Side by side
Academic Search Ultimate vs Scopus
Both stand on academic research databases. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial AndroidiPhoneWeb
Academic Search Ultimate offers broad, full-text multidisciplinary coverage with advanced discovery tools and mobile access. Its usefulness depends on whether your institution can arrange access and whether the covered sources match your research needs.
Visit Academic Search Ultimate Free plan APIWeb
Scopus combines research discovery, author and institutional profiles, metrics, and AI-assisted summaries. The free preview offers a way to explore it, while full access and institutional API use depend on organization subscriptions and applicable policies.
Visit ScopusThe facts
| Academic Search Ultimate | Scopus | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Web | API, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Elsevier |
| Website | about.ebsco.com | elsevier.com |
| On academic research databases | #21 of 34 | #17 of 34 |
Academic Search Ultimate: what it does well
- 10,199 active full-text journals and magazines
- 9,581 active peer-reviewed journals
- Advanced search and citation assistance
- More than 6,700 research videos
- iOS and Android mobile app
What to know first
- No listed subscription price
- No free plan
- Access depends on EBSCOhost arrangements
- Trial duration is unspecified
Scopus: what it does well
- Coverage includes journals, preprints, books, and proceedings.
- Author Profiles show output, impact, and collaborators.
- Metrics span journals, articles, authors, and institutions.
- Scopus with AI includes Deep Research reports.
- A free preview is available.
What to know first
- Full access requires an organization subscription.
- API access is for subscribing academic institutions.
- AI summary coverage starts at 2003.
- Other API uses may require approval.
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