Elicit vs Litmaps
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Elicit | Litmaps |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (5 searches/day, 1 report); Plus $10/mo (100 searches, 5 reports); Pro $20/mo (500 searches, 20 reports); Enterprise API custom | Free (2 litmaps, 100 articles/map); Pro Education $10/mo; Pro $15/mo; Pro Edu Annual $8.33/mo; Pro Annual $12.50/mo |
| Best for | Systematic reviews and data extraction | Exploratory literature mapping and discovery |
| Core strength | Automated PRISMA-compliant screening and evidence extraction | Visual citation network maps with date vs. citation graph |
| Paper coverage | 138M+ papers + 545K clinical trials | 270+ million papers from various sources |
| PRISMA compliance | Yes – PRISMA 2020 (latest news) | No |
| Integrations | Claude Opus 4.5, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Elicit API, Zotero | Zotero, BibTeX, Google Scholar (indirect), PubMed, arXiv, Web of Science (indirect) |
For researchers conducting PRISMA-compliant systematic reviews, Elicit is the clear choice with 97-99% screening accuracy and structured reports. For visual literature discovery and mapping, Litmaps offers a unique bird's-eye view via citation networks. Pick based on your workflow: systematic rigor vs. exploratory visualization.
Feature-by-feature
Litmaps focuses on visual literature discovery: it generates interactive seed maps from a single article, displaying citation relationships in a date-vs-citation graph. It covers 270+ million papers and offers advanced search filters on Pro plans. Integrations include Zotero, BibTeX, PubMed, and arXiv. Elicit, by contrast, is built for systematic reviews. According to the latest news, it now supports PRISMA 2020, with automated abstract (97% accuracy) and full-text (99% accuracy) screening. Recent updates add Strict Screening criteria, up to 80-paper reports, and an API. Elicit integrates Claude Opus 4.5 for data extraction and report writing, reducing hallucinations. While Litmaps excels at mapping research landscapes and sharing visualizations, Elicit provides a reproducible, citation-level audit trail. Litmaps also offers email alerts for new papers; Elicit provides research agents for competitive landscapes. Both are AI-powered but serve different stages: Litmaps for exploration, Elicit for synthesis.
Pricing compared
Litmaps has a free tier limited to 2 litmaps and 100 articles per map. Pro Education is $10/month (with academic discount), and Pro is $15/month. Annual options provide discounts: Pro Edu Annual at $8.33/month and Pro Annual at $12.50/month. Elicit offers a free tier with 5 searches/day and 1 report. The Plus plan is $10/month (100 searches, 5 reports), and Pro is $20/month (500 searches, 20 reports). Enterprise API pricing is custom. For heavy systematic review needs, Elicit's Pro at $20/month gives substantial capacity. Litmaps is cheaper for educators ($8.33/month annual) and offers unlimited litmaps on Pro. Both tools have freemium models; Elicit's free tier is more restrictive in daily usage. Researchers on a budget may prefer Litmaps for exploration, while those needing rigorous screening will justify Elicit's higher cost.
Who should pick which
- PhD student starting a literature reviewPick: Litmaps
Litmaps helps visually map citation networks from a single seed paper, providing orientation in a new field at low cost (free tier).
- Researcher conducting a PRISMA systematic reviewPick: Elicit
Elicit is PRISMA 2020-compliant, with automated screening and data extraction, ensuring reproducibility and high accuracy.
- Pharmaceutical R&D screening clinical trialsPick: Elicit
Elicit searches 545K+ clinical trials and integrates with ClinicalTrials.gov; its API allows programmatic access for large-scale screening.
- Educator teaching research methodsPick: Litmaps
Litmaps' dyslexia-friendly layout and shareable maps help students understand citation networks and research landscapes interactively.
- Policy analyst needing evidence summariesPick: Elicit
Elicit generates structured research reports with citations, enabling quick evidence synthesis for policy decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool is better for a systematic review?
Elicit, because it now supports PRISMA 2020 guidelines with automated screening and reproducible workflows.
Can Litmaps be used for systematic reviews?
Litmaps is designed for exploratory mapping, not systematic review methodology. It lacks PRISMA compliance and automated screening.
Does Elicit have a free tier?
Yes, Elicit offers a free plan with 5 searches per day and 1 report. Higher tiers are $10/mo (Plus) and $20/mo (Pro).
Does Litmaps integrate with reference managers?
Yes, Litmaps integrates with Zotero and BibTeX, and indirectly with Google Scholar, PubMed, arXiv, and Web of Science.
Which tool has more papers indexed?
Litmaps claims 270+ million papers; Elicit covers 138M+ papers plus 545K clinical trials. Coverage varies by source.
Can I share maps with colleagues in Litmaps?
Yes, Litmaps allows sharing maps with colleagues and advisors. It also supports team collaboration.
Does Elicit offer an API?
Yes, the Elicit API was launched in March 2026, allowing programmatic search and report generation.
Which tool is more affordable for students?
Litmaps Pro Education at $10/mo (or $8.33/mo annual) is cheaper than Elicit Pro at $20/mo. Both have free tiers.
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