# Best AI research tools

Source: https://freeaicourses.com/tools/research
Last checked: 2026-10-02 (free plans and prices on each maker's own pricing page)

## Short answer

Of the 3 AI research tools we rank, Gemini Notebook is our top pick at 8.5 out of 10. If you are new to this, start with Perplexity. If you are experienced, try Elicit. Gemini Notebook: Free with a Google Account, up to 50 sources per notebook.

## Sections

### Gemini Notebook (8.5 out of 10)

Google's study tool, called NotebookLM until its rename. Upload your own course notes, PDFs or transcripts and ask questions about those alone. It's the best study partner here for a course you're already taking.

Revising a course, making study guides from your notes, and finding where a source says something.

It only knows what you give it, so the quality of your sources decides the quality of its answers.

Free with a Google Account, up to 50 sources per notebook.

Higher limits come with Google AI Plus (US$4.99 a month) or Google AI Pro (US$19.99 a month), US prices.

### Perplexity (8.0 out of 10)

A search engine that answers in sentences and links its sources. It's great for finding out what a term means and where to find a fuller explanation.

Quick research with citations you can click through and check.

A cited source isn't always a good source. Open the links before you trust the summary.

Free plan available.

Pro is US$17 a month billed yearly.

### Elicit (7.4 out of 10)

Built for searching and summarising academic papers. If you're reading research rather than blog posts, it saves real time.

Finding relevant papers and pulling out their key findings side by side.

Summaries of papers are a starting point. Read the methods section yourself before citing anything.

Basic plan is free: unlimited search across 138 million papers, plus summaries and chat with papers.

Plus is US$11 a month billed yearly (US$132 a year).

## Best courses

- Generative AI for Everyone
- Elements of AI
- AI For Everyone

## Questions people ask

### What are the best AI research tools in 2026?

Our top pick is Gemini Notebook (8.5/10), followed by Perplexity and Elicit. Google's study tool, called NotebookLM until its rename. Upload your own course notes, PDFs or transcripts and ask questions about those alone. It's the best study partner here for a course you're already taking.

### Which AI research tools are best for beginners?

Start with Gemini Notebook, then try Perplexity. Google's study tool, called NotebookLM until its rename. Upload your own course notes, PDFs or transcripts and ask questions about those alone. It's the best study partner here for a course you're already taking.

### Which AI research tools are best for experts?

Elicit is our pick for experienced users, with Perplexity close behind. Built for searching and summarising academic papers. If you're reading research rather than blog posts, it saves real time.

### What's the catch with Gemini Notebook?

It only knows what you give it, so the quality of your sources decides the quality of its answers.

### Are there free courses that teach AI research tools?

We haven't found a free course good enough to recommend yet. Until we do, the makers' own tutorials are the best place to learn.

### Which AI research tools have a free plan?

Gemini Notebook, Perplexity and Elicit have a free plan or free version.

## Related pages

- [Generative AI for Everyone](https://freeaicourses.com/courses/generative-ai-for-everyone)
- [Elements of AI](https://freeaicourses.com/courses/elements-of-ai)
- [AI For Everyone](https://freeaicourses.com/courses/ai-for-everyone)
- [Best AI image generators](https://freeaicourses.com/tools/image-generation)
- [Best AI video editing tools](https://freeaicourses.com/tools/video-editing)
- [Best AI audio and voice tools](https://freeaicourses.com/tools/audio-voice)
- [AI tool rankings](https://freeaicourses.com/tools)