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PubMed
What PubMed is
PubMed is a free resource for searching and retrieving biomedical and life sciences literature. It contains more than 40 million citations and abstracts from MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and Bookshelf, covering journal literature, books, and book chapters. PubMed does not include full-text journal articles, although records often link to full text from other sources; those sites may require a fee or subscription. Search tools include Advanced Search, Clinical Queries, Single Citation Matcher, and Batch Citation Matcher. Search assistance includes Best Match ranking, autocomplete, spell checking, and a citation sensor. Results can be narrowed by publication date, text availability, article type, language, species, sex, age, and other criteria. Citation pages include a Similar Articles section containing a pre-calculated group of related PubMed citations. Users can export citations to citation management software and receive email updates when a search has new results. The E-utilities API provides data access, and downloads are available through FTP and the Batch Citation Matcher. PubMed was developed and is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Who it suits
PubMed suits anyone searching biomedical and life sciences literature, including readers who need citation search tools, filters, or data access. It is useful for finding records, but not as a source of full-text journal articles within the site itself.
What it does well
- Free access to more than 40 million citations and abstracts
- Advanced search and citation-matching tools
- Filters include article type, language, age, and species
- Offers citation exports, email updates, and an API
What to know first
- Does not include full-text journal articles
- Linked full-text sites may require a fee or subscription
Limits
The free PubMed resource provides citations and abstracts, not full-text journal articles. Full text linked from other sites may require a fee or subscription.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PubMed | Free resource for searching and retrieving biomedical and life sciences literature | Free |
As pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the PubMed website in a browser
- Use Advanced Search, Clinical Queries, or a citation matcher to search
- Apply filters such as publication date, article type, or language
- Export citations or request email updates for a search
- Use the E-utilities API or FTP downloads for data access
Verdict
PubMed offers broad literature search tools and citation access at no cost. Readers seeking article text may need to follow links to other sources, where access can require payment or a subscription.
Questions
How much does PubMed cost?
PubMed is free. Its listed plan is free.
Does PubMed include full-text articles?
No. It provides citations and abstracts, and records often link to full text from other sources.
What platforms can I use?
PubMed is available on the web and through an API.
What can I search in PubMed?
Its collection includes biomedical and life sciences citations and abstracts from MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and Bookshelf, covering journal literature, books, and book chapters.
Who maintains PubMed?
The National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, develops and maintains it.
Facts from PubMed's own pages
- API
- PubMed provides the E-utilities API for accessing its data. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Collection
- PubMed contains more than 40 million citations and abstracts from biomedical literature. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Content sources
- PubMed includes citations from MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and Bookshelf. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Download
- PubMed provides data downloads through FTP and a Batch Citation Matcher. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Email updates
- Users can receive email updates when new results are available for a search. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Export
- PubMed provides options to export citations to citation management software. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Filters
- Search results can be filtered by publication date, text availability, article type, language, species, sex, age, and other criteria. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1996 · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 28 Sept 2026
- Full text
- PubMed does not include full-text journal articles, but records often link to full text available from other sources. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Bethesda, Maryland, United States · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 28 Sept 2026
- Limit
- Some linked full-text journal sites may require a fee or subscription. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- PubMed was developed and is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- NLM states that it does not collect personally identifiable information during a site visit unless the visitor explicitly provides it. · nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- PubMed supports searching and retrieving biomedical and life sciences literature to help improve health. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Related citations
- Citation abstract pages include a Similar Articles section with a pre-calculated set of closely related PubMed citations. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Search assistance
- Search features include Best Match ranking, autocomplete suggestions, spell checking, and a citation sensor. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
- Search tools
- PubMed offers Advanced Search, Clinical Queries, Single Citation Matcher, and Batch Citation Matcher. · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 5 Oct 2026
Where PubMed stands on Freedom251
- Academic Research Databases#16 of 35