The Open Knowledge Maps Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Open Knowledge Maps 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.
Open Knowledge Maps
The Insider’s Guide
Free visual maps of a research topic from open scholarly sources
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from Open Knowledge Maps’s own pages.
Made by Open Knowledge Maps · 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 Open Knowledge Maps’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Open Knowledge Maps’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
3.0
GPA, above 63 of the 69 other AI research tools we grade
Open Knowledge Maps is a free discovery tool from a charitable non-profit. You type a topic and it builds an interactive map that groups the top results into labeled areas, so a newcomer can see the themes of a field before reading. It searches open indexes such as BASE and PubMed, and the maps are based on metadata only.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Open Knowledge Maps, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for a free visual map of an unfamiliar research topic
We'd treat it as a first look at a field, not a literature search.
- 2
It is free
Open Knowledge Maps has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Topic maps
A search produces an interactive map of the top 100 results, grouped by topic similarity into labeled areas you can open.
- 5
Open data sources
Maps are built from BASE, PubMed and OpenAIRE records, with BASE covering more than 400 million outputs from over 11,000 sources.
- 6
Open access emphasis
Open access resources are highlighted, and most can be read inside the interface or are one click from the full text.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 63 of 69
That is against the other AI research tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Open Knowledge Maps is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Open Knowledge Maps at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Open Knowledge Maps
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free visual map of an unfamiliar research topic
Open Knowledge Maps turns a search into a map of the top 100 results, grouped into labelled areas, and costs nothing. It groups by titles and abstracts only, so papers outside those 100 results never show up and nothing is ranked by quality. We'd treat it as a first look at a field, not a literature search.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free outright, and the site shows no paid tier for individual users. Category tools start at $7.92 a month for the cheaper quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Every map is free with no plan to move up to, and the site shows no cap a normal person would hit. |
| Features | C | Builds topic maps from BASE, PubMed and OpenAIRE records. It does that job fully, but it is a small job: the top 100 results only, metadata not full text. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but you type a topic and wait about 30 seconds for the map. Nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only. BASE, PubMed, OpenAIRE and ORCID are where the records come from, and no API is 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 Open Knowledge Maps is for
- Fits if you are new to a field and want its themes before you read anything
- Works for librarians running a discovery workshop on open sources
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need every relevant paper, as each map holds only the top 100 results
- Not for you if you want papers ranked by quality, because it groups by metadata and does not rank
- Too light for a full literature search, since it never reads full texts
- Watch out: each map takes about 30 seconds because every query runs live
Good to know
Good for
- Students entering an unfamiliar research field
- Librarians running discovery workshops
- Anyone who wants a free overview before a literature search
Worth knowing
- Each map uses only the top 100 results, so important papers can be missing from it.
- Maps take around 30 seconds to build, because each query is processed live.
- Grouping uses metadata, not full text, and it does not rank papers by quality.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Open Knowledge Maps is free to use.
Free outright, and the site shows no paid tier for individual users.
Free
$0
Create knowledge maps from the search page; the site shows no paid tier for individual users.
Read from openknowledgemaps.org on Nov 13, 2026.
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
Free visual maps of a research topic from open scholarly sources. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, research, mind mapping.
Builds topic maps from BASE, PubMed and OpenAIRE records.
- Topic maps
- A search produces an interactive map of the top 100 results, grouped by topic similarity into labeled areas you can open.
- Open data sources
- Maps are built from BASE, PubMed and OpenAIRE records, with BASE covering more than 400 million outputs from over 11,000 sources.
- Open access emphasis
- Open access resources are highlighted, and most can be read inside the interface or are one click from the full text.
- Metadata-only grouping
- Clusters come from titles, abstracts, authors, journals and subject keywords, not from reading full texts; the site says it has no hallucinations.
- Custom services for organizations
- Institutions can embed Open Knowledge Maps' discovery tools in their own systems through a separate offering.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- BASE
- PubMed
- OpenAIRE
- ORCID
Open Knowledge Maps is made by Open Knowledge Maps.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
63/69
Other AI research tools it is graded above
Open Knowledge Maps's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 63 of the 69 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 61 of 69) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Open Knowledge Maps has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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 70 AI research tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Open Knowledge Maps’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 58 of 69
- AFree plan and trialAbove 61 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. Open Knowledge Maps 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
Open Knowledge Maps is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 63 of the 69 other AI research tools we grade.
What you could make
- Mind mapping: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Open Knowledge Maps’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
Connected Papers, Litmaps, ResearchRabbit, Semantic Scholar and CORE
The 5 tools Open Knowledge Maps is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Connected Papers
Free plan · from $6/mo
Visual graphs of similar academic papers for literature search.
- Open Knowledge Maps also covers mind mapping.
- Connected Papers also covers citations.
- 2.0GPA
Litmaps
Free plan · from $10/mo
Literature review tool that maps papers by their citations.
- Open Knowledge Maps also covers mind mapping.
- Litmaps also covers citations.
- 2.2GPA
ResearchRabbit
Free plan · from $10/mo
Literature discovery tool that maps how papers connect.
- Open Knowledge Maps also covers mind mapping.
- ResearchRabbit also covers citations.
- 3.2GPA
Semantic Scholar
Free
Free AI-powered search engine for scientific literature.
- Only Semantic Scholar lists a browser extension.
- Open Knowledge Maps also covers mind mapping.
- Semantic Scholar also covers AI search and citations.
- 3.2GPA
CORE
Free
Open access research search backed by a free API.
- Open Knowledge Maps also covers mind mapping.
- CORE also covers AI search.
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 Open Knowledge Maps free?
Yes. Open Knowledge Maps is free to use.
How much does Open Knowledge Maps cost?
Open Knowledge Maps lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Open Knowledge Maps work on?
Open Knowledge Maps is available on Web.
Does Open Knowledge Maps have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Open Knowledge Maps is listed for Web.
Does Open Knowledge Maps have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Open Knowledge Maps is listed for Web.
Is Open Knowledge Maps open source?
Open Knowledge Maps is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Open Knowledge Maps integrate with?
Open Knowledge Maps's listing names BASE, PubMed, OpenAIRE and ORCID. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Open Knowledge Maps?
Open Knowledge Maps is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Open Knowledge Maps?
The closest alternatives to Open Knowledge Maps in our directory are Connected Papers, Litmaps, ResearchRabbit, Semantic Scholar and CORE.
How does Open Knowledge Maps compare with other AI research tools?
Open Knowledge Maps's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 63 of the 69 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 1.
Is Open Knowledge Maps good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Open Knowledge Maps A for value for money. Open Knowledge Maps has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Open Knowledge Maps?
Open Knowledge Maps is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Open Knowledge Maps’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 Open Knowledge Maps'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 Open Knowledge Maps. Prices change, so check openknowledgemaps.org 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
- Open Knowledge Maps, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/open-knowledge-maps
- 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, "Open Knowledge Maps: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/open-knowledge-maps
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/open-knowledge-maps/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after Open Knowledge Maps, 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 Open Knowledge Maps’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. Open Knowledge Maps is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Open Knowledge Maps. Prices and plans change: check openknowledgemaps.org before you buy.