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According to Google, Google Scholar is a “freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text of scholarly literature across a variety of publishing formats and disciplines.” This statement was made in reference to Google Scholar. The Google Scholar index was first made available in beta form in November of 2004, and it is a website that falls under the education and reference category. It contains the majority of the peer-reviewed online journals published in Europe. There are numerous websites and mobile applications available as substitutes for Google Scholar.
These can be used on a wide range of operating systems, such as Windows, iOS (iPhone and iPad), and Linux. The most viable option is ResearchGate, which does not cost anything. Semantic Scholar, Scinapse, Elicit, and Publish or Perish are some additional excellent websites and apps that are comparable to Google Scholar.
Why Look for Google Scholar Alternatives?
Although Google Scholar is a well-known platform, broadening the scope of your study to include other pathways can lead you to a veritable treasury of information. Your study will be more comprehensive if you use alternatives because they offer a wider range of features, databases, and search capabilities. Acceptance of alternative platforms guarantees a more complete and satisfying research experience as the academic environment continues to undergo change.
Best Google Scholar Alternatives
Researchers, students, and scholars use Google Scholar extensively. As the need for variety and extensive research develops, it’s wise to consider options with distinct benefits. This article discusses the best Google Scholar alternatives for different study needs.
BASE
Features:
BASE is a powerful alternative that indexes over 200 million documents from a wide variety of sources, such as digital libraries, journals, and institutional repositories. It is a shelter for academics who are looking for intellectual content that may be accessed without cost thanks to its specialty in academic open-access web resources. The intuitive design and broad search capabilities of BASE make it an ideal platform for conducting all types of research.
The Good
- Extensive coverage of open-access content.
- User-friendly interface.
- Freely accessible.
The Bad
- Limited coverage of subscription-based content.
CORE
Features:
CORE is a massive aggregator that compiles content from open-access journals and archives all over the world. It provides access to a vast library of research outputs, which makes it possible to conduct exhaustive literature searches. CORE is a helpful alternative for academics who are looking for global research coverage because to its user-friendly design and tools for identifying open-access research.
The Good
- Extensive repository of open-access content.
- User-friendly interface.
- Global research coverage.
The Bad
- May have limited coverage of subscription-based articles.
Dimensions
Features:
Dimensions is a dynamic platform that integrates a wide variety of sources to provide users with a research experience that spans across disciplines. It includes things like publications, citations, clinical trials, and patents, and it enables researchers to investigate many parts of the domains in which they work. Because of its highly engaging graphics and thorough data, Dimensions is a powerful choice for conducting in-depth study and analysis.
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The Good
- Multidisciplinary research coverage.
- Comprehensive data and analytics.
- Interactive visualizations.
The Bad
- Access to full-text content may vary.
Epistemonikos
Features:
Epistemonikos is a website that is devoted exclusively to evidence-based medicine and acts as an important resource for medical practitioners as well as scholars. It does this by compiling systematic reviews and evidence summaries from a variety of sources, which simplifies the process of finding trustworthy medical information. Because of its emphasis on information that is supported by evidence, Epistemonikos is an essential tool for scholars working in the medical and healthcare fields.
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The Good
- Focus on evidence-based medical content.
- Curated collection of systematic reviews.
- Relevant for healthcare researchers.
The Bad
- Limited coverage beyond evidence-based medicine.
Microsoft Academic
Features:
Microsoft Academic is an all-encompassing platform that compiles scholarly material from a wide variety of sources, such as conferences, patents, and journals, among others. The capabilities that are driven by AI make it possible to gain profound insights on research trends, collaboration networks, and paper recommendations. Microsoft Academic is an excellent solution for scholars who are looking for advanced analytics as well as coverage across multiple disciplines.
The Good
- Advanced AI-driven analytics.
- Multidisciplinary coverage.
- Collaboration insights.
The Bad
- User interface can be overwhelming for some.
Questions and Answers
The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence is responsible for the establishment of Semantic Scholar. This search tool is ideal for you if you are looking for published research in the scientific community. However, the scope of Semantic Scholar is not restricted just to scientific research. You can restrict your search to a specific date or the type of article you’re looking for, much like on Google Scholar.
Although both Web of Science and Scopus contain “some” proceedings and books, the majority of the content that they cover is journal articles. Coverage of books is something that Google Scholar excels at more so than the other search engines because it covers not just the material of Google Books but also the content of other online publications that are publicly accessible.