Best OpenAlex Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 platforms from academic research databases ranked against OpenAlex on the same published basis.
- 1OpenAlex vs CORE
- 2OpenAlex vs MAXQDA
- 3OpenAlex vs The Lens
- 4OpenAlex vs JSTOR
- 6OpenAlex vs AGRICOLA
- 7OpenAlex vs arXiv
- 8OpenAlex vs Dimensions
- 9OpenAlex vs SSRN
- 10OpenAlex vs ERIC
- 11OpenAlex vs Directory of Open Access Journals
- 12OpenAlex vs CAB Abstracts
- 13OpenAlex vs Embase AI
- 14OpenAlex vs medRxiv
- 15OpenAlex vs Project MUSE
- 16OpenAlex vs ProQuest Central
- 17OpenAlex vs PubMed
- 18OpenAlex vs zbMATH Open
- 19OpenAlex vs Academia.edu
- 20OpenAlex vs APA PsycInfo
- 21OpenAlex vs bioRxiv
OpenAlex alternatives compared
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CORE | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | API, Browser, Web |
| 2 | MAXQDA | 7.7 | No | — | Mac, Windows |
| 3 | The Lens | 7.7 | Free plan | $83.33/mo | API, Web |
| 4 | JSTOR | 7.1 | Free plan | $16.58/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 6 | AGRICOLA | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 7 | arXiv | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | API, Web |
| 8 | Dimensions | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 9 | SSRN | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 10 | ERIC | 6.5 | No | — | API, Web |
| 11 | Directory of Open Access Journals | 6.4 | No | — | API, Web |
| 12 | CAB Abstracts | 6.0 | No | — | Web |
| 13 | Embase AI | 6.0 | No | — | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| 14 | medRxiv | 5.9 | No | — | Web |
| 15 | Project MUSE | 5.9 | No | — | Web |
| 16 | ProQuest Central | 5.9 | No | — | Web |
| 17 | PubMed | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | API, Web |
| 18 | zbMATH Open | 5.9 | No | — | Web |
| 19 | Academia.edu | 5.8 | No | — | Web |
| 20 | APA PsycInfo | 5.8 | No | — | Web |
| 21 | bioRxiv | 5.8 | No | — | Web |
Make your platform an alternative to OpenAlex
See the priceThe sponsored alternative slot on this page is labelled Sponsored.
Questions about OpenAlex alternatives
What is the best alternative to OpenAlex?
CORE, number 1 in academic research databases with a score of 7.7 out of 10. The others here: MAXQDA, The Lens, JSTOR and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to OpenAlex?
CORE is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 8 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on.