The Moonlight Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Moonlight 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.
Moonlight
The Insider’s Guide
AI reader for research papers with explanations and translation
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from Moonlight’s own pages.
Made by Corca, Inc. · 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 Moonlight’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Moonlight’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
Moonlight is a web-based PDF reader for research papers with AI built into the viewer. You select a passage, figure, table or equation to get an explanation in context, chat about the paper, translate it line by line, and see citation details without leaving the page. A library organizes papers, and plans differ in which AI models they can use.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Moonlight, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Upload a paper and read, but features like deep search take some learning.
- 1
Best for reading research papers with in-context explanations
Moonlight is an AI reader for research papers with explanations, translation and a library.
- 2
Paid plans start at $10 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $10 per month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly).
- 3
There is a free plan
Unlimited document access, with AI features limited to 3 papers a week.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Explain in context
Select any part of a paper to get an explanation of the passage, a figure, a table or an equation, without copying and pasting.
- 6
Layout-preserving translation
Translates a paper line by line, aligned with the original, and can translate whole pages.
- 7
Smart citations
Shows details of a cited reference in a preview so you can check it without leaving your place in the paper.
- 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 Moonlight 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.
Moonlight at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $10 per month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, Browser extension
- Made by
- Corca, Inc.
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for reading research papers with in-context explanations
Moonlight is an AI reader for research papers with explanations, translation and a library. The free plan lets you open unlimited papers but only 3 a week get AI features, and the models you can use depend on a plan that goes up to $49 a month.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Pro is $10 a month billed yearly ($12 monthly), the category's middle. Premium, which adds Claude and Gemini Pro models, is $49. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A free plan with unlimited document access and AI on 3 papers a week, on two base models. A reader doing more than 3 a week will hit it. |
| Features | C | Explanations in context, layout-preserving translation, citations, chat and summary and a library. Several features are marked Limited on Free. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. Upload a paper and read, but features like deep search take some learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web and a Chrome extension. No desktop or mobile app was found, and no integrations 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 Moonlight is for
- Fits if you read a few papers a week and want explanations beside the text
- Works for readers who need a paper translated with its layout kept
Who it is not for
- Tight if you stay free: AI features on only 3 papers a week
- Pricey if you want Claude or Gemini Pro models, which means Premium at $49 a month
- Watch out: Team plans are priced by seat tier and the billing basis isn't shown
- Watch out: no desktop or mobile app, and no integrations are listed
Good to know
Good for
- Graduate students reading papers in a second language
- Researchers who want explanations beside the PDF rather than in a separate chat
- Labs that want a shared plan with per-seat discounts
Worth knowing
- The Free plan limits AI features to 3 papers a week, and several features are marked Limited there.
- Which AI models you can use depends on the plan: Premium adds the most expensive ones, including Claude and Gemini Pro models.
- Team plans are priced per user in seat tiers (1-3, 4-15, 16-29), with 30 or more seats handled through a partnership; the Team billing basis is not shown.
- The homepage source links a Chrome Web Store listing; no desktop or mobile app was found on the pages read.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$10
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Moonlight has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly).
Free
$0
Unlimited document access with limited AI features on 3 papers a week and two base models.
Pro
$10
per month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly)
Unlimited AI-assisted papers, 5 infographic explanations a week and selected advanced models. Marked with a 1-week free trial.
Premium
$49
per month, billed annually ($59 billed monthly)
Everything in Pro with access to all models, including Claude and Gemini Pro models, and 30 infographic explanations a week.
Enterprise
Custom
For larger teams and organizations; contact the vendor. Team seat pricing is shown for 1 to 29 seats.
The free plan
Unlimited document access, with AI features limited to 3 papers a week.
Read from themoonlight.io on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
17% off with annual billing
The pricing page marks the Year option as saving 17-20%; Pro is $10 a month on annual billing against $12 monthly, and Premium $49 against $59.
Stated on themoonlight.io
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Web and Browser extension
AI reader for research papers with explanations and translation. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, chat assistant, research, citations, highlights.
Explanations in context, layout-preserving translation, citations, chat and summary and a library.
- Explain in context
- Select any part of a paper to get an explanation of the passage, a figure, a table or an equation, without copying and pasting.
- Layout-preserving translation
- Translates a paper line by line, aligned with the original, and can translate whole pages.
- Smart citations
- Shows details of a cited reference in a preview so you can check it without leaving your place in the paper.
- Chat and summary
- Ask questions and discuss the paper, and get keywords and a summary of the key points.
- Library and deep search
- Organizes papers in a library and recommends related papers based on what the library holds.
- Markup and auto highlight
- Highlight, annotate and take notes, or let the tool underline key points automatically.
Where it runs
- Web
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Moonlight is made by Corca, Inc.
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
Moonlight'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 ease of use (B, above 29 of 49) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 15 of the 35 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 10 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. Moonlight’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 6 of 49
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 49
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 49
- BEase of useAbove 29 of 49
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Moonlight 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 Moonlight 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 $120 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.
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- Citation records for millions of papers.
What this rests on. Moonlight’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
SciSpace, Explainpaper, alphaXiv, Paperguide and OpenRead
The 5 tools Moonlight is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
SciSpace
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature review and reading papers.
- Only SciSpace lists an iOS app.
- Moonlight also covers highlights.
- SciSpace also covers AI search and AI agents.
- 2.4GPA
Explainpaper
Free plan · from $12/mo
Highlight confusing text in a paper and get a plain explanation.
- Only Moonlight lists a browser extension.
- Moonlight also covers citations.
- Explainpaper also covers documents.
- 2.4GPA
alphaXiv
Free plan · from $8/mo
arXiv reading and discovery site with an AI research assistant.
- Only alphaXiv lists an iOS app.
- Moonlight also covers citations.
- alphaXiv also covers AI search.
- 2.6GPA
Paperguide
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature and systematic reviews.
- Moonlight also covers highlights.
- Paperguide also covers AI search, AI agents and long-form writing.
- 2.0GPA
OpenRead
Free plan
AI platform for searching, reading and comparing papers.
- Only Moonlight lists a browser extension.
- Moonlight also covers citations and highlights.
- OpenRead also covers AI search and notes.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Moonlight free?
Moonlight has a free plan. Unlimited document access, with AI features limited to 3 papers a week.
How much does Moonlight cost?
Moonlight lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Moonlight work on?
Moonlight is available on Web. It also has a browser extension.
Does Moonlight offer any discounts?
Moonlight publicly lists the following: 17% off with annual billing.
Does Moonlight have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Moonlight is listed for Web.
Does Moonlight have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Moonlight is listed for Web.
Is Moonlight open source?
Moonlight is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Moonlight?
Moonlight is made by Corca, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Moonlight?
The closest alternatives to Moonlight in our directory are SciSpace, Explainpaper, alphaXiv, Paperguide and OpenRead.
How does Moonlight compare with other AI research tools?
Moonlight's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 7 of the 49 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 11.
Is Moonlight good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Moonlight C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 15 of the 35 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Moonlight?
To replace Moonlight 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 Moonlight’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 Moonlight'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 Corca, Inc. Prices change, so check themoonlight.io 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
- Moonlight, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/moonlight
- 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, "Moonlight: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/moonlight
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/moonlight/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after Moonlight, 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 Moonlight’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. Moonlight is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Corca, Inc. Prices and plans change: check themoonlight.io before you buy.