What is Explainpaper?
Explainpaper is a web-based reader for academic research papers. You upload a PDF, then highlight any confusing sentence or select individual words, and the AI returns a plain-language explanation. The explanations can be adjusted from beginner to expert level and are available in more than 50 languages. The tool is context-aware, so it considers the full paper rather than only the selected text.
Beyond highlights, you can chat with the paper and ask questions answered from its actual content, with references to specific sections, plus follow-up questions and summaries of key results. The Pro plan adds summaries of the entire paper, math and figure explanations, saved highlights, and access to more advanced AI models. Auto-generated outlines and key points help you see a paper's structure before reading it in full.
Key features
- Highlight-based explanations of confusing text
- Adjustable explanation complexity from beginner to expert
- Explanations in 50+ languages
- Chat with the paper and cite specific sections
- Auto-generated outlines, key points and concept relationships
- Math formula and figure explanations (Pro)
Who is it for
- researchers
- graduate students
- machine learning practitioners
- anyone reading academic papers
Pros and cons
- Explanations are based on the full paper context
- Works in over 50 languages
- Free tier allows unlimited highlight explanations
- Free tier uses basic AI models
- Some advanced features require the Pro plan
Explainpaper pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 USD / month | Unlimited highlight explanations, follow-up questions, Zotero import, basic AI models |
| Pro | 16 USD / month | Advanced AI models, full-paper summaries, math explain, saved highlights, paper Q&A; 7-day free trial; yearly billing saves 25% |
Prices copied from Explainpaper pricing, checked October 12, 2026. Currency as shown by the vendor; taxes may apply.
Explainpaper pricing details →
Is Explainpaper free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan: unlimited highlight explanations, follow-up questions, Zotero library import, basic AI models. Pro offers a 7-day free trial (card on file).
Explainpaper alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 NotebookLM | 23,99 PLN/mo | ? | Research & science |
 GetPaperFast | 11.99 USD | yes | Research & science |
 genei | 4.99 GBP/mo | trial | Research & science |
 Scite | 20 USD/mo | trial | Research & science |
 ChatPDF | not listed | yes | PDF & documents |
 Elicit | 11 USD/mo | yes | Research & science |
All alternatives to Explainpaper →
FAQ
What is Explainpaper used for?
AI reader that highlights confusing parts of research papers and explains them in simple language, for researchers and students.
Is Explainpaper free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan: unlimited highlight explanations, follow-up questions, Zotero library import, basic AI models. Pro offers a 7-day free trial (card on file).
How much does Explainpaper cost?
The cheapest paid plan is 16 USD/mo (vendor pricing, October 12, 2026).
What are the best Explainpaper alternatives?
Closest alternatives: NotebookLM, GetPaperFast, genei, Scite, ChatPDF.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (explainpaper.com).