Scite
Smart Citations That Show How Research Is Cited
What is Scite?
Scite is a research platform that classifies citations as supporting, contrasting, or merely mentioning a cited paper. The Scite Smart Citations feature transforms how scholars evaluate evidence by revealing whether a paper has actually been replicated or refuted. Researchers use Scite to check citation context before relying on a study and to track the post-publication reception of their own work. Scite indexes over 1.2 billion citation statements extracted from millions of full-text papers. With its Scite Assistant chatbot and reference checker, Scite has become essential for anyone who needs to verify the strength and direction of scholarly support for any claim.
Key Features of Scite
Smart Citations Classification
Scite classifies every citation as supporting, mentioning, or contrasting using a fine-tuned classifier. This Scite signal reveals whether subsequent research validated or challenged a study's findings.
Scite Assistant
The Scite Assistant chatbot answers research questions grounded in real citation data. Unlike general AI tools, Scite responses cite specific papers with verified citation contexts attached.
Reference Check
Upload a manuscript and Scite checks every reference for retraction status, citation patterns, and contradictory evidence. The Scite report catches problematic citations before submission.
Dashboards for Tracking
Build custom Scite dashboards monitoring how your papers, journals, or institutions are cited over time. The Scite dashboard surfaces supporting versus contrasting citation trends.
Browser Extension
The Scite browser extension overlays citation badges on PubMed, Google Scholar, and journal sites. See Scite's supporting and contrasting counts without leaving your normal research workflow.
Retraction Detection
Scite flags retracted papers and citations to them across the literature. Researchers using the platform catch reliance on withdrawn findings that other databases often miss entirely.
Scite Pricing Plans
Personal
Full this tool access for individual researchers including Smart Citations, Assistant, and reference checks. The standard the app plan for graduate students and faculty.
Team
Team the platform accounts with shared dashboards and admin controls. Designed for labs and small research groups using this tool collaboratively.
Enterprise
Institutional the app licensing with SSO, custom integrations, and unlimited seats for universities or research organizations deploying the platform widely.
Best Use Cases for Scite
Pre-Submission Manuscript Check
- Target user:
- Researcher preparing journal submission
- Pain point:
- Reviewers reject papers when references include retracted or contradicted studies
- Solution:
- Run your manuscript through this tool reference check before submission. Scite flags retractions and contrasting citations so you can address weak references proactively.
Evaluating a New Treatment Claim
- Target user:
- Clinician reviewing emerging therapy
- Pain point:
- A high-profile paper claims efficacy but you need to know if findings replicated
- Solution:
- Look up the paper on the app to see supporting versus contrasting citations. Discover failed replications or critiques before adopting the treatment in practice.
Tracking Your Own Impact
- Target user:
- Mid-career academic preparing tenure case
- Pain point:
- Citation counts do not show how your work is actually received
- Solution:
- Build a Scite dashboard tracking supporting versus contrasting citations to your papers. Demonstrate qualitative impact beyond raw citation totals in tenure dossiers.
Course Reading List Vetting
- Target user:
- Professor designing graduate seminar
- Pain point:
- Some classic papers have been seriously challenged but remain widely assigned
- Solution:
- Check candidate readings in the platform for contrasting citations. Update syllabi to include critiques alongside originals, giving students balanced exposure to debates.
How to Use Scite — Step by Step
- 1
Create a Scite Account
Sign up at scite.ai and start a free this tool trial. Institutional the app access may already be available through your university library.
- 2
Search for a Paper
Look up any paper by DOI, title, or author. Scite displays the Smart Citation breakdown showing how subsequent literature engaged with the work.
- 3
Install the Browser Extension
Add the platform extension to Chrome or Firefox. Browse PubMed and journals normally while this tool badges appear next to every citation automatically.
- 4
Ask the platform Assistant
Use the platform Assistant chatbot for grounded research questions. Every this tool answer includes verified citations you can click through to source.
- 5
Run a Reference Check
Upload your manuscript PDF to the app for full reference auditing. Review the platform report and update citations flagged as retracted or contradicted.
Scite vs Alternatives
Scite FAQ
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