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Consensus

Consensus is an AI-powered academic search engine that allows researchers to search and analyze over 200 million peer...

Updated Jun 2026· 70/100
research#do-research#analyze-data#automate-workflows
Free plan

About Consensus

Consensus is an AI-powered academic search engine that allows researchers to search and analyze over 200 million peer-reviewed research papers. Used by 10 million researchers, students, and clinicians across 170+ university libraries, it automates literature reviews through features like Deep Search that can turn days of research into minutes. Pricing starts with a free tier for basic searches, with Pro plans offering unlimited searches plus 15 Deep Searches per month.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Access to 250M+ peer-reviewed research papers including licensed full-text content from leading publishers like Sage and ACS
  • Deep Search feature automates literature review by building comprehensive search strategies, expanding key terms, identifying conflicting arguments, and exploring citation graphs
  • Institutional adoption with partnerships at 170+ university libraries and 10 million active users including researchers, students, and clinicians
  • Browser extension integration brings results directly into Google Scholar and PubMed search workflows
  • Works best for yes/no questions and relationship queries (e.g., 'Is Sauna beneficial for blood pressure') according to user reviews

Cons

  • Open-ended questions or queries requiring numbers, explanations, or logical reasoning may not produce excellent results as of 2025
  • Free tier provides only essential search functionalities with limited access to advanced features
  • Deep Search is limited to 15 searches per month even on the Pro plan, which may be restrictive for heavy users

Compare key features

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Feature
Consensus
Paxton AI
Lexis+ AI
Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Freemium
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Yes
Free trial
No
Yes
No
API
Self-hosted
No
No
Team support
Yes
Yes

Frequently asked questions

Is Consensus free?+

Yes, Consensus offers a free tier that provides access to essential search functionalities, allowing users to explore and search the platform. However, advanced features like unlimited Pro Searches and Deep Search (limited to 15 per month) require upgrading to the paid Pro plan.

What does Consensus integrate with?+

Consensus offers a browser extension that integrates directly with Google Scholar and PubMed, bringing citation badges and search results into these platforms. The research did not mention other specific integrations — check the official website for a complete list.

How does Consensus compare to alternatives?+

Compared to alternatives like Elicit (which uses Semantic Scholar integration) and Scite (which specializes in citation validation with Smart Citations), Consensus focuses on AI-powered search across 250M+ papers with Deep Search automation. Scite is noted as complementary for researchers who want citation validation, while Elicit may be stronger for complex datasets. Consensus is distinguished by its institutional partnerships with 170+ university libraries.

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