Best Literature Review Software in 2026
Updated
In short: RevMan is ranked #1 of 28 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of ASReview and Bibliometrix. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ASReview. The lowest first paid tier on this page is INRA at $0.63/mo.
A literature review moves through finding research, screening it, and managing the sources and evidence that support your conclusions. Compare discovery tools, screening workflow, evidence mapping, and systematic review features to see which stages each option addresses. Collaboration, full-text management, and citation import limits matter when considering how you’ll work with references and other researchers. Buhos, Rayyan, and ASReview start the ranking, followed by CADIMA and Elicit. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing are also listed. Weigh these details against the workflow you need to support.
28 literature review software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 RevMan Top pick · 7.8 Free plan · £6.67/mo
#2 ASReview Runner-up · 7.2 Free plan · Free
#3 Bibliometrix Also great · 7.2 Free plan · Free
- Free planFree trial LinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Screening workflow
- No
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial£6.67/mofirst paid tier About RevManVisit site - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- recommendations
- Screening workflow
- Yes
- Full-text management
- No
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan apimacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- search
- Full-text management
- Yes
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan AndroidapiiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$4.99/mofirst paid tier About RayyanVisit site - apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- search
- Screening workflow
- Yes
- Full-text management
- Yes
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 11 /user/mo
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$11/mofirst paid tier About ElicitVisit site - Free trial LinuxmacOSWindows
- Discovery tools
- search
- Screening workflow
- Yes
- Full-text management
- Yes
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Screening workflow
- Yes
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- search_and_recommendations
- Screening workflow
- Yes
- Full-text management
- Yes
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$10/mofirst paid tier About LitmapsVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Screening workflow
- Yes
- Full-text management
- Yes
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free trial Web
- Free plan
- No
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial£10/mofirst paid tier About EPPI-ReviewerVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 7.5 /user/mo
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$0.63/mofirst paid tier About INRAVisit site - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WebWindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- search
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- search
- Screening workflow
- No
- Full-text management
- Yes
- Systematic review tools
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- search_and_recommendations
- Screening workflow
- No
- Full-text management
- No
- Systematic review tools
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- search_and_recommendations
- Screening workflow
- No
- Full-text management
- No
- Systematic review tools
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$0.83/mofirst paid tier About ResearchRabbitVisit site - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Discovery tools
- search
- Screening workflow
- No
- Full-text management
- No
- Systematic review tools
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Screening workflow
- Yes
- Systematic review tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Screening workflow
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which literature review software is ranked first on Specifiction?
RevMan is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 7.8. ASReview is second and Bibliometrix third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, INRA has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.63/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.