Connected Papers vs Consensus
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
AI tool · Freemium
Builds a visual graph of papers similar to one you choose, to explore a field quickly.
AI tool · Freemium
An AI search engine that answers questions using findings from peer-reviewed research.
Our verdict
Connected Papers and Consensus solve different research problems. Connected Papers draws a visual map of papers related to one paper you pick, which helps you get oriented in an unfamiliar field and trace what came before and after a work. Consensus is an AI search engine that answers a question by summarizing what peer-reviewed studies report, which suits quick checks of what the evidence says. Neither is a replacement for the other, so choose based on whether you are exploring a topic or looking for an answer.
Pick Connected Papers if you are new to a field and want to see how a paper connects to related prior and follow-up work.
Pick Consensus if you have a specific question and want a quick, evidence-based summary of what published studies say.
| Key difference | Connected Papers | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Visual graph of papers similar to one you choose. | AI search engine answering questions from peer-reviewed research. |
| Best at | Getting oriented in a new field; finding prior and derivative works. | Evidence-based questions and quick scans of research findings. |
| Extra features | Similarity graphs, prior/derivative lists, export to reference managers. | Consensus meter on yes/no questions; study quality indicators. |
| Pricing | Freemium; free plan limits graphs built each month. | Freemium; pricing details not specified here. |
| Platforms | Web only. | Web and Chrome; works with Chrome. |
Written with AI from both products' catalogue entries · updated 2026-10-29
Who each one is for
Choose Connected Papers if you need…
- Getting oriented in a new field
- Finding prior and derivative works
Choose Consensus if you need…
- Evidence-based questions
- Quick scans of research findings
Side-by-side
| Connected Papers | Consensus | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Research & learning · Academic research | Research & learning · Academic research |
| Price | Freemium | Freemium |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Chrome |
| Works with | — | Chrome |
| Hands-on tested by us | Not yet | Not yet |
| Last checked | 2026-10-29 | 2026-10-29 |
What each one is
Connected Papers
Builds a visual graph of papers similar to one you choose, to explore a field quickly. Simple and effective. The free plan limits how many graphs you can build each month.
Consensus
An AI search engine that answers questions using findings from peer-reviewed research. Useful for seeing what studies say at a glance. Study quality varies, and a summary of findings isn't a systematic review.
Best for
Connected Papers
- Getting oriented in a new field
- Finding prior and derivative works
Consensus
- Evidence-based questions
- Quick scans of research findings
Strengths
Connected Papers
- Similarity graphs
- Prior and derivative works lists
- Export to reference managers
Consensus
- Search across peer-reviewed papers
- Consensus meter on yes/no questions
- Study quality indicators
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Connected Papers or Consensus?
Connected Papers and Consensus solve different research problems. Connected Papers draws a visual map of papers related to one paper you pick, which helps you get oriented in an unfamiliar field and trace what came before and after a work. Consensus is an AI search engine that answers a question by summarizing what peer-reviewed studies report, which suits quick checks of what the evidence says. Neither is a replacement for the other, so choose based on whether you are exploring a topic or looking for an answer. Pick Connected Papers if you are new to a field and want to see how a paper connects to related prior and follow-up work. Pick Consensus if you have a specific question and want a quick, evidence-based summary of what published studies say.
What is the difference between Connected Papers and Consensus?
Connected Papers: Builds a visual graph of papers similar to one you choose, to explore a field quickly. Consensus: An AI search engine that answers questions using findings from peer-reviewed research. Connected Papers suits getting oriented in a new field, while Consensus suits evidence-based questions.
Are Connected Papers and Consensus free?
Connected Papers: Freemium. Consensus: Freemium.
What are other alternatives to Connected Papers and Consensus?
Other options people compare them with include Elicit, ResearchRabbit, SciSpace, Scite, Semantic Scholar.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.