Litmaps: Overview, Features and What to Check
Litmaps helps researchers find academic papers. You start from a seed article and it maps related work so you can see how a topic connects.
Checked: · Facts are taken from the vendor's official website.
Visit Litmaps (official website)
In more detail
Litmaps supports the early, messy stage of research. You enter a paper you already know, and it draws a map of related work so you can see clusters, key papers and gaps. Saved maps can be shared with collaborators, and monitoring can alert you to new papers on the topic.
A map is only as good as its seed, so start with a paper that has many citations. It is a discovery aid, not a substitute for reading and judging sources yourself. Check which features are on which plan and whether your institution already offers similar tools.
At a glance
| Category | Productivity & Research |
| Best for | Students, academics and analysts doing literature reviews. |
| Free option | Not stated on vendor website |
| Pricing | Changes over time; see the vendor's pricing page |
What it offers
- Seed maps built from a starting paper
- Discovery of related articles
- Visual maps you can share
- Monitoring for new papers on your topic
How to get started
- Create an account and enter a seed article.
- Explore the map of related papers.
- Save, share and set up monitoring for new papers.
Is it a good fit?
- You are doing a literature review.
- You like to see how papers connect visually.
- Your seed article has few citations.
- You work mostly on a phone, since map creation works best on larger screens.
Check the latest plans, features and trial terms on the official website.
Visit Litmaps (official website)Things to check before you buy
- The seed article needs enough citations to produce a useful map.
- Creating maps works best on a larger screen.
- See the vendor pricing page for plan details.
Visit the official Litmaps website. Details can change, so confirm everything there.
Visit Litmaps (official website)Frequently asked questions
What is a seed article?
The paper you start from. The vendor says it needs enough citations to build a useful map.
Can I share maps?
Yes, sharing is listed as a feature.
How much does it cost?
See the vendor pricing page.