12 Best Online Research Tools For Every Researcher

Do not index

Are you tired of searching for reliable sources for your next paper or article? Ever wish you could effortlessly enhance your writing by having a reliable assistant at your fingertips? This guide explores online research tools and how they can transform your writing process, making you more efficient and productive.

This guide introduces Unriddle's AI Research Assistant, the ultimate tool to enhance your writing and help craft efficient papers, summaries, and articles with artificial intelligence.

What Is Online Research?

Online research involves collecting data and information via the internet. Various research activities, such as surveys, polls, questionnaires, and focus groups, can be conducted online. This approach offers several advantages compared to traditional research methods.

Advantages of Online Research

Access to Global Information

One of the primary benefits of online research is that it provides access to global information. Regardless of your location, you can gather data from your target market. This global reach allows you to obtain insights from diverse populations worldwide.

CostEffectiveness and Low Effort

Online research is more cost-effective and easier to conduct than traditional research methods. By leveraging online platforms, you can eliminate the need for physical resources and streamline the data collection process. This efficient approach saves time and effort while delivering valuable results.

Updated Information

With many researchers sharing their studies online, online research provides access to updated information. Researchers can find up-to-date data without having to collect it themselves. This ensures that the insights gained from online research are relevant and timely.

Ease of Conducting Research

Conducting online research is relatively straightforward and convenient. Researchers can distribute links to surveys, polls, and questionnaires via email, social media, or QR codes. This ease of dissemination enables efficient data collection and broader participation in research activities.

Why Is Research Important?

Academic research seeks to advance new knowledge and has relevance based on solving problems that contribute to improving society. When you perform academic research, you are trying to solve a mystery. You want to know how something works or why something happened. In other words, you want to answer a question you, academics, and professionals have about the world. This is one of the most fundamental reasons for performing research.

The process doesn’t stop right after solving the problem. Academic research needs to be presented; the most common way is through an academic paper, but if it is quality, it can be published in professional journals.

Read Faster & Write Better With Unriddle

Unriddle.AI allows you to read faster and write better. Quickly find info in documents, simplify complex topics, take notes, and write with the power of AI. Unriddle is trusted by thousands of researchers and students, from the classroom to the boardroom. Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of any document so you can quickly find, summarize, and understand info. No more endless skimming.

Unriddle.AI understands the meaning behind your writing and automatically links you to relevant things you’ve read and written about. Highlight text and Unriddle will show you the most relevant sources from your library using AI. Never lose a citation again. Generate text with AI autocomplete to improve and expand your writing, with suggestions based on the context of your work. Step into a collaborative workspace where everyone can contribute and chat with the same documents in real-time and much more!

Read faster & write better — try Unriddle for free today.

Endnote Vs Zotero

Best Citation Manager

Academic Search Engines

Good Websites For Research

How To Use Google Scholar

Easybib Alternative

Elicit Ai

Academic Search Engines

Best AI Tools For Research

12 Best Online Research Tools For Every Researcher

1. Unriddle.AI

Unriddle.AI is a powerful research tool that allows users to read and write efficiently by leveraging artificial intelligence's capabilities. The tool simplifies complex topics, assists in taking notes, and enhances writing with AI suggestions and autocomplete features. Unriddle.AI fosters collaboration by providing a shared workspace where multiple individuals can contribute and chat in real-time.

Pricing

Unriddle.AI offers a free trial for users to explore its features. However, users can subscribe to the platform's paid plan for continued usage, with additional features and benefits.

Pros

Enables faster research and writing with AI assistance

Facilitates collaboration through real-time document sharing

Helps organize research materials efficiently

Improves writing through AIbased autocomplete suggestions

Trusted by researchers and students for enhanced productivity

Cons

Limited to subscription and paid plans

It may have a learning curve for new users

Advanced features may require some level of expertise

Dependency on Internet connectivity for real-time collaboration

2. Consensus

Consensus is an AI-powered search engine that provides evidence-based answers to users' queries. The platform focuses on six specific topics such as economics, sleep, social policy, medicine, mental health, and health supplements. Users can ask Yes/No questions and receive responses backed by academic consensus and citations from peer-reviewed sources.

Pricing

Consensus offers a free plan for basic usage. Users can opt for premium features by subscribing to the platform's Premium or Teams plan, which provides enhanced functionalities and benefits.

Pros

Provides evidence-based answers quickly

Utilizes natural language processing for efficient results

Ensures quality information through peer-reviewed sources

Adfree platform for unbiased results

User-friendly interface for easy navigation

Cons

Limited coverage of specific topics

May lack context for complex or controversial subjects

Potential delay in reflecting the latest research

Quality assessment of individual papers may be limited

3. Jasper

Jasper is an AI tool that assists with various writing tasks. Jasper streamlines the writing process from identifying core arguments to providing writing outlines and generating titles. The platform also features basic editing functions and provides templates to aid users in writing cover letters, emails, and other documents.

Pricing

Jasper offers subscription plans based on user requirements, such as Creator and Pro plans, catering to different levels of usage and budget considerations.

Pros

Offers basic editing functions for improved writing

Provides templates for various writing tasks

Helps in writing cover letters and emails effectively

Facilitates user engagement with interactive features

Cons

Requires user guidance for optimal results

Limited functionality in paraphrasing longer paragraphs

Unused credits do not carry over to the next month

It may have a learning curve for new users

4. Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a free search engine indexing scholarly literature in various fields. Users can access articles, theses, conference papers, preprints, and other academic publications through the platform. Google Scholar assists students and researchers in finding relevant academic resources by enabling searches based on keywords, author names, or publication titles.

Pricing

Google Scholar is a free tool that offers unrestricted access to its search functionalities and academic resources.

Pros

Indexes a wide range of scholarly literature

Easy to use for users familiar with Google search

Provides tools for tracking citations and finding similar articles

Supports different formats for exporting citations

Enables easy access to relevant academic resources

Cons

Limited search filtering options

No full-text access to most articles

Content not categorized by subject area or material type

Lack of expert organization for search results

Limited identification of 'peer-reviewed' sources

5. Avidnote

Avidnote is a SaaS software known for its AI tools. It offers a free version with online support. The platform features timesaving templates and a user-friendly interface, catering to users engaged in research and content generation.

Pricing

Avidnote offers different pricing plans, such as a free, Professional, and Premium plan, tailored to meet users' requirements and preferences.

Pros

Timesaving templates for efficient research

User-friendly interface for seamless navigation

Free plan for budget-conscious users

Offers online support for user assistance

Cons

It may not be ideal for highly specific research tasks

Limited advanced features for complex research

User learning curve for new users

May require additional support for technical issues

6. Zotero

Zotero is a tool designed to automatically organize research materials from various sources, such as JSTOR, ArXiv.org, news websites, and libraries. The platform features collaborative group libraries, citation plugins for Microsoft Word and Google Docs, and options to edit PDFs on the desktop and iOS apps.

Pricing

Zotero offers a free version with optional paid cloud storage upgrades for users seeking additional features and data capacity.

Pros

Easy to learn and use for research organization

Collaborative group libraries for team research

Add citations with one click using Zotero Connector

Edit PDFs directly within the platform

Opensource software with free updates

Cons

Requires desktop application for full functionality

Limited free cloud storage capacity

No mobile app for Android users

Lack of professional customer support services

7. Scite.AI

Scite.AI is an AI tool that assists users in evaluating article credibility and provides detailed citations to published papers. The platform offers an AI assistant for evidence-based responses and a Chrome extension to access its features conveniently.

Pricing

Scite.AI provides subscription plans, including a 7-day free trial, a Monthly Plan, and a Yearly Plan, to cater to users' preferences and usage requirements.

Pros

Assess article credibility easily

AI assistant for evidence-based answers

Handy Chrome extension for quick access

Detailed citations for published papers

Cons

Subscription costs may pose a hurdle for some users

Limited full-text access due to publisher agreements

Potential restrictions on feature access based on subscription plan

Lack of comprehensive user reviews or feedback

8. Research Rabbit

Research Rabbit is an AI-powered tool that accelerates research processes by providing personalized recommendations and visualizing scholarly networks of papers. The platform aids researchers in saving time and enhancing the quality of their research through AI assistance and interactive features.

Pricing

Research Rabbit is free to researchers, ensuring accessibility and usability for individuals seeking research assistance.

Pros

Uses AI to improve research quality and efficiency

Visualizes scholarly networks in interactive graphs

Offers personalized digests of the latest papers

Free tool for researchers forever

Supports citation management and article summarization

Cons

It may not cover all relevant sources for specific topics

Limited capabilities for complex or ambiguous queries

Compatibility limitations with some citation styles

Lack of extensive user reviews or feedback

9. ChatPDF

ChatPDF is an AI-powered tool that simplifies reading and analyzing journal articles through a chat interface. The platform allows users to upload research papers, ask questions, and receive summaries and examples based on the article content.

Pricing

ChatPDF offers a free plan with an optional Plus plan for users seeking additional features and benefits.

Pros

Intuitive chat interface for efficient interaction

Multilingual support for global users

Generous free plan for expanded usage

Simplifies navigating complex PDFs

Cons

Absence of a Chrome extension

Limited privacy document functionality

Potential user adjustments to workflow

It may lack advanced features for some users

10. Semantic Scholar

Semantic Scholar offers the research community free AI-driven search and discovery tools. The platform focuses on improving research quality by extracting meaning from papers and providing valuable insights to scholars, enabling them to understand and discover research efficiently.

Pricing

Semantic Scholar is a free platform that provides comprehensive access to scholarly publications and advanced filtering options for refined search results.

Pros

Comprehensive access to scholarly publications

Advanced filtering options for refined search results

Recommendations based on search history

Ability to claim publications and track their impact

Cons

Less popular compared to other platforms

Limited user interface customization options

It may lack some advanced features for specific users

Requires further user exploration for full benefits

11. Bit AI

Bit AI is an AI program designed for team collaboration on documents, wikis, and knowledge bases. The platform allows users to create interactive documents with videos, cloud files, and audio, enabling real-time collaboration and communication within the interface.

Pricing

Bit AI offers various pricing plans, starting from a free tier, to cater to users with different needs and budget considerations.

Pros

Builtin AI writing assistant for document generation

Collaboration tools for real-time team engagement

Wide range of integrations for enhanced usability

Supports multiple use cases beyond research tasks

Cons

Limited customization options for document appearance

May lack specific text formatting features

Requires user adjustment for customization

Potential user interface improvement for better navigation

12. Jenni

Jenni is an AI-powered writing assistant designed to aid students and researchers in academic writing tasks. The platform leverages machine learning and natural language processing to offer content suggestions, writing feedback, research assistance, citation formatting, and plagiarism checks.

Pricing

Jenni offers a free plan along with paid plans starting at a reasonable monthly rate, ensuring accessibility and usability for different user categories.

Pros

AIpowered research assistant for effective writing

Citation and reference assistance for academic work

AI commands for various writing tasks

AI autocompletion for faster writing

Cons

Limited content types available compared to other platforms

It may lack some advanced features for specific research tasks

Potential learning curve for new users

Requires further exploration for full usage benefits

Mendeley Vs Zotero

Zotero Vs Endnote

Research Management Software

How To Read Research Papers

Ref Me

Alternatives To Google Scholar

Zotero Alternatives

Academic Research Tools

Academic Research Software

Best Scientific Search Engine

Complete StepbyStep Guide On How To Use Unriddle's AI Research Tool

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Unriddle. I’ve also copied it below :)

From here, it's pretty simple.

Unriddle helps you read, write and learn faster.

Interact with documents via AI so you can quickly find and understand info.

Then start writing in a new Note and Unriddle will show you relevant content from your library as you type.

Get started by uploading a document.

Or read on for the full rundown.

Interact with documents

When you upload a document, Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of this data.

Click 'New' in the right sidebar and then select 'Upload' to get started.

Use this assistant to answer specific questions about the text, summarize content and simplify jargon.

The trick is to be super clear about what you want.

If you're summarizing a research paper, for example, instead of saying “Summarize” or “Summarize this research paper”, say something like “Explain this research paper to me in simple terms. What method did the researchers use? What did they find? Why does it matter?”.

The second prompt will produce a much better overview of the paper because we're giving the AI more hints about what we want.

Automatic relations

Unriddle grasps the context behind each Note and Document in your library and automatically links them based on meaning.

Let's say you have a collection of nuclear physics papers in your library.

When you start writing a note about The Manhattan Project, simply mentioning "The Manhattan Project" will prompt Unriddle to find the connection between this note and the nuclear physics papers.

Even if you didn't explicitly mention the research papers, Unriddle's knowledge of Oppenheimer, his work, and the significant relevance of these papers means it understands the connection and automatically links them together.

In short, Unriddle shows you relevant content from your library at the exact moment you need it, even if you haven't explicitly mentioned it.

Citing your sources

Writing is hard when you have a ton of sources to track.

So we made it easy.

Highlight some text, click ‘Cite’ and you’ll see items from your library that contain information related to the selection of text you just highlighted as determined by our AI.

When you select an item Unriddle inserts a link into highlighted text that, when clicked, takes you to the referenced item.

Writing with AI

Click ‘New’ in the sidebar and hit ‘Note’ to open up a new note.

Here you’ll find all the text formatting options you’re used to and more.

Type ‘++’ to generate text based on the context of what’s already written.

Highlight text and click ‘Ask AI’ to open up the AI menu where you’ll find options to improve, expand, summarize and explain.

You can type custom prompts too!

Finally, you can open any note in a pane on the right side of the screen while interacting with documents. Just click the orange pencil icon at the top of the chat window.

Chat Settings

Adjust the model, temperature and response length in the Setting sidebar.

Click the cog icon in the top right corner of the screen and look for "Chat Settings".

These apply across all documents but you can easily flip between them regardless of settings at the time of upload.

Model: the machine learning model used to generate responses.

Temperature: the amount of creative license you give to the AI.

Max length: the maximum number of words generated in a response.

Got feedback or questions? Send us an email and we'll get back to you within a day.

— Naveed

Types Of Online Research Tools

1. Reference Management Tools

Reference management tools are essential for researchers as they help organize and format references, detect duplicates, replace incomplete references, and share articles with other researchers. These tools ensure accurate source linking and proper citation of referenced articles. By using reference management tools, researchers can save time and effort by automating the tedious tasks related to referencing, allowing them to focus more on their research work.

2. Academic Writing Tools

Academic writing tools offer researchers many functionalities, including language editing, abstract writing, and plagiarism checking. These tools can significantly improve the quality of research papers by assisting in proper language usage, enhancing readability, and ensuring the originality of content. Researchers can streamline their writing process by leveraging academic writing tools, avoiding common errors, and producing high-quality academic documents.

3. Project Management Tools

Project management tools are crucial in helping researchers organize and manage their work effectively. Using tools like Trello, GanttPRO, Evernote, and My Research Projects, researchers can keep track of their tasks, set deadlines, and consolidate all project-related information in one place. These tools enhance productivity, facilitate collaboration, and enable researchers to stay on top of their research projects.

4. Academic Search Engines

Academic search engines are indispensable for researchers seeking the latest scientific information in their respective fields. These engines use keywords to retrieve relevant research articles, peer-reviewed papers, authentic information, and academic resources. Using academic search engines, researchers can stay abreast of the latest field developments, access valuable research material, and find credible research sources.

5. Journal Selection Tools

Given the many scholarly journals available, selecting the right journal for research papers is critical for researchers. Online journal selection tools come in handy for researchers looking to identify reputable, relevant, and reliable journals for publication. These tools assist researchers in finding the most suitable journals for their research work, ensuring that their papers reach the right audience and contribute to the academic community.

Read Faster & Write Better With Unriddle for Free Today

Unriddle.AI is an enhanced online research tool that takes your reading and writing experience to the next level. This unique platform allows you to read faster, comprehend complex topics effortlessly, and write better with the power of artificial intelligence. Imagine having an AI assistant on top of any document, helping you quickly find, summarize, and understand information. Unriddle does just that, making it a game-changer for researchers and students.

Effortlessly Find and Understand Information

One of Unriddle's remarkable features is its ability to understand the meaning behind your writing. By tapping into this capability, Unriddle automatically links you to relevant content you've read and written about. This way, you can effortlessly delve into your digital tapestry of knowledge, enhancing your research process. Say goodbye to endless skimming and welcome a more efficient way of connecting ideas and information.

Effortless Citation Management

Unriddle also simplifies the cumbersome task of managing citations. No longer will you have to worry about losing a citation or struggling to locate sources for your references. By highlighting text, Unriddle instantly shows you the most relevant sources from your library using AI. This feature ensures that your work is well-supported and backed by credible sources, making your writing more robust and reliable.

Enhance Your Writing with AI Autocomplete

Another incredible feature of Unriddle is its AI autocomplete function, which generates text suggestions based on the context of your work. These suggestions can help you improve and expand your writing effortlessly. This AI-powered tool ensures that your writing is clear, concise, engaging, and dynamic.

Collaborative Workspace

Unriddle offers a collaborative workspace where everyone can contribute and chat in real-time while working on the same document. This feature fosters teamwork and collaboration, making it ideal for group projects, research teams, and virtual classrooms. With Unriddle, you can seamlessly work with others, share ideas, and create outstanding work together.

Unlock the Power of Unriddle Today

Unriddle.AI is a must-have tool for anyone looking to enhance their research and writing abilities. Whether you're a student, researcher, or professional, Unriddle can revolutionize how you work with information. So why wait? Embrace the power of Unriddle today and unlock a world of possibilities in reading and writing.