Pick Elicit if…
- You also need research assistant (from what its own site says it does).
Elicit vs Consensus
Elicit vs Consensus compared with prices from official pricing pages (per-tool checked dates): plans, free tiers and which is better value.
Which should you pick?
These do different jobs: Elicit is for research assistant, Consensus is for paper search — so we make no price-based pick.
Free plan, refunds, privacy and more: see what else differs ↓
- Main job
- Elicit: research assistant · Consensus: paper search
- Real free plan
- Elicit: yes · Consensus: yes
- ToolPick Best Value pick
- Elicit (for research)
Rule: we only compare prices when the tools do the same main job (from what each official site says it does), and only on the same billing (monthly with monthly, billed-yearly with billed-yearly). A real free plan on only one tool comes first. Prices from official pricing pages, each with its own checked date below. No ratings or reviews. The cheaper pick comes from price alone; the Best Value label is shown separately and never replaces it — the same rule as on each tool page.
| Elicit | Consensus | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | AI research assistant for papers and systematic reviews. | Search engine that answers from peer-reviewed research. |
| All plans | Industry: Pro $75/mo ($49/mo yearly, $588/yr); Scale $279/mo ($169 yearly, $2,028/yr). Academic: Plus from $11/mo yearly ($19 monthly); Pro $69 ($39); Scale $149 ($89) | Pro $20/mo ($12/mo annually); higher plan $65/mo ($45 annually) |
| Free tier | Basic: free | Free plan available |
| Checked | 2026-10-15 · pricing page | 2026-10-15 · pricing page |
Beyond the price: Elicit vs Consensus
Free plan limits, yearly savings, student and team deals, refunds and whether your data trains their AI, side by side. Every fact is from the tool's official page, with its source and the date we read it.
What matters to you?
Tap what matters to you. We tally which tool is ahead using only the facts in the table below.
| What you get | Elicit | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan Free plan limits → | Yes: Basic: freesource for Elicit (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-15 | Yes: Free plan availablesource for Consensus (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-15 |
| Yearly billing Monthly or yearly? → | Pro: $75/mo monthly, $49/mo billed yearly (save 35%)source for Elicit (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-15 | Ahead Pro: $20/mo monthly, $12/mo billed yearly (save 40%)source for Consensus (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-15 |
| Student deal Student discounts → | Not in our checks yet | Up to 40% off: Up to 40% off a Consensus subscriptionsource for Consensus (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-24 |
“Ahead” means better on that row only, by a fixed rule: a free plan beats none; the bigger yearly saving; free student plan, then discount; the lower per-seat price on the same billing; a stated refund window, then case by case, then none; not training on your data, then opt-in, then opt-out, then no opt-out. No row is called when a tool hasn't been checked. See how we pick.
Who should pick which
Pick Consensus if…
- You'll pay for a year up front: Pro drops from $20 to $12/mo (save 40%).
- You also need paper search (from what its own site says it does).
More: best AI research tools · all research tools · cost calculator
Comparisons
FAQ
How much does Elicit cost?
Per its official pricing page (checked 2026-10-15): Industry: Pro $75/mo ($49/mo yearly, $588/yr); Scale $279/mo ($169 yearly, $2,028/yr). Academic: Plus from $11/mo yearly ($19 monthly); Pro $69 ($39); Scale $149 ($89).
Does Elicit have a free plan?
Basic: free (checked 2026-10-15).
How much does Consensus cost?
Per its official pricing page (checked 2026-10-15): Pro $20/mo ($12/mo annually); higher plan $65/mo ($45 annually).
Does Consensus have a free plan?
Free plan available (checked 2026-10-15).
What is ToolPick's best-value pick for research?
Elicit: Entry tier is $11/mo billed yearly, built specifically for academic literature.
Which should I pick, Elicit or Consensus?
These do different jobs: Elicit is for research assistant, Consensus is for paper search — so we make no price-based pick (ToolPick rule using prices checked on official pricing pages).
Writing about this? Embed this price card — it updates when we re-check prices.