Connected Papers
Turn a single academic paper into a visual graph of related work, helping researchers map a field and build literature reviews faster than keyword search.
The verdict on Connected Papers: Researchers starting a literature review who want to see the whole research field at a glance Connected Papers is for researchers starting a literature review who want to see how a research field is structured before diving into individual papers. Pricing: Free (5 graphs/mo) / $3/mo Academic / $10/mo Business. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Best For
Researchers starting a literature review who want to see the whole research field at a glance
Standout Feature
Visual prior and derivative graphs that answer what influenced a paper and what built on it, instantly
TL;DR
A genuinely different way to explore a research field, the monthly graph limit bites on an intensive review.
Alternatives
Overview
Connected Papers visualizes the network of academic papers around any given paper or topic, showing you which papers cite each other, which came before, and which emerged after. Instead of hunting through reference lists and Google Scholar, you see the entire field map visually. Researchers use it at the start of a literature review to understand the space, find seminal works they'd otherwise miss, and identify the most-cited papers in a sub-field. The prior and derivative work graphs are especially valuable for establishing the lineage of ideas in a paper you're reviewing.
Our Take
The visual prior and derivative graphs answer two questions that reference lists can't: what influenced a paper, and what built on it. Coverage is stronger in STEM than in humanities. The free plan allows five graphs per month, which bites hard during an intensive review. At $3 per month for an academic plan, the cost of upgrading is low. Researchers running one-off reviews can probably stay on the free tier; anyone doing sustained literature work in STEM should pay the $3.
Key Features
- Visual paper network
- Prior work graph
- Derivative work graph
- Citation analysis
- Field overview
- Paper similarity scoring
- • Visual format reveals research relationships that linear reference lists hide
- • Prior/derivative graphs answer 'what influenced this' and 'what built on this' instantly
- • Free tier covers most individual researcher needs
- • Monthly graph limit restrictive for intensive literature reviews
- • Coverage better for STEM fields than humanities
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Workflows Using This Tool
Step-by-step playbooks that put Connected Papers to work.