RECAP

RECAP is a collection of tools for working with PACER, the system for accessing U.S. federal court records. Its browser extension adds purchased PACER documents to the RECAP Archive, where contributed documents can be accessed for free. The searchable archive holds tens of millions of documents, including scanned PDF pages. Users can follow cases for email alerts about new filings and save searches to be notified of new matches in PACER holdings. Attorneys can direct PACER notices to a personal CourtListener notification address so RECAP can process them and contribute cases and filings. The archive is also available through an API or as bulk data for journalists, researchers, startups, and developers. Webhooks can connect events on RECAP’s website to actions in other systems; the maker also describes a PACER-to-Google-Drive connector demo. The extension says it does not access PACER credentials, but it uploads federal records to CourtListener and sends queries there about requested records. RECAP is free to use, though PACER may charge for purchased documents. Paid access is listed from $10/user/mo.

RECAP brings PACER document contributions, archive search, and research alerts together. Note that PACER may charge for purchased documents and the extension sends records and queries to CourtListener.

RECAP may suit people researching U.S. federal court records, including journalists, researchers, attorneys, startups, and developers. It is also relevant to PACER users who want case or search alerts.

RECAP is a PACER-focused toolkit for finding and following U.S. federal court records. It is best for people whose research depends on dockets and filings; its shared archive can make those records easier to reuse, though it does not replace broader legal research tools.

Overview

RECAP connects a browser extension with an archive of tens of millions of PACER documents. When the extension is used to purchase a document through PACER, it adds that record to the archive for others to access without another purchase. The archive is searchable across scanned PDF pages, a practical advantage when a filing is image-based or difficult to locate through ordinary text search. Records that no one has contributed may still require a PACER purchase.

The scope is U.S. federal courts. RECAP offers case-law and docket search, citation tools, and research alerts, but not statute and regulation search or legal commentary. That makes it a focused records resource, not a complete research library.

Key features

Archive and PACER sharing

The contribution model can reduce repeat spending: one person's PACER purchase may become a free copy for the next reader. The archive's size and scanned-page search support document-led work, but coverage depends on what users have contributed. PACER may still charge for documents you buy.

Case and search alerts

Email alerts can track new filings in followed cases, and saved-search alerts flag new matches in PACER holdings. The extension provides additional case alerts. Attorneys can also add a personal CourtListener notification address as a secondary PACER recipient, allowing RECAP to process notices and contribute cases and filings.

Data and integrations

Journalists, researchers, startups, and developers can use the archive through an API or as bulk data. Webhooks can connect events on RECAP's website to actions in other systems; Free Law Project also describes a PACER-to-Google-Drive connector demo. These options make RECAP more useful for research workflows and data projects than a simple archive search alone.

Privacy and safeguards

The extension's policy says it does not access PACER credentials or transmit information to third parties, while explaining that it uploads federal records to CourtListener and sends CourtListener queries about requested records. Its permissions cover PACER sites, not browsing on other websites. RECAP says it detects some restricted-document warnings and does not upload those records, with additional safeguards for ECF accounts and a process for mistaken uploads. Users handling sensitive filings should understand that records and queries are sent to CourtListener before enabling the extension.

Pricing

The RECAP extension is free: the RECAP plan is free. The free plan has no stated trial period because no free trial is offered, and the extension itself is free. PACER can still charge for purchased documents, so free access to RECAP does not mean every filing is cost-free.

Paid plans start at 10 /user/mo. A plan without a published price has custom pricing. The published pricing does not give plan-specific seat counts, quotas, renewal terms, or a feature breakdown for paid tiers, so the free extension is the clearest fit for individuals who need its core PACER contribution and archive workflow. Organizations needing paid services should confirm the terms before choosing a plan.

Platforms

RECAP is available as an extension, on iOS, and on the web. The extension is central to contributing purchased PACER documents and provides additional alerts; web access supports archive search and data access.

Who it's for

RECAP suits federal-court researchers, attorneys, journalists, and developers who need PACER documents, docket updates, or archive data. Its alerts and bulk-data options serve ongoing monitoring and research projects. Readers looking for statutes, regulations, legal commentary, or broad multi-jurisdiction coverage should choose a wider legal research service instead.

Pros and cons

• Pros: A large shared archive can spare readers repeat PACER purchases when a document has already been contributed.
• Pros: Search across scanned PDF pages, docket and search alerts, and API or bulk-data access support several kinds of federal-court research.
• Pros: The extension is free, and its stated permission scope is limited to PACER websites.
• Cons: Uncontributed documents may still cost money through PACER.
• Cons: Its U.S. federal-court focus and lack of statute, regulation, and commentary search limit its usefulness as a general legal research platform.
• Cons: The extension uploads federal records to CourtListener and sends queries there, a consideration for users with stricter data-handling requirements.

Alternatives

For a broader shortlist, start with Legal Research Software. Indian Kanoon is a freemium Android, API, and web option; its free plan includes 25 court copies per month and two query alerts, so it may suit readers who want a capped free research service on those platforms. Fastcase is a freemium choice with a free trial and a $65/month Appellate plan covering 50-state and federal law, appellate case law, and nationwide statutes and regulations with no contract; choose it when that broader coverage matters more than RECAP's archive model.

Manupatra AI Search is a paid Android, iOS, web, and Windows option with a ₹5,000/year High Court Judgments AI Summary plan for unlimited High Court judgment summaries, better suited to that specific summarization need. Lexis+ is a paid service with a free trial and custom pricing that varies by organization, tools, content, practice areas, jurisdictions, and users; it is an alternative for readers seeking a broader subscription research service. SCC Online is another paid Android and web option.

CourtListener is free on the web and offers docket and search alerts, making it a natural alternative for readers who want a free court-records and alert service without RECAP's browser extension workflow. AustLII offers free public legal materials on the web, while CanLII provides free Canadian legal information on the web, with Search+ requiring a free myCanLII account and subject to a daily usage limit.

Verdict

Choose RECAP if your work centers on U.S. federal filings and you want a free extension, shared archive, and alerts in one focused toolkit. The archive's scale and contribution model are its strongest reasons to use it; PACER charges for some documents and RECAP's narrow scope are the reasons to look elsewhere.