Best AI research tools in 2026

• ResearchFree tier

  Elicit

  A research assistant for academic papers: search, screening and data extraction for literature and systematic reviews.

  Subscription · 3 use casesFree; Plus $11/mo

• Browser agentsFree tier

  ChatGPT (agent & deep research)

  OpenAI's assistant. Paid plans add agent features (ChatGPT Work, a built-in browser, scheduled tasks) and deeper research reports.

  Subscription · 2 use casesFree; Plus $20/mo

• Browser agents

  Manus

  A general-purpose agent that works on its own in a cloud computer: browsing, researching, and producing reports, slides and simple sites.

  Subscription · 1 use case$20/mo ($17/mo billed yearly)

• ResearchFree tier

  Gemini Deep Research

  Google's Gemini assistant; Deep Research browses many sources and writes a report.

  SubscriptionFree; AI Pro $19.99/mo

• ResearchFree tier

  Consensus

  An AI search engine over peer-reviewed research that summarizes what studies found, with citations.

  SubscriptionFree; Pro $12/mo

• DataFree tier

  Powerdrill

  An AI agent workspace for data analysis and research that turns files and data into reports, slides and charts.

  SubscriptionFree; Pro from $16.58/mo

• ResearchFree tier

  Perplexity

  An AI answer engine with cited sources, deep research reports and 'Computer' tasks that build documents and apps.

  SubscriptionFree; Pro $17/mo

• StLegal

  StrongSuit

  Legal AI for litigators that researches case law, reviews documents and drafts filings. Formerly Callidus AI.

  Subscription$249/mo

• PaLegal

  Paxton

  AI legal research and drafting workspace for litigation teams, built around case files.

  Per seat$499/user/mo

• ResearchFree tier

  Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM)

  Google's research notebook (formerly NotebookLM) that answers questions from your sources and makes audio overviews and slides.

  SubscriptionFree; more with Google AI plans

How we ordered this list: whether the vendor publishes its prices, then the number of verified public use cases we've found, then the lowest listed monthly plan. Only full listings (verified starting price with its source) are included. We haven't tested these hands-on. How we rank.

Pricing compared

Public pricing of AI research tools, with the date each price was checked

Agent	Starts at	Model	Free plan	Plans	Checked	Source
Elicit	Free; Plus $11/mo	Subscription	Yes	Basic: Free Plus: $11/user/mo Pro: from $39/user/mo Scale: from $89/user/mo	October 21, 2026	Source
ChatGPT	Free; Plus $20/mo	Subscription	Yes	Free: $0 Go: $8/mo Plus: $20/mo Pro: from $100/mo Business: $25/user/mo	October 21, 2026	Source
Manus	$20/mo ($17/mo billed yearly)	Subscription	No	4,000 credits/mo: $20/mo 8,000 credits/mo: $40/mo 40,000 credits/mo: $200/mo Team / Enterprise: Contact sales	October 24, 2026	Source
Gemini Deep Research	Free; AI Pro $19.99/mo	Subscription	Yes	Free: $0 Google AI Plus: $4.99/mo Google AI Pro: $19.99/mo Google AI Ultra: from $99.99/mo Gemini Enterprise Business: from $21/seat/mo	October 21, 2026	Source
Consensus	Free; Pro $12/mo	Subscription	Yes	Free: $0 Pro: $12/mo Deep: $45/mo	October 21, 2026	Source
Powerdrill	Free; Pro from $16.58/mo	Subscription	Yes	Free: $0/month Pro: $16.58/mo Plus: $33.25/mo Premium: $165.83/mo	October 21, 2026	Source
Perplexity	Free; Pro $17/mo	Subscription	Yes	Free: $0 Pro: $17/mo Max: $167/mo	October 29, 2026	Source
StStrongSuit	$249/mo	Subscription	No	Individual: $249/mo Firm: Custom quote	October 29, 2026	Source
PaPaxton	$499/user/mo	Per seat	No	Individual (monthly): $499/user/mo Individual (yearly): $2,999/user/yr Enterprise: Custom	October 22, 2026	Source
Gemini Notebook	Free; more with Google AI plans	Subscription	Yes	Gemini Notebook: Free With Google AI Plus / Pro / Ultra: See vendor	October 21, 2026	Source

Download this table as a CSV (free, CC BY 4.0: product, starting price, pricing model, free plan, every listed plan, checked date, vendor pricing page).

Prices are copied from each vendor's public pricing page on the date shown. "not published" or "Contact sales" means the vendor doesn't publish a price; we don't guess. Prices change; confirm with the vendor.

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