What is Explainpaper?
Explainpaper is an AI-powered reader for research papers. It helps you understand dense academic text by explaining the parts you highlight. You can also chat with the paper to ask questions and get answers based on its actual content.
To use it, you upload a paper and then highlight any confusing sentence or phrase. The tool gives you a simple explanation, with adjustable complexity from beginner to expert level. It works in over 50 languages and understands the full paper context, so explanations fit the topic. You can also ask follow-up questions and jump to cited sections.
It suits researchers, students, and anyone reading academic papers. The free tier gives you unlimited highlight explanations and follow-up questions using basic AI models. A Pro plan at $16 per month adds advanced models, full-paper summaries, and saving your highlights. A 7-day Pro trial is available with a card on file.
Explainpaper features
- In-context explanations: Highlight any sentence and get a simple explanation in your language.
- Adjustable complexity: Choose explanations from beginner to expert level.
- 50+ languages: Read explanations in your native language.
- Chat with your paper: Ask questions and get accurate answers based on the paper's content.
- Auto-generated insights: See smart outlines, key points, and concept relationships instantly.
What you can do with Explainpaper
- Highlight jargon-heavy sections in a paper to get instant plain-language explanations.
- Ask follow-up questions about a specific result or method mentioned in the paper.
- Generate a quick summary of a paper's key findings before reading it fully.
- Navigate complex papers using smart outlines and concept maps.
How to get started with Explainpaper
- Go to Explainpaper's website and click 'Upload Your First Paper'.
- Upload a research paper in PDF or supported format.
- Highlight any confusing text to get an explanation, or ask questions via chat.
Tips for better results with Explainpaper
- Highlight short, specific phrases rather than entire paragraphs to get clearer, more targeted explanations from Explainpaper, and adjust the complexity level to match your current understanding.
- Use Explainpaper's chat feature to ask follow-up questions about a highlighted section, which helps you connect individual explanations to the paper's overall argument.
- Before reading a full paper, upload it to Explainpaper and ask for a summary of key findings to get an overview, then highlight confusing parts as you read.
- When you hit a jargon-heavy passage, highlight it and switch the explanation language to your native tongue if available, which can make the concept easier to grasp.
- Try the free tier of Explainpaper first with a few papers to see if the basic AI explanations meet your needs before committing to the Pro plan.
Explainpaper pricing
Explainpaper has a free way to start, with paid plans for heavier use. Check explainpaper.com for current limits and prices.
What to check before you rely on Explainpaper
- Check whether the free tier's basic AI models are sufficient for your papers, since the website does not specify which models are used or their accuracy.
- Verify that Explainpaper supports the file format of your papers, as the website does not list accepted upload formats or any file size limits.
- Review the Pro plan's 7-day trial terms carefully, since it requires a card on file and the website does not state what happens after the trial ends.
- Confirm that your papers do not contain sensitive data, as the website does not explain how uploaded documents are stored or whether they are used for training.
Who Explainpaper is for
Explainpaper suits researchers, graduate students, academics and self-learners. If that is not you, the AI research tools below may fit better.
Similar tools compared with Explainpaper
| Tool | What it is | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Explainpaper | AI research paper reader with explanations | Freemium |
| OpenSI | AI model comparison and pricing tool | See website |
| ChatPDF | AI chat and summarizer for PDFs | Freemium |
| Consensus | AI search engine for research papers | See website |
| Scite | AI research assistant with smart citations | Free trial |
Explainpaper FAQ
How does Explainpaper explain confusing text?
You highlight a sentence or phrase in your uploaded paper. The tool uses an AI model to give you a simple explanation, with options to adjust complexity from beginner to expert level. It understands the full paper context.
Is Explainpaper free to use?
Yes, there is a free tier at $0 per month. It includes unlimited highlight explanations, follow-up questions, and basic AI models. A Pro plan at $16 per month adds advanced models and full-paper summaries.
Can I ask questions about the paper?
Yes, you can chat with your paper. Ask questions and get answers based on the actual content, not general knowledge. You can also cite specific sections and ask follow-up questions.
What languages does Explainpaper support?
The website states it supports 50+ languages for explanations. You can get explanations in your native language. The site does not list which specific languages are included, so check the pricing or feature pages for details.
Can Explainpaper export my highlights or notes?
Explainpaper's website does not mention exporting highlights or notes. You can save highlights with the Pro plan, but the site doesn't specify if you can export them. For details, check the pricing or FAQ section on explainpaper.com.
Does Explainpaper work on mobile devices or offline?
Explainpaper's website doesn't mention mobile apps or offline access. It appears to be a web-based tool, so you likely need an internet connection. For specific device or platform support, check the site's help or contact page.
What does Explainpaper's free plan include exactly?
Explainpaper's free plan gives you unlimited highlight explanations and follow-up questions using basic AI models. You can upload papers and use core features without paying. For more advanced models, summaries, and saving highlights, you'd need the Pro plan at $16 per month.
