Research assistants
Rayyan: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Rayyan helps research teams screen systematic review references, detect duplicates and estimate article relevance. It also supports data extraction from full texts, collaboration on inclusion decisions and production of a PRISMA diagram. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $4.99 per month. Access and transparency score: 68/100, #7 of 15 in its category.
| Access | 25/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 20/30 | |
| Trust | 23/40 |
What is Rayyan?
Rayyan helps research teams screen systematic review references, detect duplicates and estimate article relevance. It also supports data extraction from full texts, collaboration on inclusion decisions and production of a PRISMA diagram.
According to its documentation, Rayyan lets you:
- screen references for a systematic review
- detect duplicate references
- estimate article relevance
- extract data from full texts
- collaborate on inclusion decisions
- produce a PRISMA diagram
We file it under Research assistants, the category of tools to find, read and summarise papers, and it also overlaps with aI for documents and PDFs. The category lists 15 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Rayyan Systems Inc., based in United States. The service launched in 2014, which gives it some track record.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: researchers, students, teachers, and healthcare professionals. The need it covers is simple to state: find, read and summarise papers.
Rayyan is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.
How much does Rayyan cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $4.99 per month (Essential, per seat per month, billed annually), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
Per month, that is cheaper than the category median ($12 per month, based on tools with a published price).
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
The publisher does not clearly state where data is hosted. Assume your content may leave your region.
For professional use, check that a data processing agreement (DPA) is offered, and do not send customers' personal data or confidential documents without one.
Exporting your content: yes (details on the official site). Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Rayyan runs on: web browser, iPhone and iPad, and API.
Interface languages: English.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 68/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 25/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 20/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 23/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Rayyan against other tools in the research assistants category:
Verdict
Rayyan is a decent option; compare its price and terms with the category leaders.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Cheaper than its category median
- Public API
- Established since 2014
Limitations
- Data hosting not disclosed
Avoid if…
- You handle sensitive personal data without a processing agreement
Alternatives
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Rayyan free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $4.99 per month.
Where is Rayyan data stored?
The publisher does not clearly say so in its public documentation.
Does Rayyan have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to Rayyan?
In the same category: Consensus, AMiner, ASReview, and Elicit.
Rayyan or Consensus: which one to choose?
Rayyan starts at $4.99 per month, Consensus at $144 per year and our score is 68/100 for Rayyan and 81/100 for Consensus. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score