Best Academic Research Databases in 2026
Updated
In short: JSTOR is ranked #1 of 33 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Embase AI and CORE. The best-ranked option with a free plan is CORE. The lowest first paid tier on this page is JSTOR at $16.58/mo.
When you’re looking for scholarly material, start with the subjects and source types your work calls for. The entries are ranked, and the listed comparisons include advanced search, subject coverage, and content types, as well as conference proceedings and theses and dissertations. Check full-text and institutional access to understand reading options; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. JSTOR, CORE, and OpenAlex appear at the top, followed by The Lens and ERIC. Europe PMC, PubMed, and arXiv are also among the first entries. Consider which discovery and access details matter for your research when comparing the options.
33 academic research databases ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 JSTOR iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$16.58/mo Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 2 Embase AI iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7
- 3 CORE No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4Free Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 4 MAXQDA No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4
- 5 OpenAlex No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$416.67/mo Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 6 The Lens No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$83.33/mo Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 7 AGRICOLA No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Full-text access: NoAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 8 arXiv No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 9 SSRN No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 10 Dimensions No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 11 ERIC No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 12 Directory of Open Access Journals No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 13 CAB Abstracts No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: stem
- 14 medRxiv No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: medical
- 15 Project MUSE No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 16 ProQuest Central No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 17 PubMed No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Full-text access: NoAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: medical
- 18 zbMATH Open No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Full-text access: NoAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 19 Academia.edu No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 20 bioRxiv No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: stem
- 21 Europe PMC No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: medical
- 22 neotoma2 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Full-text access: NoAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 23 open-MaStR No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Full-text access: No
- 24 Academic Search Ultimate No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Full-text access: YesAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: multidisciplinary
- 25 APA PsycInfo No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Full-text access: NoAdvanced search: YesSubject coverage: social_sciences
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which academic research database is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
JSTOR is ranked #1 of 33 with a score of 7.9. Embase AI is second and CORE third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, JSTOR has the lowest first paid tier we found: $16.58/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.