Elicit vs Consensus: Features, Pricing and Verdict
Elicit and Consensus both search academic research, but they solve different problems. Compare features, pricing and the review workflow to pick the right one.
By Galactic News Editorial · Published 2026-11-11T19:21:15+00:00 · Updated 2026-11-11T19:21:15+00:00
Elicit and Consensus both search academic research, but they solve different problems. Elicit is a research assistant built for deep literature work. It extracts data into tables and runs systematic reviews. Consensus is a search engine that answers a question from peer-reviewed papers and shows the evidence behind the answer. If you need a quick, cited answer, Consensus is the faster tool. If you need to screen thousands of papers and build an evidence table, Elicit is the stronger one. This is a research-based assessment, not hands-on testing. Prices below come from the vendors' own pricing pages, checked in November 2026.
Elicit vs Consensus at a glance
| Attribute | Elicit | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Core job | Research assistant for deep literature work | Search engine that answers questions from papers |
| Paper coverage | More than 138 million papers | More than 200 million peer-reviewed papers |
| Free plan | Yes, Basic at $0 | Yes, Free at $0 |
| Entry paid plan (annual billing) | Plus, $11 per user per month | Pro, $12 per month |
| Systematic review workflow | Yes, on Pro and above | No dedicated workflow; Deep reviews instead |
| Evidence quality signal | Explanations for answers on paid plans | Consensus Meter scores study findings |
| Data extraction | Tables with columns, exports to CSV and RIS | Study Snapshots summarise individual papers |
| API access | Yes, on Pro and above | Yes, included allowances on paid plans |
How Elicit works
Elicit starts with a research question. It searches more than 138 million papers. It returns summaries of the most relevant studies. You can chat with papers where full text is available. You can import references from Zotero.
The free Basic plan covers that core search. It includes unlimited search, unlimited summaries, and unlimited chat with papers. Research Agent and Research Reports usage is limited on Basic. The pricing page does not publish a number for that limit.
Paid plans add structure. Plus adds exports to RIS, CSV, BIB, PDF and DOCX. It adds five table columns at a time. It adds clinical trial search and standard usage of the Research Agent and Research Reports. Pro adds a systematic review workflow that can screen 5,000 papers. It adds 20 table columns at a time and reports that draw on up to 135 data sources. It also adds API access and Routines. Scale raises usage to nine times the standard level on the academic track. It adds figure extraction, live team collaboration, and reports from up to 200 sources.
Elicit is the tool for formal evidence work. A systematic review needs screening, inclusion criteria, and extracted data in a table. Elicit builds that workflow into the product. Consensus does not.
How Consensus works
Consensus starts with a plain-language question. It searches peer-reviewed papers only. It writes a short answer and cites the studies behind each claim. The Consensus Meter shows how the evidence leans. It groups findings as yes, possibly, or no for a given question.
The free plan is generous for casual use. Basic paper search is unlimited. You also get 10 Pro messages and up to 3 Deep reviews a month. Study Snapshots are capped at 10 a month on the free plan. Pro lifts Pro messages to unlimited and raises Deep reviews to 15 a month. It also makes Study Snapshots unlimited and adds 500 API and MCP uses a month. Deep raises the review allowance to 200 a month. It adds 2,000 API and MCP uses a month.
Deep reviews are the heavy feature. They are metered separately from ordinary messages on every tier. A Deep review runs a deeper synthesis across more papers. If you run literature reviews often, that monthly cap matters more than the headline price.
Consensus is the tool for fast answers. A clinician checking a treatment claim, a writer verifying a statement, or a student scoping a topic gets a cited answer in seconds. It does not build extraction tables or run a screening workflow.
Elicit vs Consensus pricing
Elicit lists two price tracks. The academic track is cheaper. The industry track costs more. Prices below are per user per month with annual billing, on the academic track unless noted.
| Plan | Elicit (annual) | Consensus (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, Basic | $0, Free |
| Entry paid | Plus, $11 | Pro, $12 |
| Mid paid | Pro, $39 academic; $49 industry | Deep, $45 |
| Top paid | Scale, $89 academic; $229 industry | Teams and Enterprise, custom |
Monthly billing costs more on both tools. Elicit's Plus is $11 a month on annual billing. Consensus Pro is $20 a month on monthly billing and $12 on annual billing. Consensus Deep is $65 a month on monthly billing and $45 on annual billing. Check the billing toggle before you buy. The gap between monthly and annual rates is large.
Students and faculty get a discount on Consensus. Verified academic email addresses receive up to 40 percent off. Clinicians with a valid NPI number receive 25 percent off. Elicit also lists academic pricing as a separate track, which is why its academic rates run lower than its industry rates.
Neither tool charges per search on its free plan. Both cap the deeper features instead. Elicit caps Research Agent and Reports usage. Consensus caps Pro messages and Deep reviews. Heavy users hit those caps long before they hit a search limit.
Which tool fits your work
Choose Consensus if you ask research questions and want a fast, cited answer. It suits clinicians, journalists, students, and professionals who check claims. The free plan covers occasional questions. Pro at $12 a month billed annually is the sensible paid step for weekly use.
Choose Elicit if you run literature reviews or build evidence tables. It suits PhD students, systematic reviewers, and research teams. The free plan covers searching and reading. Plus at $11 a month adds exports and table columns. Pro at $39 a month adds the screening workflow and API access. That workflow is the feature that justifies the price.
Consider using both. Many researchers search with Consensus for a quick read, then move to Elicit when a question becomes a formal review. The two free plans cost nothing. Try the free tier of each before paying for either.
Watch the caps before you commit. Count how many Deep reviews you run in a month on Consensus. Count how many Research Reports you run on Elicit. Those numbers decide which paid tier you actually need. A plan that looks cheap can still cap the one feature you use most.
Bottom line
Consensus wins for quick, cited answers from peer-reviewed research. Its free plan is generous, and Pro at $12 a month billed annually covers regular use. Elicit wins for systematic reviews and structured evidence work. Its screening workflow, extraction tables, and API access serve a different job. Pick Consensus to answer questions. Pick Elicit to review a field. If your work is a formal literature review, Elicit Pro is the right buy. For everything else, start with Consensus.