Connected Papers

Build a visual map of any research field fast.

Visit Connected Papers connectedpapers.com

Free plan available; paid tiers are listed on the website.

Screenshot of the Connected Papers website

Connected Papers helps you understand a research area at a glance by building a visual graph of related work around any paper you choose. Rather than reading dozens of abstracts to find your bearings, you see how studies cluster and connect.

What it does

You enter a paper, and Connected Papers generates a graph of similar studies based on shared references and citation patterns, not just keywords. Related work sits closer together, so seminal papers and active clusters stand out. Prior works and derivative works views add context, showing what a field built on and where it went next, which makes early-stage exploration much faster.

Who it’s for

The tool is built for researchers, graduate students and anyone starting a literature review who wants a quick map of an unfamiliar area. The free plan covers a set number of graphs, with paid tiers for heavier use on the website. Treat each graph as a launch point for deeper reading rather than a complete survey.

Key features

Visual graphs of papers related to your starting paper
Similarity based on shared references and citations
Prior and derivative works views for context
Quick way to spot seminal and recent papers
Links out to full papers and details

Pros & cons

👍 Pros

Fast visual overview of an unfamiliar field
Helpful for starting a literature review

👎 Cons

Free plan limits how many graphs you can build
Graphs are a starting point, not a full review