# Elicit vs Kagi

> Elicit: AI research assistant for literature search, systematic reviews and evidence reports
> Kagi: Ad-free, subscription-funded search engine with built-in AI assistant and summarization tools

- Elicit profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/elicit
- Kagi profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/kagi
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/elicit-vs-kagi
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Elicit is listed under Education & Research and Kagi under AI Assistants. Elicit scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.3 vs 8.1 out of 10). Both have a free plan or trial. Only Kagi is available on iOS and Android.

### Choose Elicit if

- You want a tool built for literature reviews.
- Free plan with unlimited search across 138M+ papers.
- Sentence-level citations for AI-generated claims.

### Choose Kagi if

- You want a tool built for people who want ad-free, personalizable search results and are willing to pay a subscription to get them.
- No advertising; revenue comes from subscriptions.
- Site-level raise, lower and block controls let users tune results.

## Pricing

| | Elicit | Kagi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Elicit | Kagi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Research Agent | Yes | Not listed |
| Research Reports | Yes | Not listed |
| Systematic Literature Review | Yes | Not listed |
| Data extraction tables | Yes | Not listed |
| Library | Yes | Not listed |
| Routines | Yes | Not listed |
| Chat with papers | Yes | Not listed |
| Zotero import | Yes | Not listed |
| API and MCP server | Yes | Not listed |
| Ad-free search | Not listed | Yes |
| Site personalization | Not listed | Yes |
| Lenses | Not listed | Yes |
| Kagi Assistant | Not listed | Yes |
| Quick Answer and Summarize Page | Not listed | Yes |
| Developer APIs | Not listed | Yes |
| Orion browser | Not listed | Yes |
| Kagi Translate and Kagi News | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Elicit | Kagi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | No |
| macOS | No | No |
| iOS | No | Yes |
| Android | No | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## Elicit strengths

- Free plan with unlimited search across 138M+ papers
- Sentence-level citations for AI-generated claims
- Structured extraction of paper details into tables
- Dedicated systematic review workflow and Routines for tracking new research
- API and MCP server for use with other tools

## Elicit limitations

- Research Agent and Reports usage is limited on the free plan
- Systematic reviews, Routines and API access need Pro at $75 per user per month ($49 billed annually)
- Pricing page shows only annual-billing rates for Pro and Scale
- Focused on research; not a general-purpose assistant
- No mobile app

## Kagi strengths

- No advertising; revenue comes from subscriptions.
- Site-level raise, lower and block controls let users tune results.
- Lenses give quick topic-specific filtering such as Academic or Forums.
- Ultimate bundles access to Claude, GPT and Gemini models in Assistant.
- Public APIs and an MCP server support developer use.
- Transparent funding history published by the company.

## Kagi limitations

- No permanent free tier: the trial is limited to 100 searches.
- The $5 Starter plan caps searches at 300 per month, which users report running out of quickly.
- Reviewers report that lens use and loading more results can count as extra searches.
- Full AI model access requires the $25 Ultimate plan.

## FAQ

**Is Elicit better than Kagi?**

It depends on your workflow. Elicit is built for literature reviews. Kagi is built for people who want ad-free, personalizable search results and are willing to pay a subscription to get them.

**What are the key feature differences between Elicit and Kagi?**

Elicit: AI research assistant for literature search, systematic reviews and evidence reports. Kagi: Ad-free, subscription-funded search engine with built-in AI assistant and summarization tools.

**Does Elicit or Kagi have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Elicit is freemium and Kagi is free trial, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Elicit or Kagi?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.