Pick ChatPDF if
students and analysts who want Q&A on a PDF they already have.
Read the ChatPDF pageChatPDF vs Consensus
Our take
Pick ChatPDF if students and analysts who want Q&A on a PDF they already have. Pick Consensus if students and clinicians who want a paper-backed answer with a Pro/Deep meter. Skip ChatPDF if people who need a citation graph (Connected Papers) or a paper-search agent (Elicit). Skip Consensus if people who need a systematic-review screening table (Elicit) or a general cited web search (Perplexity).
ChatPDF
signed-out PDF chat
Best for
ChatPDF Talk to one document in the browser without an account
Consensus A question over peer-reviewed papers
Free plan
ChatPDF $0 · to start a chat; history save wants Sign up. Exact Free page/question caps are not printed on the modal
Consensus $0 · /mo. Basic paper search; 10 Pro messages/month; up to 3 Deep reviews/month
Lowest paid
ChatPDF Plus (yearly) $6.42
Consensus Pro (annual display) $12/mo
Next step up
ChatPDF Plus (monthly) $15.99
Consensus Deep (annual display) $45/mo
Runs where
ChatPDF
Consensus Hosted
Watch out
ChatPDF Dollars live on the Plus modal
Consensus Free Pro messages and Deep reviews are capped
Last checked
ChatPDF 2026-10-20 · chatpdf.com
Consensus 2026-10-19 · consensus.app/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Consensus if
students and clinicians who want a paper-backed answer with a Pro/Deep meter.
Read the Consensus page