Quick Verdict
SciSpace Copilot is an AI reading assistant that helps you understand complex research papers. Highlights text to get instant explanations, ask follow-up questions, and get summaries in simple language. Also helps with literature search and citation formatting.
Best for: Students reading papers, Non-native English researchers, Anyone struggling with jargon, Quick paper comprehension
SciSpace Copilot
SciSpace Copilot is an AI reading assistant that helps you understand complex research papers. Highlights text to get instant explanations, ask follow-up questions, and get summaries in simple language. Also helps with literature search and citation formatting.
Best for: Students reading papers • Non-native English researchers • Anyone struggling with jargon • Quick paper comprehension
Key Features
- AI paper explanations
- Highlight-to-explain
- PDF chat interface
- Literature search
- Citation generator
- Paper summaries
- Math and formula explanations
- Multi-language support
Pros
- Makes papers accessible
- Great for non-native speakers
- Explains complex concepts
- Affordable pricing
- Chrome extension available
Cons
- Explanations can oversimplify
- Limited to PDF papers
- Sometimes misses context
- Search less comprehensive than others
Pricing
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Yes - limited |
| Starter | $7/mo |
| Pro | $20/mo |
| Enterprise | $90/mo |
Chrome extension available
Tips & Best Practices
Upload the PDF first then ask questions inside Copilot so it is grounded in actual paper not generic knowledge
Use split view with paper on left and chat on right to immediately verify anything it says in text and figures
Ask targeted prompts: Explain the main research question citing sections, summarize methods in plain language
Highlight exact paragraph, equation, or figure then prompt Copilot about that specific snippet
Standardize prompts for literature reviews: research question, sample, method, main findings, limitations
Use Notebook to keep summaries and highlighted insights together; sync with reference manager
Always verify critical claims and statistics directly in the PDF; do not copy Copilot wording into your manuscript
Features
- AI paper explanations
- Highlight-to-explain
- PDF chat interface
- Literature search
- Citation generator
- Paper summaries
- Math and formula explanations
- Multi-language support
Best for: Students reading papers • Non-native English researchers • Anyone struggling with jargon • Quick paper comprehension
Pros
- Makes papers accessible
- Great for non-native speakers
- Explains complex concepts
- Affordable pricing
- Chrome extension available
Cons
- Explanations can oversimplify
- Limited to PDF papers
- Sometimes misses context
- Search less comprehensive than others
Final Recommendation
SciSpace Copilot is a freemium AI tool best suited for Students reading papers and Non-native English researchers.