# Consensus vs SciSpace

Source: https://nachonacho.com/compare/consensus-vs-scispace

Choose Consensus if your main task is finding scientific papers and weighing what the evidence says; choose SciSpace if you also want tools for reading PDFs and drafting research writing. Both offer literature-review tools, but Consensus emphasizes cited answers and evidence comparison, while SciSpace brings search, analysis, and writing tools into one platform.

## At a glance

| | Consensus | SciSpace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Research workflow | Paper search, cited analysis, and Deep reviews | Paper search, PDF analysis, and AI writing |
| Writing tools | Citation generation and cited report export | AI Writer, paraphraser, and citation generator |
| Yes-or-no evidence view | Consensus Meter shows positions across relevant papers | Not published |
| Platforms | Web app with mobile home-screen access | Web app, iOS app, and Chrome extension |
| Free plan | Unlimited paper searches; 10 Pro messages and 3 Deep reviews monthly | Basic plan; 100 SciSpace Agent credits monthly |
| Entry paid plan | Pro: $20/month or $12/month billed annually | Premium: $20/month or $12/month billed annually |
| Higher individual plans | Deep: $65/month or $45/month billed annually | Advanced: $90/month; Max: $200/month |
| Paid-plan AI allowance | Pro: 15 Deep reviews monthly | Premium: 1,200 SciSpace Agent credits monthly |
| Team usage | 50 Deep reviews per user monthly on Teams | Shared credit pool on Teams |
| Research integrations | MCP connections; RIS and CSV exports | Zotero paper import; citation exports |
| Developer access | API and MCP; 30 included calls monthly on Free | API described as early access |
| Support | In-product support chat and email | Support email |

## Which to choose

### Choose Consensus if

- Researchers checking where studies agree or disagree
- Readers who want to trace an AI answer back to cited papers
- Teams that prefer published per-user Deep review allowances
- Developers using a published research API or MCP connection

### Choose SciSpace if

- Researchers who want search and AI writing tools together
- Readers who want to ask questions about PDFs
- Zotero users importing papers into their research library
- Researchers who want an iOS app or Chrome extension

## Verdict

The deciding factor is where your research workflow needs the most help. Pick Consensus for paper search, traceable answers, and a visual breakdown of agreement on yes-or-no questions. Pick SciSpace if you want to move from finding papers to working with PDFs and drafting text in the same product. Compare their usage limits before subscribing: Consensus publishes allowances for Pro messages and Deep reviews, while SciSpace Agent uses credits.

## Questions

### Should I use Consensus or SciSpace for a literature review?

Consensus is a fit when you want cited answers, paper comparisons, and a published monthly allowance of Deep reviews. SciSpace is a fit when your literature review also involves reading PDFs and drafting research writing. Both offer tools for reviewing literature.

### Which tool helps me see whether studies agree?

Consensus publishes a Consensus Meter that groups relevant papers by their position on a yes-or-no question. SciSpace does not publish an equivalent yes-or-no meter.

### Can I write a paper in either product?

SciSpace publishes an AI Writer, paraphraser, and citation generator. Consensus publishes citation generation and export of cited analyses; its published tools center on finding and analyzing research rather than a manuscript editor.

### How do the free plans differ?

Consensus Free includes unlimited paper searches, 10 Pro messages, and 3 Deep reviews per month. SciSpace Basic includes 100 monthly credits for SciSpace Agent tasks. Searches, messages, reviews, and credits are different units, so those allowances are not directly comparable.

### What do the entry paid plans cost?

Consensus Pro and SciSpace Premium are each listed at $20 per month, or $12 per month when billed annually. Their included usage differs: Consensus Pro lists 15 Deep reviews per month, while SciSpace Premium lists 1,200 monthly Agent credits.

### Does SciSpace Premium include its separate editor plan?

SciSpace says its editor plans are different from SciSpace Premium. Check the editor plan separately if manuscript formatting or editor-specific download limits matter to your purchase.

### Which works with Zotero?

SciSpace documents importing eligible Zotero PDFs into its library. Consensus documents RIS and CSV exports for reference managers and saving papers through the Zotero browser connector.

### How do team allowances work?

Consensus Teams lists 50 Deep reviews per user per month, with pricing based on team size. SciSpace Teams uses a shared credit pool that members draw from during each billing cycle.

## Product pages

- Consensus: https://nachonacho.com/product/ConsensusApp
- SciSpace: https://nachonacho.com/product/scispace