
Unlimited Advanced Search with ads in the answers, 1 file upload a day of up to 25 MB and 10 Research Assistant uses a day.
Pro
$14.99
per month, billed annually; $17.99 billed monthly
1,000 agent credits, 20 file uploads a day of up to 100 MB, ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude models, and no ads. Covers Liner, Liner Scholar and Liner Write.
Max
$29.99
per month, billed annually; $35.99 billed monthly
Everything in Pro with 2,500 agent credits and unlimited file uploads of up to 200 MB each.
Team
$26.99
per seat / month
For 2 to 20 members: everything in Max plus central billing, a workspace with admin controls and team data excluded from AI training.
Enterprise
Custom
Everything in Team plus a dedicated manager, onboarding sessions, audit logs and higher discount rates.
The free plan
Unlimited Advanced Search with ads in the answers, 1 file upload a day of up to 25 MB and 10 Research Assistant uses a day.
Read from liner.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Lower monthly rate with annual billing
The pricing page labels annual billing as saving 20%. Pro is $14.99 a month billed annually against $17.99 monthly, and Max is $29.99 against $35.99, about 17% less.
Stated on liner.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Professional Yearly”, against $175.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺6.999,99 | $142.35 | 19% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 9,990.00 | $159.02 | 10% less |
| Canada | $229.99 | $161.67 | 8% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 2,999juta | $167.72 | about the same |
| Mexico | $3,999.00 | $219.72 | 25% more |
| Germany | 199,99 € | $224.11 | 27% more |
| United Kingdom | £179.99 | $237.95 | 35% more |
| South Africa | R3,999.99 | $241.94 | 37% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Browser extension
AI search with cited answers, research agents and a writer. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI search, AI agents, research, citations, long-form writing, highlights.
What it hasn't got is a trick its rivals lack.
- Cited answers
- Answers carry a citation on each line that opens the source. Follow-up questions continue the thread, and an answer can be turned into a mind map.
- Deep Research
- Gathers information on a topic and returns it as an organized report while showing its line of reasoning. Each request uses 40 agent credits.
- Liner Scholar agents
- Agents for academic work include Literature Review, Citation Recommender, Research Tracer, Hypothesis Generator and Peer Review. Each request costs between 30 and 80 credits.
- File uploads
- Upload papers and PDFs to get summaries and ask questions about them: 1 file a day on Free, 20 a day on Pro and unlimited on Max.
- Liner Write
- A writing workspace that drafts from a topic, shapes ideas into emails, newsletters and reports, and lets you search and edit in the same window.
- Search API and MCP
- Developers can call Liner's search and answer agents through an API, and MCP servers expose its web search and scholar search to other AI agents.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
- ChatGPT
- Gemini
- Claude
- Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
Liner is made by Liner.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
15/27
Other AI research tools it is graded above
Liner's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 15 of the 27 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 26 of 27) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $14.99 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 17 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 28 AI research tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Liner’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 4 of 27
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 27
- BFeaturesAbove 15 of 27
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 27
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 26 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. Liner 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 Liner 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.
It costs $179.88 a year.
What you could make
- Long-form writing and highlights: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- Citation records for millions of papers.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude among them, and has an API.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Liner’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
Perplexity, SciSpace, Elicit, Consensus and Paperguide
The 5 tools Liner is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Perplexity
Free plan · from $17/mo
AI search assistant that answers questions with cited sources.
- Only Liner lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Liner also covers AI agents, research, citations, long-form writing and highlights.
- Perplexity also covers chat assistant.
- 2.4GPA
SciSpace
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature review and reading papers.
- Only Liner lists macOS, Windows and Android apps.
- Liner also covers long-form writing and highlights.
- SciSpace also covers chat assistant.
- 2.4GPA
Elicit
Free plan · from $49/mo
AI research assistant for literature search and systematic reviews.
- Only Liner lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Liner also covers long-form writing and highlights.
- 2.6GPA
Consensus
Free plan
AI search engine that answers questions from peer-reviewed papers.
- Only Liner lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Only Liner lists a browser extension.
- Liner also covers long-form writing and highlights.
- 2.6GPA
Paperguide
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature and systematic reviews.
- Only Liner lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Liner also covers highlights.
- Paperguide also covers chat assistant.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
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 Liner free?
Liner has a free plan. Unlimited Advanced Search with ads in the answers, 1 file upload a day of up to 25 MB and 10 Research Assistant uses a day.
How much does Liner cost?
Liner lists 5 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Liner work on?
Liner is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does Liner offer any discounts?
Liner publicly lists the following: Lower monthly rate with annual billing.
How is Liner rated?
Liner's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1,371 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Liner have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Liner is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is Liner open source?
Liner is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Liner have an API?
Yes. Liner offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Liner integrate with?
Liner's listing names ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
Who makes Liner?
Liner is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Liner?
The closest alternatives to Liner in our directory are Perplexity, SciSpace, Elicit, Consensus and Paperguide.
How does Liner compare with other AI research tools?
Liner's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 15 of the 27 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 5.
Is Liner good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Liner C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $14.99 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 17 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Liner?
To replace Liner 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 Liner’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 Liner's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-20.
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 Liner. Prices change, so check liner.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
- Liner, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/liner
- 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, "Liner: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/liner
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/liner/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after Liner, 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 Liner’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. Liner is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Liner. Prices and plans change: check liner.com before you buy.