How to Use SciSpace to Write Research Papers Faster in 2026

Quick Start

This guide covers every SciSpace feature:

• Getting Started — Create account and basic setup
• How to Use Chat With PDF — Ask questions and get answers from any paper
• How to Use Literature Review — Find and compare studies at scale
• How to Use AI Writer — Draft sections with citations built in
• How to Use Paraphraser — Reword text while keeping the meaning
• How to Use Citation Generator — Format references in any style instantly
• How to Use Agent Gallery — Automate research tasks with AI agents
• How to Use Topic Finder — Get answers backed by academic sources
• How to Use Data Extractor — Pull specific data from multiple PDFs
• How to Use AI Detector — Check if text was written by AI

Time needed: 5 minutes per feature

Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives

Why Trust This Guide

I’ve used SciSpace for over 12 months and tested every feature covered here. This tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.

SciSpace is one of the most powerful AI research assistant tools available today.

But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.

This guide shows you how to use every major feature.

Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.

SciSpace Tutorial

This complete SciSpace tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.

SciSpace

Search 280M+ academic papers and let AI do the heavy lifting. SciSpace helps you find, read, and write research papers faster than ever. Start free — no credit card needed.

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Getting Started with SciSpace

Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.

It takes about 3 minutes.

Watch this quick overview first:

Now let’s walk through each step.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Go to scispace.com and click “Sign Up.”

You can register with your email or Google account.

The free Basic plan starts right away with no credit card.

✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email.

Step 2: Explore the Dashboard

After logging in, you land on the main dashboard.

The left sidebar shows all tools: Chat with PDF, Literature Review, AI Writer, and more.

Here’s what the dashboard looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the main dashboard with the search bar and tool menu.

Step 3: Install the Chrome Extension

Search “SciSpace” in the Chrome Web Store and click “Add to Chrome.”

This gives you AI help while browsing any academic site.

Pin the extension to your toolbar for quick access.

How to Use SciSpace Chat With PDF

Chat With PDF lets you ask questions about any research paper and get instant answers with citations.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Upload or Find a Paper

Click “Chat with PDF” from the sidebar menu.

Upload your own PDF or search from the 280M+ paper database.

Step 2: Ask Your Question

Type a question in plain English in the chat box.

SciSpace reads the paper and gives answers with exact citations.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the AI’s answer with highlighted sections from the paper.

Step 3: Ask Follow-Up Questions

Type more questions to dig deeper into methods, results, or data.

You can also highlight any text in the PDF to get explanations.

How to Use SciSpace Literature Review

Literature Review lets you search, filter, and compare studies from over 280 million papers in one place.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Enter Your Research Question

Click “Literature Review” from the sidebar.

Type your research question or keywords into the search bar.

Step 2: Review the Results Table

SciSpace shows results in a table with key findings, methods, and conclusions.

Add custom columns to compare specific details across papers.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see papers organized in columns with summaries and key data.

Step 3: Use Deep Review for Deeper Analysis

Click “Deep Review” to run an AI-powered mini literature review.

The AI searches hundreds of papers and creates a summary with citations.

How to Use SciSpace AI Writer

AI Writer lets you draft outlines, introductions, and full sections with auto-generated citations.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the AI Writer Tab

Click “AI Writer” from the sidebar or top navigation.

Type your topic into the search bar to find relevant papers first.

Step 2: Select Papers and Start Writing

Choose the papers you want the AI to reference.

Start typing and the AI suggests the next sentences with citations.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see AI-generated text with inline citations from your selected papers.

Step 3: Edit and Refine Your Draft

Review the AI’s suggestions and edit them to match your voice.

Ask the AI to find more supporting research for any claim.

How to Use SciSpace Paraphraser

Paraphraser lets you reword complex academic text while keeping the original meaning intact.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Paraphraser Tool

Click “Paraphraser” from the sidebar menu.

Paste the text you want to reword into the input box.

Step 2: Choose Your Rewriting Style

Select a tone like “Academic,” “Fluent,” or “Formal.”

The AI rewrites your text while preserving the meaning.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the original text on the left and the paraphrased version on the right.

Step 3: Copy or Edit the Output

Click “Copy” to grab the reworded text.

Always review the output to make sure it matches your intent.

How to Use SciSpace Citation Generator

Citation Generator lets you format references in over 9,000 styles including APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Find the Paper You Need to Cite

Search for the paper by title, DOI, or URL in SciSpace.

You can also use the Chrome extension to cite papers from any website.

Step 2: Select Your Citation Style

Click the “Cite” button next to your paper.

Choose your style from the dropdown — APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and more.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the formatted citation ready to copy.

Step 3: Export Your Citations

Copy the citation to your clipboard or download as BibTeX.

You can also export directly to Zotero or EndNote.

How to Use SciSpace Agent Gallery

Agent Gallery lets you automate complex research tasks like systematic reviews, patent searches, and grant proposal drafts.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Agent Gallery

Click “Agent Gallery” from the sidebar or visit the SciSpace Agent page.

Browse available agents or type your own research task.

Step 2: Define Your Task

Select what you want: literature review, data analysis, report writing, etc.

The agent picks the best AI models and data sources for your task.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the agent working through your task step by step.

Step 3: Review the Output

The agent delivers results as a Word doc, PPT, LaTeX file, or PDF report.

Review the output and ask follow-up questions to refine it.

How to Use SciSpace Topic Finder

Topic Finder lets you get evidence-based answers about broad concepts backed by academic sources.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Type Your Topic Question

Click “Find Topics” and enter a broad question or concept.

For example: “treatment options for lower back pain.”

Step 2: Review the Summary

SciSpace scans its database and shows a summary with key approaches.

Each answer comes with citations so you can verify the sources.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see a structured answer with cited sources underneath.

Step 3: Explore Related Papers

Click on any citation to open the full paper.

Use this as a starting point for deeper research on your topic.

How to Use SciSpace Data Extractor

Data Extractor lets you pull specific information from multiple PDFs and compare them side by side.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Upload Your PDFs

Click “Extract Data” and upload the papers you want to analyze.

You can upload multiple PDFs at once for batch processing.

Step 2: Choose What Data to Extract

Select the data points you want: conclusions, methods, sample sizes, etc.

SciSpace presents the extracted data in a clean table format.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see extracted data from all your PDFs in a side-by-side table.

Step 3: Export Your Data

Download the table as CSV or RIS for further analysis.

All extracted data gets saved to your SciSpace library.

How to Use SciSpace AI Detector

AI Detector lets you check if any text was written by AI, helping you maintain academic integrity.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the AI Detector

Click “AI Detector” from the sidebar tools.

Paste the text you want to check into the input box.

Step 2: Run the Detection

Click “Detect” and wait a few seconds for the results.

The tool highlights which parts look AI-generated and which look human-written.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see a percentage score and highlighted sections.

Step 3: Revise Flagged Sections

Rewrite any sections the tool flags as AI-generated.

Run the check again until your text passes as human-written.

SciSpace Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After testing SciSpace for over 12 months, here are my best tips.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Hidden Features Most People Miss

• Custom columns in Literature Review: Add your own categories like “Relevance” or “Sample Size” to filter papers without reading each one.
• Chrome extension on Google Scholar: Get instant AI summaries while browsing any academic website without switching tabs.
• Library folders: Organize saved papers into project-specific folders so you can find them fast when writing different sections.

SciSpace Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Trusting AI Output Without Checking

Mistake #2: Using AI Writer Output for Final Submissions

Mistake #3: Relying Only on SciSpace for Systematic Reviews

SciSpace Troubleshooting

Problem: PDF Upload Fails or Takes Too Long

Cause: The PDF may be too large, scanned (image-based), or have restricted permissions.

Fix: Compress the PDF first, or try a text-based version. Make sure the file is under 50MB.

Problem: AI Gives Wrong or Irrelevant Answers

Cause: The question may be too vague, or the AI may not have access to the full paper text.

Fix: Ask more specific questions and highlight the exact section you want explained.

Problem: Credits Running Out Too Fast

Cause: Agent tasks and Deep Review use many credits per run.

Fix: Save agents for big tasks and use basic Chat with PDF for quick questions. Upgrade to Premium or Advanced for more credits.

📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact SciSpace support through the help chat on their website.

What is SciSpace?

SciSpace is an AI research assistant that helps you find, read, and write academic papers faster.

Think of it like having a research partner who already read all 280 million papers in the database.

Watch this quick overview:

It includes these key features:

• Chat With PDF: Ask questions about any paper in plain English and get answers with citations.
• Literature Review: Search, filter, and compare studies from 280M+ papers with custom columns.
• AI Writer: Draft outlines and sections with auto-generated academic citations.
• Paraphraser: Reword complex text while keeping the meaning for academic writing.
• Citation Generator: Format references in 9,000+ styles and export to Zotero or EndNote.
• Agent Gallery: Automate big research tasks like systematic reviews and grant proposals.
• Topic Finder: Get evidence-based answers about broad research concepts.
• Data Extractor: Pull specific data points from multiple PDFs into a clean table.
• AI Detector: Check if text was written by AI to maintain academic integrity.

For a full review, see our SciSpace review.

SciSpace Pricing

Here’s what SciSpace costs in 2026:

Free trial: Yes — the Basic plan is free forever with no credit card required.

Money-back guarantee: Contact support for refund requests on paid plans.

💰 Best Value: Premium at $12/month (billed yearly) — it removes all daily limits and gives you full access to every tool.

SciSpace vs Alternatives

How does SciSpace compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: SciSpace — best all-in-one tool for academic research with 280M+ papers
• Best budget: Notion AI — strong free plan with AI-powered note organization
• Best for beginners: ClickUp — simple interface with free plan for basic project tracking
• Best for teams: Monday CRM — visual dashboards make team collaboration easy

🎯 SciSpace Alternatives

Looking for SciSpace alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🚀 Notion: All-in-one workspace that blends notes, databases, and AI writing for research and project management.
• 💼 Wrike: Enterprise-grade project management with real-time dashboards and cross-team collaboration tools.
• ⚡ ClickUp: Feature-packed productivity platform with free plan, docs, whiteboards, and AI-powered task management.
• 🧠 Taskade: AI-first team workspace that turns conversations into tasks, mind maps, and automated workflows.
• 🎨 Monday: Visual project boards with drag-and-drop interface, great for teams that prefer Kanban-style workflows.
• 🏢 Asana: Trusted project management tool with timeline views, goal tracking, and strong integrations.
• 📊 Smartsheet: Spreadsheet-based management platform ideal for data-heavy research teams and complex projects.
• 🔧 Teamwork: Client-focused project management with time tracking, invoicing, and resource scheduling built in.

For the full list, see our SciSpace alternatives guide.

⚔️ SciSpace Compared

Here’s how SciSpace stacks up against each competitor:

• SciSpace vs Notion: SciSpace wins for academic research with 280M+ papers; Notion wins for general note-taking and team wikis.
• SciSpace vs Wrike: SciSpace is built for researchers; Wrike focuses on enterprise project management with Gantt charts and approvals.
• SciSpace vs ClickUp: SciSpace excels at literature reviews; ClickUp excels at task management with a generous free tier.
• SciSpace vs Taskade: SciSpace offers deeper academic tools; Taskade offers AI-powered mind maps and real-time team collaboration.
• SciSpace vs Monday: SciSpace is designed for research workflows; Monday is designed for visual team management and CRM.
• SciSpace vs Asana: SciSpace handles academic papers; Asana handles project timelines, goal tracking, and team coordination.
• SciSpace vs Smartsheet: SciSpace targets researchers; Smartsheet targets data-driven teams needing spreadsheet-style project management.
• SciSpace vs Teamwork: SciSpace focuses on research; Teamwork focuses on client work with billing, time tracking, and resource planning.

Start Using SciSpace Now

You learned how to use every major SciSpace feature:

• ✅ Chat With PDF
• ✅ Literature Review
• ✅ AI Writer
• ✅ Paraphraser
• ✅ Citation Generator
• ✅ Agent Gallery
• ✅ Topic Finder
• ✅ Data Extractor
• ✅ AI Detector

Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.

Most people start with Chat With PDF.

It takes less than 5 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use SciSpace?

Sign up for free at scispace.com and choose a tool from the sidebar. Upload a PDF to chat with it, search for papers in Literature Review, or use the AI Writer to draft sections. Each tool works with a simple search bar and chat interface that responds to plain English questions.

How to use SciSpace to find research gaps?

Use the Literature Review tool with a specific research question. The AI highlights areas that lack enough studies, which points you toward gaps. You can also use custom columns to track “evidence strength” across papers, making missing areas easy to spot. Deep Review can show where current research falls short.

Is SciSpace better than ChatGPT?

For academic research, yes. SciSpace pulls answers from 280M+ real papers with citations, while ChatGPT uses general training data that can contain errors. SciSpace also has purpose-built tools like Literature Review, Citation Generator, and Data Extractor that ChatGPT lacks. For general questions outside academia, ChatGPT is more flexible.

Is SciSpace legitimate?

Yes, SciSpace is a legitimate AI research platform built by the company Typeset, which rebranded to SciSpace. It sources data from over 280 million peer-reviewed papers. Many universities and researchers worldwide use the tool for literature reviews and academic writing. Always verify AI outputs against original sources for accuracy.

Is SciSpace AI free to use?

Yes, SciSpace has a free Basic plan that never expires. It includes Chat with PDF, basic AI actions, and limited literature review features. No credit card is required. For full access to Deep Review, AI Writer, and higher credit limits, paid plans start at $8/month for Teams and $12/month for Premium.

Is SciSpace detected by Turnitin?

If you copy and paste text from SciSpace’s AI Writer or Paraphraser directly, Turnitin may flag it as AI-generated content. However, using SciSpace for finding papers, generating citations, or summarizing research for your own understanding is safe. Always rewrite AI-generated text in your own words before submitting.

How do I cancel my SciSpace subscription?

Log into your account and go to Settings or the Billing section. You should find an option to manage or cancel your subscription. If you have trouble, contact their support team through the website’s help chat. Make sure to cancel before the next billing cycle to avoid unexpected charges.

What is the difference between SciSpace and Elicit?

Both are AI research tools, but they focus on different strengths. Elicit excels at extracting specific data points across many papers at once, like building a research matrix. SciSpace is better for reading individual PDFs in depth and offers more tools like AI Writer, Paraphraser, and Citation Generator. Choose SciSpace if you need an all-in-one platform.

How to use SciSpace for free?

Go to scispace.com and sign up with your email or Google account. The free Basic plan activates right away with no credit card. You get daily access to Chat with PDF, AI explanations, paper highlights, and limited literature review columns. For students, SciSpace also offers discounts on paid plans.

How do I add the SciSpace extension to Chrome?

Open the Chrome Web Store and search for “SciSpace.” Click “Add to Chrome” and then confirm by clicking “Add Extension.” Pin the extension to your toolbar for quick access. Once installed, the AI assistant appears on any academic site you visit, letting you get summaries and explanations without switching tabs.