Best Literature Review Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ASReview is ranked #1 of 28 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of RevMan and Bibliometrix. The best-ranked option with a free plan is RevMan. The lowest first paid tier on this page is INRA at $0.63/mo.
Literature review software can support researchers as they find sources, screen studies, and organize evidence. Buhos, Rayyan, and ASReview are among the first entries. Compare discovery tools, screening workflow, evidence mapping, and systematic review tools to see which stages receive support. Collaboration and full-text management may matter for team reviews, while citation import limits can help you assess reference handling. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing are also included. The entries are ranked, and the listed capabilities give you points to consider when matching software to the needs of your review.
28 literature review software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
10 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASReviewWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | RevManWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | £6.67/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | BibliometrixWeb · Windows · Mac · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | EviSynthWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | RayyanWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $4.99/mo | 6.5 | |
| 6 | ElicitWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $11/mo | 6.4 | |
| 7 | LitmapsWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $10/mo | 6.4 | |
| 8 | AbstrackrWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 9 | CADIMAWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 10 | BuhosWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
| 11 | SynthesisWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 12 | EPPI-ReviewerWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | £10/mo | 5.4 |
| 13 | INRAWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $0.63/mo | 5.4 |
| 14 | PICO PortalWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 15 | VOSviewerWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 16 | IncitefulWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | Lit Mind MapsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | Open Knowledge MapsWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | ResearchRabbitWeb | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | $0.83/mo | 5.2 | |
| 20 | SWIFT-ReviewWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | ColandrWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | LitMapWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | SWIFT-Active ScreenerWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | SysrevWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | JBI SUMARIWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which literature review software is ranked first on Freedom251?
ASReview is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 6.6. RevMan is second and Bibliometrix third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, INRA has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.63/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.