Pick PaperQA2 if
engineers and labs who will run Python and already have a PDF pile.
Read the PaperQA2 pagePaperQA2 vs STORM
Our take
Pick PaperQA2 if engineers and labs who will run Python and already have a PDF pile. Pick STORM if writers and researchers who want a cited outline-to-draft, and can bring search/LLM keys to self-host.
Best for
PaperQA2 Answer from papers you already have, in your own runtime
STORM A Wikipedia-like first draft from a topic
Free plan
PaperQA2 $0
STORM $0
Lowest paid
PaperQA2 Not published by the vendor
STORM
Runs where
PaperQA2 Hosted
STORM Local; you host it
Watch out
PaperQA2 You bring the model bill
STORM Preview drafts are not publication-ready
Last checked
PaperQA2 2026-10-22 · github.com/Future-House/paper-qa
STORM 2026-10-22 · github.com/stanford-oval/storm
Which one, then?
Pick STORM if
writers and researchers who want a cited outline-to-draft, and can bring search/LLM keys to self-host.
Read the STORM page