Best Online Encyclopedias in 2026
Updated
Online encyclopedias can help you explore a topic, check details, or find material for learning. Compare content formats and update frequency to see how information is presented and maintained. Citation tools are another consideration when tracing sources, while educator resources and institutional access may matter in learning settings. Mobile apps add an access detail, and free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help you weigh cost. The entries include Wikipedia, Store norske leksikon, and Encyclopedia.com, among other reference options. Consider which formats and access features suit what you need to research.
17 of 18 with known pricing have a free tier;0 apps show full bars: free, open, on most devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WikipediaWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | Baidu BaikeWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 3 | Enciclopèdia.catWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 4 | Encyclopaedia BritannicaWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 5 | Encyclopedia of AlabamaWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 6 | Encyclopedia of ArkansasWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 7 | Encyclopedia of Korean CultureWeb · API | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 8 | Encyclopedia VirginiaWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 9 | Encyclopedia.comWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 10 | KlexikonWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 11 | Lex – Danmarks NationalleksikonWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 12 | Store norske leksikonWeb · iPhone · API | Two bars | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 13 | The Canadian EncyclopediaWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 14 | WikiquoteWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | ||
| 15 | Encyclopédie LarousseWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | ||
| 16 | New World EncyclopediaWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | ||
| 17 | VikidiaWeb | Two bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | ||
| 18 | TreccaniWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | 3 of 6 | 5.5 | |||
| 19 | Credo ReferenceWeb | One bar | 1 of 6 | 5.4 | |||
| 20 | InfopleaseWeb | One bar | 1 of 6 | 5.4 | |||
| 21 | Oxford ReferenceWeb | One bar | 1 of 6 | 5.4 | |||
| 22 | Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New ZealandWeb | One bar | 1 of 6 | 5.4 | |||
| 23 | CitizendiumWeb | One bar | 1 of 6 | 5.3 | |||
| 24 | WikiwandWeb · Extension | One bar | 1 of 6 | 5.3 | |||
| 25 | Encyclopaedia UniversalisWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | No | 3 of 6 | €1/mo | 5.2 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Citation tools | Educator resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wikipedia | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2 | Baidu Baike | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 3 | Enciclopèdia.cat | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 4 | Encyclopaedia Britannica | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 5 | Encyclopedia of Alabama | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 6 | Encyclopedia of Arkansas | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 7 | Encyclopedia of Korean Culture | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 8 | Encyclopedia Virginia | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 9 | Encyclopedia.com | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 10 | Klexikon | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 11 | Lex – Danmarks Nationalleksikon | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 12 | Store norske leksikon | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 13 | The Canadian Encyclopedia | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 14 | Wikiquote | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 15 | Encyclopédie Larousse | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 16 | New World Encyclopedia | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 17 | Vikidia | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 18 | Treccani | 5.5 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| 19 | Credo Reference | 5.4 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| 20 | Infoplease | 5.4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| 21 | Oxford Reference | 5.4 | No | |||||
| 22 | Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand | 5.4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| 23 | Citizendium | 5.3 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| 24 | Wikiwand | 5.3 | Yes | |||||
| 25 | Encyclopaedia Universalis | 5.2 | No | €1/mo | No | Yes | Yes |
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Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.