What Elicit does
Elicit helps researchers discover academic papers, screen large result sets, extract structured evidence, and produce reports grounded in the scholarly literature.
Elicit is strongest when a literature question must become a structured dataset. Semantic search helps surface papers whose wording differs from the query, while configurable columns can pull population, intervention, outcome, design, or other fields into a comparison table. That is more operationally useful than receiving a single polished paragraph.
The systematic-review workflow supports larger screening jobs on eligible plans, and reports can assemble an evidence-based starting point from multiple sources. Researchers should define inclusion criteria before seeing convenient results, reconcile uncertain decisions, and open the underlying full text. Database size does not guarantee full-text availability or complete coverage of every discipline and publisher.
The free Basic plan supports exploration across the paper index. Plus adds exports and standard use of deeper workflows; Pro expands screening, extraction, alerts, reports, explanations, templates, and API access; Scale emphasizes collaboration and administration. Allowances are usage-based and can change, so teams should run a representative review before deciding which tier is economical.
Elicit shortens mechanical work but does not make a review systematic by itself. Search strategy documentation, duplicate handling, risk-of-bias assessment, citation management, statistical synthesis, and domain judgment remain outside any generated summary. Treat each extracted cell as a lead back to a page and passage, not as verified research data.
How Elicit works
Elicit interprets a natural-language research question, retrieves semantically related records from its academic index, and lets researchers screen, summarize, and extract paper attributes into tables. Specialized agents and review workflows automate stages, but inclusion decisions and extracted values still require protocol-based human verification.
Translate the research question
Define concepts, eligibility criteria, outcomes, dates, and review rules before searching. Elicit maps a natural-language question to semantic representations that can retrieve papers using different terminology.
Retrieve and screen papers
Elicit searches its academic index, ranks candidate records, and provides summaries or screening assistance. Benchmark known papers and inspect abstracts or full text because index size and semantic similarity do not guarantee complete coverage.
Structure the evidence
Tables and review workflows extract requested fields such as population, intervention, design, and outcome. Pilot columns, resolve ambiguity, and trace every consequential cell to the paper rather than accepting generated text as verified data.
Review and export
Reconcile inclusion decisions, check units and citations, assess bias outside the generated workflow, and export an available audit trail. Reports and API results accelerate synthesis but do not replace protocol reporting or expert judgment.
How to set up Elicit
Write the protocol first
Define the question, databases, date range, inclusion criteria, outcomes, and conflict-resolution process before searching.
Run and inspect a broad search
Use a natural-language question, examine known benchmark papers, and adjust concepts when important literature is missing.
Create screening columns
Add fields that mirror the protocol, pilot them on a small set, and clarify ambiguous labels before scaling.
Verify extraction in full text
Open each included paper and check generated values, units, population details, and citations against the original.
Export an audit trail
Save RIS, CSV, BIB, PDF, or DOCX outputs available to your plan and record queries, dates, decisions, and reviewer changes.
Elicit FAQs
Does Elicit have a free plan?
Yes. Basic includes paper search, summaries, full-text paper chat where available, Zotero import, and limited deeper-workflow usage.
Can Elicit conduct a systematic review automatically?
It can assist search, screening, and extraction, but a defensible systematic review still needs a protocol, human verification, bias assessment, and transparent reporting.
Which Elicit plan includes API access?
Elicit’s official pricing and API documentation place API access on Pro and higher plans.
Does Elicit include every paper’s full text?
No. Its index is broad, but full-text availability varies. Researchers may need institutional or publisher access to verify evidence.
Listing reviewed 2026-07-15. Product details and pricing can change; verify important terms on the provider's website.
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