What is Litmaps?
Litmaps is a web tool for conducting literature reviews. You start from one or more seed articles, and it builds a map of related papers based on their citation connections, plotting them by publication date and citation count. The map makes it easier to see how papers relate to each other and where a given work sits in the history of a field.
Beyond the maps, the product includes a Discover feature for finding relevant papers faster, collaboration tools for sharing maps with colleagues, students or advisors, and monitoring that sends automatic updates when new papers on a topic appear. The site describes users across research, study and professional settings, with discounts for education and institutions.
Key features
- Seed maps built from a starting article, showing related papers
- Discover tool for finding relevant academic papers
- Visualization of papers by date and citation count
- Shared maps for collaboration with colleagues and advisors
- Automatic alerts for new papers on a chosen topic
- BibTeX reference export
Who is it for
- researchers
- students
- professionals
- academic teams and institutions
Pros and cons
- Visual maps make connections between papers easier to see
- Automatic updates for new publications in a field
- Discounts for students and academic users
- Free plan is limited to 2 maps and 100 articles per map
- Advanced search and unlimited maps require the paid Pro plan
Litmaps pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 USD | Basic search up to 20 inputs, 2 Litmaps, 100 articles per map, monthly summary, no team collaboration |
| Pro Education | 120 USD / year | Requires academic email address; unlimited inputs, articles and Litmaps; daily or configurable alerts; annual billing |
| Pro Education monthly | 10 USD / month | Academic email required; monthly billing option; unlimited inputs, articles and Litmaps |
| Pro Commercial | 10 USD / month | Unlimited inputs, articles and Litmaps; weekly or configurable alerts; annual billing option |
Prices copied from Litmaps pricing, checked October 12, 2026. Currency as shown by the vendor; taxes may apply.
Is Litmaps free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Basic search for up to 20 inputs, 2 Litmaps with 100 articles per map, monthly summary of literature alerts.
Litmaps alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 NotebookLM | 23,99 PLN/mo | ? | Research & science |
 Semantic Scholar | not listed | yes | Research & science |
 Wolfram|Alpha | 4,50 GBP/mo | ? | Research & science |
 SciSpace | 12 USD/mo | ? | Research & science |
 genei | 4.99 GBP/mo | trial | Research & science |
 Connected Papers | 3 USD/mo | yes | Research & science |
FAQ
What is Litmaps used for?
Literature review assistant that finds relevant academic papers and shows them as visual citation maps for researchers and students.
Is Litmaps free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Basic search for up to 20 inputs, 2 Litmaps with 100 articles per map, monthly summary of literature alerts.
How much does Litmaps cost?
The cheapest paid plan is 10 USD/mo (vendor pricing, October 12, 2026).
What are the best Litmaps alternatives?
Closest alternatives: NotebookLM, Semantic Scholar, Wolfram|Alpha, SciSpace, genei.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (litmaps.com).