LitFlow
Münster, Germany
What it is
LitFlow is a web and self-hosted workspace for systematic literature reviews. Its workflow covers database searching, snowballing, AI-generated synonyms, screening, extraction, synthesis, and reporting. During screening, AI proposes a verdict for each criterion with a confidence score, explanation, and links to source passages, while researchers make the decisions. Custom extraction schemas can receive LLM pre-fill with source links, and a qualitative coding board helps organize themes. Reports include PRISMA information, Cohen’s κ, and an audit trail in a publication-ready methods report. AI suggestions and human decisions are logged with timestamps, actors, and rationales. Users can bring keys for Gemini, Claude, OpenAI, or Mistral, or use open-source models hosted by the University of Münster. The closed alpha runs on University of Münster infrastructure in the EU, with maintainer approval for new cohort members. Academic use is free at no cost.
For and against
For
- Covers search through publication-ready reporting
- AI screening includes confidence and source links
- Custom extraction schemas support LLM pre-fill
- Logs AI and human decisions with rationales
- Academic use is free at no cost
Against
- Closed alpha requires maintainer approval
- No commercial tier is listed
- OSF and Zenodo integrations remain under consideration
The verdict
LitFlow brings review stages, assisted screening, extraction, coding, and reporting into one workspace. Its audit records and researcher-controlled decisions fit teams that need traceable academic workflows, provided they can access the closed alpha.
Who it suits
LitFlow suits researchers conducting systematic reviews in medicine, software engineering, social sciences, and related fields. It is also aimed at academic users who can work within a closed alpha and, where needed, self-host.
Plans and prices
Academic use
Free for academic use · closed alpha; maintainer approval required · no commercial tier
Read 8 Oct 2026 · litflow.org
On the record
- AI providers
- Users can bring their own keys for Gemini, Claude, OpenAI, or Mistral, or use open-source models hosted by the University of Münster.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- AI screening
- For each record, AI proposes per-criterion verdicts with confidence scores, justifications, and links to source passages, while the researcher makes the decisions.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Audit trail
- AI suggestions and human decisions are logged with timestamps, actors, and rationales.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Availability
- LitFlow is in closed alpha, and maintainers approve new cohort members.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Data protection
- The maker says the hosted instance runs on EU infrastructure under GDPR and personal data is pseudonymised in research outputs.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Extraction and synthesis
- The workflow includes custom extraction schemas with LLM pre-fill and source links, plus a qualitative coding board for thematic structure.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The closed alpha runs on University of Münster infrastructure in the EU, and an open-core release is planned for institutional self-hosting.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integration roadmap
- OSF and Zenodo integration are listed as features under consideration.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The website is operated by the LitFlow research project at the University of Münster, a public-law body in Münster, Germany.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- LitFlow is an AI-augmented systematic literature review workspace covering search, screening, extraction, synthesis, and reporting.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Reporting
- LitFlow reports PRISMA information, Cohen’s κ, and an audit trail in a publication-ready methods report.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Search
- Search features include database search, snowballing, and AI-generated synonyms.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support and participation
- The project invites users to contact the team, propose features, contribute code, and join evaluation activities.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Target users
- LitFlow is rooted in information systems research and says its workflow is used across medicine, software engineering, and the social sciences.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Website privacy
- The website privacy policy says it uses no cookies or tracking or analytics technologies, and its server logs retain shortened IP addresses for at most seven days.litflow.org · read 8 Oct 2026
