arXiv
Focus: preprints and science. Shares research papers and open access with Unpaywall. A website, not a browser extension. Adds Web. Rated 4.8 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.8Visit
Browser Extension
Unpaywall
A free browser extension that finds legal open-access copies of papers.
Rating
4.6 / 5
Pricing
Free
Difficulty
Beginner
Works on
Chrome, Firefox
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Unpaywall?
Unpaywall is a free extension from the non-profit OurResearch that checks whether the research article you are viewing has a legal, free version somewhere online. When it finds one, for example in a university repository or an open-access journal, a green tab appears so you can read the full text in one click.
Pros: what Unpaywall does well
- Only finds legal, open copies
- Works quietly as you browse
- Free API for developers
Cons: where it falls short
- Not every paper has a free version
- Helps only with academic articles
Who Unpaywall is for
Students, researchers and journalists who often hit paywalls on academic papers.
Who can skip it
People with full library access who rarely read research.
Unpaywall alternatives
Not sold on Unpaywall? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
CORE
Focus: academic search and scholarly. Shares open access and research papers with Unpaywall. A website, not a browser extension. Adds Web. Rated 4.5 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.5Visit
Google Scholar
Focus: academic search, citations and library. Shares research papers with Unpaywall. A website, not a browser extension. Adds Web. Rated 4.7 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.7Visit
Semantic Scholar
Focus: academic search, citations and ai. Shares research papers with Unpaywall. An AI tool, not a browser extension. Adds Web. Same 4.6 rating.
AI ToolFreeWeb
4.6Visit
Sioyek
Focus: pdf reader, keyboard and open source. Shares research papers with Unpaywall. A desktop app, not a browser extension. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit
SingleFile
Focus: web archive, save web page and offline reading. Also in Research and Reading, like Unpaywall. Adds Safari. Rated 4.7 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
Browser ExtensionFreeChrome, Firefox
4.7Visit
Free alternatives to Unpaywall
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
Hypothesis
Focus: annotation, highlighting and reading. Also in Research and Reading, like Unpaywall. Adds Web. Rated 4.5 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
Browser ExtensionFreeChrome, Web
4.5Visit
Glasp
Focus: highlights, annotations and read later. Also in Reading and Research, like Unpaywall. Adds Safari and Web. Rated 4.4 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
Browser ExtensionFreeChrome, Safari
4.4Visit
Paul's Online Notes
Focus: maths, calculus and algebra. Also in Research and Reading, like Unpaywall. A course, not a browser extension. Adds Web. Rated 4.8 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
CourseFreeWeb
4.8Visit
Wikipedia
Focus: encyclopedia, reference and research. Also in Research and Reading, like Unpaywall. A website, not a browser extension. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.8 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb, iOS
4.8Visit
BBC Bitesize
Focus: revision, gcse and school. Also in Research and Reading, like Unpaywall. A website, not a browser extension. Adds Web. Rated 4.7 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.7Visit
Google Arts & Culture
Focus: art, museums and culture. Also in Research and Reading, like Unpaywall. A website, not a browser extension. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.7 (Unpaywall: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb, iOS
4.7Visit
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