Explainpaper —Turn research papers into plain English.

We'll be honest — when we first heard about Explainpaper, we were a bit skeptical. Another AI tool promising to "democratize knowledge"? But after spending time with this San Francisco-based platform, we found ourselves genuinely impressed by how thoughtfully it tackles one of academia's biggest pain barriers.

The concept is brilliantly simple: upload a research paper, highlight the parts that make your brain hurt, and get plain-English explanations instantly. It's like having a patient research advisor sitting next to you, ready to break down complex jargon whenever you need it.

What Actually Works

The highlight-and-explain feature is where Explainpaper truly shines. We tested it on some notoriously dense papers (think quantum computing and advanced neuroscience), and the AI consistently delivered explanations that felt genuinely helpful rather than dumbed-down. The side-panel interface keeps your workflow smooth — no jumping between tabs or losing your place.

The question-answering capability surprised us too. Instead of generic responses, it draws directly from the paper's content to answer your specific queries. We found ourselves asking follow-up questions we wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

The Sweet Spot

This tool hits differently depending on who you are. Graduate students seem to love it for tackling literature reviews without drowning in academic jargon. Researchers tell us it's become their go-to for quickly understanding papers outside their immediate expertise.

But here's where it gets interesting — we've heard from professionals in finance, healthcare, and tech who use it to stay current with research relevant to their fields. That broader appeal suggests Explainpaper might be onto something bigger than just academic assistance.

Room to Grow

While the core functionality is solid, we'd love to see more advanced features in the free tier. The paper summaries and saved highlights are locked behind paid plans, which feels limiting for casual users testing the waters.

The platform also feels purpose-built for individual use. We can imagine research teams wanting collaboration features or institutions seeking bulk access options — areas where Explainpaper could expand its reach significantly.