RevMan

RevMan is Cochrane software for creating transparent systematic reviews, from structured data entry and analysis through presenting results. It supports diagnostic test accuracy, intervention, methodology, overview, prognosis, qualitative, and flexible review types. Authors can edit separate sections at the same time and see who else is working on a review. Analysis options include pairwise meta-analysis, sensitivity and subgroup analyses, and fixed-effects, random-effects, Mantel-Haenszel, and inverse-variance models. Built-in outputs include forest, SROC, and funnel plots, risk-of-bias assessments, and PRISMA flow diagrams. Authors can use ready-made or custom templates and structured headings with Cochrane methodological guidance. RevMan imports study data and references from Covidence; RIS reference imports can use Crossref, PubMed, or CRS. It runs on Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. A practice review is free but is deleted after 30 days, has no data export, and allows one person per review. Cochrane Review authors also have free access to RevMan Web. Individual annual subscriptions are £80, £100, or £130, with VAT applying in the EU and UK.

RevMan brings review writing, analysis, collaboration, and visualization into one tool. Check the practice-review limits and mobile restrictions, along with the subscription terms, before choosing a plan.

RevMan suits authors producing systematic reviews across clinical, methodological, qualitative, and other listed review types. Its collaborative editing and analysis tools may also suit teams working on reviews together.

RevMan is Cochrane’s workspace for producing systematic reviews, combining structured writing, evidence analysis, collaboration, and reporting graphics. It is best suited to students, academics, and review teams working with established methods; readers needing screening or mobile access should look elsewhere. Its integrated analytical workflow is compelling, but the practice-plan restrictions and subscription terms require close attention.

Overview

RevMan supports diagnostic test accuracy, intervention, methodology, overview, prognosis, qualitative, and flexible review types. That range makes it suitable for more than conventional intervention reviews, while its absence of a screening workflow rules it out as an all-in-one choice for teams that must screen studies inside the same application.

The software is distributed by The Cochrane Collaboration, a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. Cochrane is headquartered in London.

Key features

Collaborators can edit different review sections simultaneously and see who else is working on the project. Ready-made or custom templates, structured headings, and Cochrane methodological guidance provide a shared framework for writing. This is particularly useful when several authors need consistent structure without being forced into an identical review template.

For quantitative synthesis, RevMan supports pairwise meta-analyses, sensitivity and subgroup analyses, plus fixed-effects, random-effects, Mantel-Haenszel, and inverse-variance models. Built-in forest, SROC, and funnel plots, risk-of-bias assessments, and PRISMA flow diagrams connect calculations with the figures and reporting elements a review typically needs. Authors who require these methods gain a broad, coherent toolkit; projects focused only on screening or literature discovery will find much of this scope unnecessary.

Study data and references can be imported from Covidence, while RIS imports can draw on Crossref, PubMed, or CRS. GRADEpro integration is not enabled for non-Cochrane reviews, and Cochrane Library data cannot be downloaded and reused in RevMan, limiting some otherwise plausible workflows.

RevMan Web encrypts data at rest and uses 256-bit SSL for communications. It is hosted on AWS, uses Cochrane Account single sign-on with OpenID Connect, and stores AWS-hosted customer data in London and Ireland. Cochrane states that RevMan Web complies with GDPR for processing personal data of people in the EU. After a subscription ends, subscribers retain access to reviews and their history for 60 days.

Pricing

RevMan uses a freemium model, with a 30-day trial and paid subscriptions from £80 per user per year. The free Practice review plan costs $$0, allows one person per review, provides no data export, and deletes the review after 30 days. It is useful for a brief trial of the workflow, not for preserving a live project or coordinating a team.

Cochrane author access is free ($$0) for authors working on Cochrane Reviews, making it the clear choice for that specific audience. The Individual student annual subscription costs £80.00 per year, billed at £80.00 plus VAT in the EU and UK; eligibility is shown after login. It fits eligible students who need an ongoing individual workspace.

The Individual academic annual subscription costs £100.00 per year, billed at £100.00 plus VAT in the EU and UK, for eligible academics. The Individual standard annual subscription costs £130.00 per year, billed at £130.00 plus VAT in the EU and UK, for an individual subscription without that eligibility requirement. Organizations start at £560 per contact for up to eight users, with the final price varying by organization type and seat count. The 30-day trial is useful before committing, but renewal terms should be checked when selecting a subscription.

Platforms

RevMan is available on Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. RevMan Web supports Chrome, Firefox, and newer Edge versions. Mobile devices and touchscreen use are not supported, so phone- or tablet-first workflows are unsuitable.

Who it's for

Choose RevMan for a structured, method-led systematic review that needs meta-analysis, review-specific visualizations, and simultaneous authoring. Students can use the lower-cost academic route when eligible, while academics and organizations gain plans sized for ongoing individual or multi-seat work. It is a poor fit for teams whose central requirement is screening, mobile editing, or unrestricted reuse of Cochrane Library data.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad review coverage: supports diagnostic, intervention, methodology, overview, prognosis, qualitative, and flexible reviews.
• Substantial analysis depth: includes multiple meta-analysis models, subgroup and sensitivity analysis, and specialist plot types.
• Shared authorship: simultaneous editing and presence visibility help distributed review teams coordinate.
• Integrated reporting: risk-of-bias assessments and PRISMA diagrams sit alongside analysis and writing.
• Defined security posture: encryption, 256-bit SSL, GDPR compliance for EU personal-data processing, and European AWS locations address key governance concerns.

Cons

• No screening workflow: study-screening teams need another tool or a different platform.
• Restrictive practice plan: one user, no export, and deletion after 30 days make it unsuitable for durable projects.
• No mobile or touchscreen support: work is confined to supported desktop browsers and operating systems.
• Integration boundaries: non-Cochrane reviews cannot use GRADEpro integration, and Cochrane Library data cannot be downloaded for reuse.
• Post-subscription window: access to reviews and history lasts 60 days after a subscription ends.

Alternatives

For screening-centered collaboration, Rayyan offers a free plan with three active reviews, two free reviewers, and limited mobile-app access across Android, iOS, web, and API.

EviSynth is a free, open-source option with unlimited collaborators and no subscriptions for academic use.

Choose Elicit when paper search, summaries, and chat across more than 138 million papers matter more than RevMan’s review-analysis workflow.

Bibliometrix is a free open-source R package with a Biblioshiny web interface for bibliometric work.

Inciteful is a free web tool built on a fully open-source codebase.

Litmaps suits researchers who want visual literature discovery, with a free tier capped at 20 inputs, 100 articles, one Litmap, and no collaboration.

ResearchRabbit is a free web option for discovery, offering unlimited searches, libraries, and collections, with up to 50 seed articles.

Abstrackr is a completely free web application with no stated seat or usage caps.

Browse Literature Review Software and Systematic Review Software for broader category choices.

Verdict

RevMan is the strongest choice for review authors who want Cochrane-guided writing, substantial meta-analysis methods, integrated figures, and collaborative editing in one workspace. Look elsewhere if screening, mobile use, long-term free access, or flexible data reuse is central to your project.