The Paper Digest Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Paper Digest 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.
Paper Digest
The Insider’s Guide
Cited literature reviews, deep research and daily paper digests
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from Paper Digest’s own pages.
Made by Paper Digest · 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 Paper Digest’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Paper Digest’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
Paper Digest is a web research platform that writes literature reviews and research reports with numbered citations, answers questions about uploaded papers, and sends daily digests of new papers by topic. Its index covers papers, patents, grants, clinical trials and experts. The site says it also offers a literature review mode that does not use large language models.
To get you started, here are 7 things to know about Paper Digest, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Several separate tools sit on one site and you choose between them.
- 1
Best for cited literature reviews and daily paper digests
Paper Digest writes cited literature reviews and deep research reports, and sends daily and conference digests.
- 2
It runs on Web
Web.
- 3
Literature review
Takes a topic and writes a review from the most influential papers, patents, grants and trials around it, with a citation for each sentence. An option avoids large language models.
- 4
Deep research reports
Gathers evidence from the index and other sources into a cited report, with a claim-verification mode that collects evidence for and against an argument.
- 5
Academic reader
Upload a PDF or text file, or paste a link, and ask for a summary, the method, the results or any free-form question, answered beside the document.
- 6
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.
- 7
Keep it
To replace Paper Digest 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.
Paper Digest at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Paper Digest, since 2018
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for cited literature reviews and daily paper digests
Paper Digest writes cited literature reviews and deep research reports, and sends daily and conference digests. But its pricing page showed a placeholder table with no real plans, the free limits aren't stated, and the default review text is written by large language models.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No price could be read: the pricing URL showed a template table with placeholder values. With nothing to compare against the category's $10 middle, it sits at C. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The homepage says some features can be tried without signing in and labels several digests free, but the limits aren't stated. |
| Features | C | Literature reviews, deep research, a reader, daily digests and reference manager export. The default review uses large language models for the final prose, with a no-LLM version as a separate option. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Several separate tools sit on one site and you choose between them. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with export to Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote and Obsidian. |
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 Paper Digest is for
- Fits if you want a cited literature review draft for a topic
- Works for someone who wants a daily digest of new papers in their field
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a price, since the pricing page showed placeholders only
- Skip it if you want a desktop or phone app, as only the web is described
- Watch out: free limits aren't stated, only that some features work without signing in
- Watch out: the default literature review uses large language models for its prose
Good to know
Good for
- Researchers who want every sentence of a literature review traced to a source
- People tracking new papers in a field through daily topic digests
- Readers who want to question a single paper in plain language
Worth knowing
- No pricing page could be read: the site's pricing URL shows a template table with placeholder values, so no plans or prices are recorded.
- The homepage says some features can be tried without signing in and labels several daily digests free, but the limits are not stated.
- The default literature review uses large language models for the final prose; the no-LLM version is a separate option.
- Only a web version is described; no desktop or mobile app is listed.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Paper Digest's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
No price could be read: the pricing URL showed a template table with placeholder values.
We could not confirm Paper Digest’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. paperdigest.org has them.
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
Cited literature reviews, deep research and daily paper digests. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, chat assistant, research, citations, documents.
Literature reviews, deep research, a reader, daily digests and reference manager export.
- Literature review
- Takes a topic and writes a review from the most influential papers, patents, grants and trials around it, with a citation for each sentence. An option avoids large language models.
- Deep research reports
- Gathers evidence from the index and other sources into a cited report, with a claim-verification mode that collects evidence for and against an argument.
- Academic reader
- Upload a PDF or text file, or paste a link, and ask for a summary, the method, the results or any free-form question, answered beside the document.
- Daily and conference digests
- Follows new papers by topic, venue or keyword, including arXiv, bioRxiv, PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov feeds, and sends daily updates.
- Reference manager export
- Reviews and reports can be exported as RIS or Markdown for Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote and Obsidian.
- Research library
- Members can save documents with notes, tags and reading status, and publish a reading list or researcher profile.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Zotero
- Mendeley
- EndNote
- Obsidian
Paper Digest is made by Paper Digest, and has been around since 2018.
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
Paper Digest'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 platforms and integrations (B, above 16 of 49) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 50 AI research tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Paper Digest’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 6 of 49
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 49
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 49
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 49
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 16 of 49
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 Paper Digest 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.
What you could make
- Documents: 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. Paper Digest’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, Elicit, Scholarcy, Paperguide and Consensus
The 5 tools Paper Digest 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.
- SciSpace has a free plan. Paper Digest does not.
- Only SciSpace lists an iOS app.
- Only SciSpace lists a browser extension.
- 2.4GPA
Elicit
Free plan · from $49/mo
AI research assistant for literature search and systematic reviews.
- Elicit has a free plan. Paper Digest does not.
- Only Elicit lists a browser extension.
- Paper Digest also covers chat assistant and documents.
- 2.6GPA
Scholarcy
Free plan · from $90/yr
Summarizes research papers into interactive flashcards.
- Scholarcy has a free plan. Paper Digest does not.
- Only Scholarcy lists a browser extension.
- Paper Digest also covers chat assistant and documents.
- 2.6GPA
Paperguide
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature and systematic reviews.
- Paperguide has a free plan. Paper Digest does not.
- Only Paperguide lists a browser extension.
- Paper Digest also covers documents.
- 2.6GPA
Consensus
Free plan
AI search engine that answers questions from peer-reviewed papers.
- Consensus has a free plan. Paper Digest does not.
- Only Consensus lists an Android app.
- Paper Digest also covers chat assistant and documents.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
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 Paper Digest free?
Paper Digest has a free plan.
What platforms does Paper Digest work on?
Paper Digest is available on Web.
Does Paper Digest have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Paper Digest is listed for Web.
Does Paper Digest have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Paper Digest is listed for Web.
Is Paper Digest open source?
Paper Digest is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Paper Digest integrate with?
Paper Digest's listing names Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote and Obsidian. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Paper Digest?
Paper Digest is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2018.
What are the alternatives to Paper Digest?
The closest alternatives to Paper Digest in our directory are SciSpace, Elicit, Scholarcy, Paperguide and Consensus.
How does Paper Digest compare with other AI research tools?
Paper Digest's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 7 of the 49 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 11.
Could I make my own version of Paper Digest?
To replace Paper Digest 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 Paper Digest’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 Paper Digest'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 Paper Digest. Prices change, so check paperdigest.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
- Paper Digest, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/paper-digest
- 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, "Paper Digest: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/paper-digest
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/paper-digest/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after Paper Digest, 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 Paper Digest’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. Paper Digest is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Paper Digest. Prices and plans change: check paperdigest.org before you buy.