
ExplainPaper AI Research Paper Reader
ExplainPaper helps researchers and students comprehend dense academic texts. It is designed for those who need to process research papers and simplify complex concepts.
At a glance
- Best for
- Researchers, Students, Academic Institutions
- Pricing
- A free-forever plan is available. The Pro plan is priced at $16 per month and includes advanced AI models, full paper summaries, and math explanations.
- Key use cases
- Simplifying Academic Jargon, Research Paper Analysis, Literature Review Support, Cross-Language Research
- Integrations
- Zotero library import
- Official website
- Visit ExplainPaper official website

ExplainPaper is an AI-powered reading tool designed to help users navigate academic research. By uploading PDFs, users can highlight sections of text to receive simplified explanations based on the paper's context.
The software is built for researchers and students who encounter technical jargon or complex formulas. It uses Large Language Models (LLMs) to break down difficult concepts, with adjustable complexity levels to suit the reader's expertise.
Beyond explanations, the tool supports a chat interface for asking specific questions about the content and the generation of smart outlines to identify key arguments. This supports a guided approach to analyzing academic literature.
Buyers should confirm that certain features, such as full paper summaries and the ability to save highlights, are available only in the Pro plan. Users of the free version have access to basic AI models.
Key Features
Highlight Explanations
Allows users to select text and receive simplified explanations in over 50 languages.
Adjustable Complexity Levels
Supports changing the explanation level from beginner to expert.
Interactive Paper Chat
Supports asking questions about the uploaded document with answers based on the actual paper content.
Smart Outlines and Key Points
Helps identify the paper's structure, main arguments, and key findings.
Math Formula Explanations
Helps interpret mathematical formulas and figures (available in the Pro plan).
Full Paper Summaries
Generates a summary of the entire research document (available in the Pro plan).
Use Cases
Simplifying Academic Jargon
Highlighting technical terminology in a PDF to receive a plain-English explanation.
Research Paper Analysis
Using the chat feature to ask questions about a study's methodology or results.
Literature Review Support
Using smart outlines and key point extraction to identify if a paper is relevant.
Cross-Language Research
Receiving explanations for academic text in one of over 50 supported languages.
Best For
- Researchers
- Students
- Academic Institutions
Integrations
- Zotero library import
Pricing
A free-forever plan is available. The Pro plan is priced at $16 per month and includes advanced AI models, full paper summaries, and math explanations.
FAQ
What does ExplainPaper do?
- It is an AI tool that allows users to upload research papers and get simple explanations for confusing text and complex concepts.
Is there a free version of ExplainPaper?
- Yes, there is a free-forever plan that includes unlimited highlight explanations and Zotero library imports powered by basic AI models.
What is included in the Pro plan?
- The Pro plan costs $16/month and includes advanced AI models, full paper summaries, math formula explanations, and the ability to save highlights.
Source category: Education & Training
Source subcategory: AI Assistant
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Categories
Software Type
How AI is used
ExplainPaper is an AI-powered research paper reader designed for students and researchers to simplify academic PDFs. It supports workflows like highlight-based explanations and document Q&A. Advanced AI features and saving capabilities are limited to the $16/month Pro plan.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Supports over 50 languages for explanations
- Adjustable complexity levels for different expertise levels
- Includes a free plan
- Supports Zotero library import
Cons
- Full paper summaries and highlight saving are reserved for the Pro plan
- The free plan uses basic AI models
- Math and figure explanations require a paid subscription