Best AI Research Assistants in 2026
Updated
Gathering material, checking evidence and working with research files are common considerations when choosing an AI research assistant. Compared on deep research mode, source access and source citations, the entries also specify source limits and file-upload support. Team workspace may be relevant when research is shared, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help you assess cost. Perplexity, Genspark Design and Liner are named options to compare across these features. Think about whether locating sources, reviewing citations, or bringing files into the process matters most to your work, and weigh those needs against what each entry specifies.
28ranked
22free plans on this page
$1/molowest paid tier
10 Oct 2026last checked
Input list AI Research Assistants 25 channels on this page · 121 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSource citationsDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsSource limitTeam workspace Spec sheet Score
01 Perplexity Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 3/8spec lines stated 7.8
02 Genspark Design Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accesswebFile uploadsSource limitTeam workspace 4/8spec lines stated 7.6
03 Liner Free planYesPaid from14.99/user/moSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+filesFile uploadsYesSource limit5 sourcesTeam workspaceYes 8/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 Fabric Free planYesPaid from8/user/moSource citationsDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsSource limitTeam workspace 2/8spec lines stated 7.3
05 Innogath Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+filesFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
06 Kimi Deep Research Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
07 Gab AI Research Assistant Free planYesPaid from16.67/user/moSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+filesFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspace 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
08 You.com Free planYesPaid from15/user/moSource citationsDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 Consensus Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsSource limitTeam workspace 1/8spec lines stated 7.0
10 Felo AI Research Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.0
11 LeapSpace Free planNoPaid from26/user/moSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+filesFile uploadsYesSource limit5 sourcesTeam workspaceYes 8/8spec lines stated 7.0
12 Scholarly Free planYesPaid from12/user/moSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limit10 sourcesTeam workspaceYes 8/8spec lines stated 7.0
13 Elicit Free planYesPaid from11/user/moSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+filesFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
14 Praxa Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
15 SciSpace Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
16 Scite Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsSource limitTeam workspace 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
17 Gemini Notebook Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 3/8spec lines stated 6.8
18 Embarke Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accesswebFile uploadsSource limitTeam workspaceYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
19 Local Deep Research Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspace 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
20 Rabbit Hole Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accesswebFile uploadsSource limitTeam workspace 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
21 Undermind Free planYesPaid from15/user/moSource citationsDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsSource limitTeam workspace 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
22 Folio Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.5
23 CLARA Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeSource accessFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceNo 4/8spec lines stated 6.4
24 GPT Researcher Free planYesPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeYesSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspaceYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.4
25 Arclyne Free planNoPaid fromSource citationsYesDeep research modeSource accessweb+files+connectorsFile uploadsYesSource limitTeam workspace 4/8spec lines stated 6.3
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Source citations | Deep research mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perplexity | 7.8 | Free plan | Yes | ||||
| 2 | Genspark Design | 7.6 | Free plan | $19.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 3 | Liner | 7.4 | Free plan | $1.25/mo | Yes | 14.99 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Fabric | 7.3 | $8/mo | Yes | 8 /user/mo | |||
| 5 | Innogath | 7.3 | Free plan | $2.67/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 6 | Kimi Deep Research | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 7 | Gab AI Research Assistant | 7.2 | Free plan | $16.67/mo | Yes | 16.67 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | You.com | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 15 /user/mo | ||
| 9 | Consensus | 7.0 | Free plan | $20/mo | Yes | |||
| 10 | Felo AI Research | 7.0 | Free plan | $12.50/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 11 | LeapSpace | 7.0 | Free plan | £20.83/mo | No | 26 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | Scholarly | 7.0 | Free plan | $1/mo | Yes | 12 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Elicit | 6.9 | Free plan | $11/mo | Yes | 11 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | Praxa | 6.9 | Free plan | $29.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 15 | SciSpace | 6.9 | Free plan | $5.83/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 16 | Scite | 6.9 | Free plan | $14/mo | Yes | |||
| 17 | Gemini Notebook | 6.8 | Free plan | $9.99/mo | Yes | |||
| 18 | Embarke | 6.7 | Free plan | $39/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 19 | Local Deep Research | 6.7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| 20 | Rabbit Hole | 6.7 | Free plan | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 21 | Undermind | 6.6 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | 15 /user/mo | ||
| 22 | Folio | 6.5 | Free plan | $8.25/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 23 | CLARA | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 24 | GPT Researcher | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 25 | Arclyne | 6.3 | No | No | Yes |
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Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.