Quick Start
This guide covers every Scite feature:
- Getting Started — Create account and basic setup
- How to Use AI Research Assistant — Get answers grounded in real publications
- How to Use Smart Citations — See how a paper is supported, contrasted, or mentioned
- How to Use Patents Search — Find patents that cite the research behind an idea
- How to Use Custom Dashboard — Track articles and get alerts on new citations
- How to Use Journals and Rankings — Compare journals by citation quality, not raw counts
- How to Use Browser Extension — See Smart Citation badges on Google Scholar and PubMed
- How to Use Funding Institution Insights — Check the citation impact of funded research
- How to Use Reference Check — Catch retractions and editorial notices before you submit
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives
Why Trust This Guide
I’ve used Scite for six months and tested every feature covered here. This tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.
Scite is one of the most powerful AI research 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.
Scite Tutorial
This complete How to Use Scite tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.
Scite
Stop guessing whether a paper holds up. Scite pairs 1.2 billion citation statements with AI classification, so you spot supporting and contrasting evidence in seconds. Try it free for 7 days.
Getting Started with Scite
Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.
It takes about 3 minutes.
Watch my personal experience with Scite first:
Now let’s walk through each step.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to Scite’s website at scite.ai.
Click “Sign Up” and start the 7-day free trial.
Enter your email and create a password.
✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email.
Step 2: Access the Web App
Scite runs in your browser, so there is nothing to install.
Log in with your new account.
You land on the search page — your home base for everything.
✓ Checkpoint: You should see the main search bar.
Step 3: Complete Initial Setup
Pick your research field and topics of interest during onboarding.
Then run one test search to see how results look.
✅ Done: You’re ready to use any feature below.
How to Use Scite AI Research Assistant
AI Research Assistant lets you ask questions and get answers grounded in real publications.
It is perfect when starting a literature review.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Assistant
Click “Assistant” in the top navigation.
Scite Assistant opens as an AI chatbot built for research.
Step 2: Ask Your Question
Type a research question in plain language.
For example: “What are the limitations of self-report measures?”
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The answer includes citation statements and references you can verify.
Step 3: Refine the Output
Adjust the settings to limit sources, date ranges, or journals.
Ask it to surface gaps in the literature you could address next.
✅ Result: You get literature-backed answers and search strategies instead of unsourced AI text.
💡 Pro Tip: Ask the assistant to build a comparison table of multiple studies. Define your criteria, and it generates the table with sources attached.
How to Use Scite Smart Citations
Smart Citations lets you see how a paper is discussed by other papers, beyond simple citation counts.
It is the fastest way to critically engage with the literature.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Search for a Paper
Enter a title, DOI, or keywords in the search bar.
Scite’s database covers over 187 million research papers.
Step 2: Open the Scite Report
Click any result to open its scite report page.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see Supporting, Contrasting, and Mentioning tallies with citation snippets below.
Step 3: Filter the Citation Statements
Filter citation statements by classification, paper section, or year.
Each citing paper shows the citation context around the reference.
Try a contested topic like ego depletion and watch the contrasting citations stack up.
✅ Result: You know how a study held up, not just how often it was cited.
💡 Pro Tip: Psychology students use this to locate appropriate measures for their studies. It also helps identify critiques of well-established measures fast.
How to Search Scite Patents
Patents Search lets you find patents that cite scientific research.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Switch to Patents
Run a search, then select “Patents” from the filters.
Step 2: Enter Your Keywords
Search a method, compound, or technology by name.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see patents that cite relevant articles on your topic.
Step 3: Trace the Science
Open a patent to see the cited work behind it.
Follow those references back to the original research papers.
✅ Result: You can connect commercial inventions to the evidence they build on.
💡 Pro Tip: Patent citations reveal which topics attract industry interest. That’s a useful signal when picking an applied research direction.
How to Use Scite Custom Dashboard
Custom Dashboard lets you save publications and monitor them automatically.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Create a Dashboard
Click “Dashboards” and select “Create new dashboard”.
Name it after your project or thesis chapter.
Step 2: Add Publications
Add papers from search results or import a reference list.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your saved papers appear with their classification tallies.
Step 3: Set Up Alerts
Turn on email alerts for new citations.
Scite notifies you when other researchers cite anything you track.
✅ Result: Your literature monitoring now runs itself.
💡 Pro Tip: Track your own publications too. The dashboard visualizations reveal citation patterns and help you analyze your work’s influence over time.
How to Use Scite Journals and Rankings
Journals and Rankings lets you compare journals by citation quality instead of raw counts.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Journals Section
Click “Journals” in the navigation menu.
Step 2: Browse the Rankings
Sort journals by the scite Index, which weighs supporting citations.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see yearly rankings with an index score per journal.
Step 3: Compare Before Submitting
Shortlist journals in your research field.
Check how often their articles receive supporting citations.
✅ Result: You pick target journals with data, not impact-factor folklore.
💡 Pro Tip: Check a journal’s retraction history here before submitting. A high rate is a red flag your supervisor will thank you for catching.
How to Use Scite Browser Extension
Browser Extension lets you see Smart Citation badges while browsing Google Scholar or PubMed.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Install the Extension
Get the Scite browser extension from the Chrome or Firefox store.
Step 2: Browse Like Normal
Search Google Scholar the way you always do.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Badges under each result show supporting, contrasting, and mentioning counts.
Step 3: Click Through
Click any badge to open the full report on Scite.
✅ Result: Citation context follows you across the web.
💡 Pro Tip: The extension also highlights retracted papers right in your search results. That’s a built-in reference check while searching literature.
How to Use Scite Funding Institution Insights
Funding Institution Insights lets you check the citation impact of funder-supported research.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open a Funder Page
Search for a funding institution by name.
Step 2: Review the Breakdown
Open the funder’s profile to see its funded publications.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see supporting and contrasting tallies across that funder’s portfolio.
Step 3: Spot Strong Programs
Identify which funded projects generate supporting evidence.
Use this when scouting labs, grants, or collaborators.
✅ Result: You judge funders on citation quality, not press releases.
💡 Pro Tip: Writing a grant? Cite a funder’s own well-received publications to show alignment with their priorities.
How to Use Scite Reference Checker
Reference Check lets you verify every reference in your manuscript before submission.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Upload Your Manuscript
Open Reference Check and upload your document.
Scite extracts the references automatically.
Step 2: Review the Flags
The report flags retractions, corrections, and editorial notices.
It also shows how each cited work has been received.
✓ Checkpoint: Every reference has a status label next to it.
Step 3: Fix Weak Citations
Replace retracted or heavily contrasted references.
Re-run the check until your list is clean.
✅ Result: Your reference list is publication-ready, with no embarrassing surprises.
💡 Pro Tip: Run Reference Check while writing, not just before submission. Catching a retracted source early saves you rebuilding an argument later.
Scite Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After testing Scite for six months, here are my best tips.
First, watch this quick rundown of the top benefits:
Now let’s get into the shortcuts.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Run a search | Enter |
| Open a result in a new tab | Ctrl/Cmd + Click |
| Find text inside a report | Ctrl/Cmd + F |
| Close pop-ups and dialogs | Esc |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Citation Statement Search: Search inside citation statements themselves. Type a phrase like “failed to replicate” to surface contrasting evidence across the whole database.
- Citation Chaining: Every report lists what a paper cited and who cited it afterward. Chain forward to watch a scientific debate evolve.
- Advanced Search: Build field-specific queries by title, abstract, keywords, or full text. Combine terms with Boolean combinators like AND, OR, and NOT.
- Confidence scores: Each classification carries an AI-generated confidence percentage. Low-confidence labels deserve a manual read before you rely on them.
- Author profile: Claim yours to analyze citation impact across everything you’ve published.
Scite Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Judging papers by citation counts alone
❌ Wrong: Assuming 500 citations means a finding is solid.
✅ Right: Open the report and check the classification split. Contrasting citations tell you when a famous result is disputed.
Mistake #2: Treating every mention as an endorsement
❌ Wrong: Counting mentioning citations as positive evidence for a claim.
✅ Right: Only supporting statements back a claim. Mentioning just means the paper was referenced, nothing more.
Mistake #3: Skipping Reference Check before submission
❌ Wrong: Submitting a manuscript with references you last verified months ago.
✅ Right: Run Reference Check on the final draft. Retractions appear constantly, and reviewers notice.
Scite Troubleshooting
Problem: A paper shows zero citation statements
Cause: The paper is very new, or each citing publication sits behind paywalls Scite has not indexed yet.
Fix: Verify the DOI, then add the paper to a dashboard so alerts catch future citations.
Problem: The assistant gives vague answers
Cause: The question is too broad for a grounded response.
Fix: Narrow the topic, name your research field, and tighten the source settings.
Problem: Extension badges are missing
Cause: The extension is disabled, or the site isn’t supported.
Fix: Re-enable it, refresh Google Scholar, and check the extension’s permissions.
📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Scite support. Their help center has other resources too.
What is Scite?
Scite is an AI research tool that shows how publications are cited, not just how often.
Think of it like a fact-checker sitting on top of published science.
Watch this quick overview:
Behind the scenes, a deep learning model processes full text articles from publisher partnerships and open access sources.
Scite’s database now holds over 1.2 billion citation statements pulled from those papers.
Each statement summarizes how other experts understood the cited publication.
It includes these key features:
- AI Research Assistant: Chat with an AI assistant that backs every claim with references.
- Smart Citations: See supporting, contrasting, and mentioning citations for any paper.
- Patents Search: Trace which patents cite academic research.
- Custom Dashboard: Save publications and get alerts on new citations.
- Journals and Rankings: Compare journals by citation quality.
- Browser Extension: Smart Citation badges on Google Scholar and PubMed.
- Funding Institution Insights: Measure the impact of funder-backed research.
- Reference Check: Catch retractions and editorial notices in your reference list.
For a full review, see our Scite review.
Scite Pricing
Here’s what Scite costs in 2026:
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | $20 | Testing Scite on one project |
| Yearly Plan | $12/month | Students and researchers using it all year |
Many universities license Scite campus-wide, so check your library first.
Labs and teams can contact sales about group research solutions.
Free trial: Yes — 7 days with full access.
Money-back guarantee: Not advertised — cancel anytime before renewal.
💰 Best Value: Yearly Plan — $12/month cuts the cost 40% versus paying monthly.
Scite vs Alternatives
How does Scite compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:
| Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scite | Citation-backed literature review | $12/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| Jenni | AI-assisted academic writing | $20/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
| SciSpace | Chatting with PDFs | $12/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
| Paperpal | Manuscript editing | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| QuillBot | Paraphrasing on a budget | $9.95/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Grammarly | Everyday grammar | $12/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Writesonic | Marketing content | $20/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
| Frase | SEO briefs | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.3 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Scite — nothing else classifies citations as supporting or contrasting at this scale.
- Best budget: QuillBot — paraphrasing and grammar for under $10 monthly.
- Best for beginners: SciSpace — the chat-with-PDF flow has zero learning curve.
- Best for academic writing: Jenni — drafts alongside you with citation suggestions.
🎯 Scite Alternatives
Looking for Scite alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🧠 Jenni: AI writing partner that drafts academic text with citation suggestions as you type.
- 💼 Paperpal: Academic editing, language checks, and submission-readiness reports for journal manuscripts.
- 👶 Yomu: Beginner-friendly AI editor for students who want simple help with essays and papers.
- 🚀 Writesonic: Fast content generation for marketing teams, not academic citation work.
- 📊 Frase: SEO research and content briefs for bloggers chasing search traffic.
- ⚡ CoWriter: Lightweight AI writing tool for quick drafts and rewrites at a low price.
- 🌟 SciSpace: Chat with PDFs, decode equations, and find related papers in one place.
- 💰 QuillBot: Budget paraphrasing, grammar, and summarizing for everyday student writing.
- ⭐ Grammarly: The default grammar and clarity checker for any kind of writing.
- 🎯 PaperGuide: AI research workspace with reference management and paper summaries.
For the full list, see our Scite alternatives guide.
⚔️ Scite Compared
Here’s how Scite stacks up against each competitor:
- Scite vs Jenni: Jenni writes with you; Scite verifies what you cite. Many researchers run both.
- Scite vs Paperpal: Paperpal polishes manuscripts. Scite validates the references inside them. Different jobs, little overlap.
- Scite vs Yomu: Yomu suits undergrads writing essays. Scite suits anyone defending claims with evidence.
- Scite vs Writesonic: Writesonic is built for marketing copy. Scite is built for scholarly work. Pick by audience.
- Scite vs Frase: Frase wins for SEO content. Scite wins for academic credibility. No real contest between them.
- Scite vs CoWriter: CoWriter is cheaper for casual drafting. Scite delivers citation classification CoWriter can’t match.
- Scite vs SciSpace: SciSpace explains papers you already found. Scite tells you whether those papers held up.
- Scite vs QuillBot: QuillBot rewrites sentences. Scite weighs evidence. Students often pair the two.
- Scite vs Grammarly: Grammarly fixes grammar everywhere. Scite fixes weak reference lists. Polish versus proof.
- Scite vs PaperGuide: PaperGuide organizes your references. Scite grades them. Management versus evaluation.
Start Using Scite Now
You learned how to use every major Scite feature:
- ✅ AI Research Assistant
- ✅ Smart Citations
- ✅ Patents Search
- ✅ Custom Dashboard
- ✅ Journals and Rankings
- ✅ Browser Extension
- ✅ Funding Institution Insights
- ✅ Reference Check
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with Smart Citations.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Scite work?
A deep learning model reads full text articles and extracts citation statements. Each one is classified as supporting, contrasting, or mentioning. You see exactly how other researchers discuss any paper.
Is Scite AI really free to use?
Scite offers a 7-day free trial. After that, it costs $20 monthly or $12/month billed yearly. Many universities provide institutional access, so check your library first.
What is the difference between Scite and ChatGPT?
ChatGPT generates text and can invent sources. Scite Assistant grounds every answer in scite’s database of real publications. You can verify each citation statement against the original source.
Can scite.ai detect retracted papers?
Yes. The Reference Check feature scans your manuscript before you submit to journals. It flags references with retractions, corrections, or editorial concerns.
Is Scite worth it?
For anyone doing a literature review, yes. Smart Citations reveal supporting and contrasting evidence that raw citation counts hide. You save hours of manually screening relevant articles.
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