OpenAlex
7.9#2 in academic research databasesFrom $5,000 a yearFree planWebAPIExtensionLinux
VisitOpenAlex vs PubMed
What both publish
| Fact | OpenAlex | PubMed |
|---|---|---|
| API | The REST API exposes entity endpoints with filtering, searching, sorting, grouping, pagination, field selection and single-record lookup. | PubMed provides the E-utilities API for accessing its data. |
| Founded | OpenAlex's transparency page says Impactstory incorporated in North Carolina in 2012. | 1996 |
| Full text | The full-text service provides PDFs and machine-readable TEI XML, with per-file downloads priced at $0.01 each. | PubMed does not include full-text journal articles, but records often link to full text available from other sources. |
OpenAlex plans
- FreeFree
- Pay as you go$1, paid once
- Member$5,000 a year
- Member+$10,000 a year
- Partner$20,000 a year
PubMed plans
- PubMedFree
Pick OpenAlex if…
OpenAlex suits researchers and developers who need a broad research catalog, API access, or bulk data downloads. Teams using its unsanitized external text fields should follow its guidance to escape output and apply OWASP XSS-prevention practices.
Pick PubMed if…
PubMed suits people searching biomedical and life sciences literature, including those who need citation records, abstracts, or search tools. It may also help users who want citation exports, email updates, or API access.