Best Online Encyclopedias in 2026
Updated
Whether you are checking a fact, exploring a subject, or supporting study, online encyclopedias can differ in both reference features and access. Compared on citation tools, content formats, and update frequency, these entries give you details to weigh when choosing where to look things up. Treccani, Encyclopedia.com, and Wikipedia are among the options shown. For use in a class, library, or across devices, consider educator resources, institutional access, and mobile apps. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer additional points of comparison, while the listed content formats and citation tools can help you judge how well an encyclopedia suits your research or learning needs.
31ranked
17free plans on this page
€1/molowest paid tier
11 Oct 2026last checked
Online Encyclopedias, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going.23 of 23 products with recorded free access can be tried for free.
- 1 Encyclopaedia UniversalisPaid from €1/mo
- Free to practise on: no
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 2 Treccani
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 3 WikipediaFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 4 Enciclopèdia.catFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 5 Encyclopaedia BritannicaFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 6 Encyclopedia of ArkansasFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 7 Encyclopedia.comFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 8 Encyclopédie LarousseFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 9 Lex – Danmarks NationalleksikonFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 10 Oxford Reference
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 11 VikidiaFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 12 Baidu BaikeFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 13 BrockhausPaid from €5.83/mo
- Free to practise on: no
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 14 Encyclopedia VirginiaFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 15 NationalencyklopedinPaid from SEK 49.17/mo
- Free to practise on: no
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 16 Store norske leksikonFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 17 Encyclopedia of AlabamaFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 18 Encyclopedia of Korean CultureFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 19 KlexikonFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 20 New World EncyclopediaFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 21 The Canadian EncyclopediaFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 22 WikiquoteFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 23 Britannica Kids
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 24 Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 25 Infoplease
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Citation tools | Educator resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encyclopaedia Universalis | 7.0 | No | €1/mo | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2 | Treccani | 7.0 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| 3 | Wikipedia | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 4 | Enciclopèdia.cat | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 5 | Encyclopaedia Britannica | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 6 | Encyclopedia of Arkansas | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 7 | Encyclopedia.com | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 8 | Encyclopédie Larousse | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 9 | Lex – Danmarks Nationalleksikon | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 10 | Oxford Reference | 6.9 | No | |||||
| 11 | Vikidia | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 12 | Baidu Baike | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 13 | Brockhaus | 6.8 | No | €5.83/mo | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 14 | Encyclopedia Virginia | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 15 | Nationalencyklopedin | 6.8 | No | SEK 49.17/mo | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 16 | Store norske leksikon | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 17 | Encyclopedia of Alabama | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 18 | Encyclopedia of Korean Culture | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 19 | Klexikon | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 20 | New World Encyclopedia | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 21 | The Canadian Encyclopedia | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 22 | Wikiquote | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 23 | Britannica Kids | 6.5 | No | |||||
| 24 | Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand | 6.5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| 25 | Infoplease | 6.4 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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