Best OpenAlex Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 apps from academic research databases ranked against OpenAlex on the same published basis.
- 1OpenAlex vs JSTOR
- 2OpenAlex vs MAXQDA
- 3OpenAlex vs AGRICOLA
- 4OpenAlex vs arXiv
- 5OpenAlex vs CORE
- 7OpenAlex vs SSRN
- 8OpenAlex vs The Lens
- 9OpenAlex vs Dimensions
- 10OpenAlex vs ERIC
- 11OpenAlex vs Directory of Open Access Journals
- 12OpenAlex vs Embase AI
- 13OpenAlex vs CAB Abstracts
- 14OpenAlex vs Academia.edu
- 15OpenAlex vs bioRxiv
- 16OpenAlex vs Europe PMC
- 17OpenAlex vs medRxiv
- 18OpenAlex vs Project MUSE
- 19OpenAlex vs ProQuest Central
- 20OpenAlex vs PubMed
- 21OpenAlex vs zbMATH Open
OpenAlex alternatives compared
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JSTOR | 6.6 | Free plan | $16.58/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 2 | MAXQDA | 6.5 | No | — | Mac, Windows |
| 3 | AGRICOLA | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 4 | arXiv | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | API, Web |
| 5 | CORE | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | API, Browser, Web |
| 7 | SSRN | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 8 | The Lens | 6.4 | Free plan | $83.33/mo | API, Web |
| 9 | Dimensions | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 10 | ERIC | 5.5 | No | — | API, Web |
| 11 | Directory of Open Access Journals | 5.4 | No | — | API, Web |
| 12 | Embase AI | 5.4 | No | — | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| 13 | CAB Abstracts | 5.3 | No | — | Web |
| 14 | Academia.edu | 5.2 | No | — | Web |
| 15 | bioRxiv | 5.2 | No | — | Web |
| 16 | Europe PMC | 5.2 | Free plan | Free | API, Web |
| 17 | medRxiv | 5.2 | No | — | Web |
| 18 | Project MUSE | 5.2 | No | — | Web |
| 19 | ProQuest Central | 5.2 | No | — | Web |
| 20 | PubMed | 5.2 | Free plan | Free | API, Web |
| 21 | zbMATH Open | 5.2 | No | — | Web |
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Questions about OpenAlex alternatives
What is the best alternative to OpenAlex?
JSTOR, number 1 in academic research databases with a score of 6.6 out of 10. The others here: MAXQDA, AGRICOLA, arXiv and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to OpenAlex?
JSTOR is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 9 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.