Consensus
Find evidence-backed answers from millions of research papers instantly.
Quick verdict
Consensus is a freemium AI-powered research search engine that helps users find scientific evidence by searching and synthesizing insights from over 200 million peer-reviewed academic papers. Rather than returning a list of links, Consensus uses large language models to extract key claims and consensus points directly from published research, giving users clear, citation-backed answers to their questions. It is especially useful for students, academics, healthcare professionals, journalists, and curious individuals who want reliable, science-grounded information without needing access to academic databases or expertise in reading dense journal articles. What makes Consensus stand out is its ability to surface the degree of scientific agreement on a topic—showing whether the research community largely agrees, disagrees, or remains divided on a given question. This makes it an invaluable tool for evidence-based decision-making, literature reviews, and staying up-to-date with the latest findings across disciplines like medicine, psychology, nutrition, and climate science.
Key features
- ▸AI-powered synthesis of findings from 200M+ peer-reviewed papers
- ▸Consensus Meter showing degree of scientific agreement on a topic
- ▸GPT-4 powered Copilot for deeper paper analysis and summaries
- ▸Citation export and reference management integration
Pros & cons
- +Saves enormous time by aggregating and summarizing scientific literature automatically
- +Provides direct citations so users can verify claims at the source
- +Easy to use for non-experts who lack access to traditional academic databases
- −Free tier has limited monthly searches, restricting heavy users
- −Coverage may be uneven across niche or emerging research fields
Pricing
Limited searches per month with basic features
$8.99/month for Consensus Premium
Custom pricing available for teams and institutions
Who is it for
- →Conducting rapid literature reviews for academic research
- →Fact-checking health or science claims with peer-reviewed evidence
- →Finding credible sources for journalism or content writing
- →Supporting evidence-based clinical or policy decision-making
Frequently asked questions
Is Consensus free?
Yes, Consensus offers a free tier that includes a limited number of searches per month along with basic AI-powered research features. For heavier usage and advanced features like GPT-4 Copilot and unlimited searches, a paid plan is required.
What is Consensus best used for?
Consensus is best used for quickly finding peer-reviewed scientific evidence on specific questions—ideal for literature reviews, fact-checking health and science claims, academic research, and evidence-based writing where citation accuracy matters.
What are the best alternatives to Consensus?
Top alternatives include Semantic Scholar (free academic search engine by AI2), Elicit (AI research assistant for literature review), Perplexity AI (general AI search with citations), and Scite (smart citation analysis tool).
Is Consensus safe to use?
Yes, Consensus is considered safe to use. It draws exclusively from published, peer-reviewed research papers and provides citations for all claims, allowing users to independently verify any information. It does not generate ungrounded or fabricated content.
How much does Consensus cost?
Consensus offers a free plan with limited searches. The Premium plan starts at approximately $8.99 per month (billed annually) and unlocks unlimited searches, GPT-4 powered features, and advanced filters. Enterprise pricing is available for teams and institutions on request.