Visual map of related academic papers built from citation data
Connected Papers takes one paper and draws a graph of the work related to it, using citation links rather than keyword matching. Similar papers sit close together on the map, node size reflects citation count and colour marks the publication year, so you can see the shape of a field before reading anything in depth. Two derived views show the earlier work a paper builds on and the later work that cites it. It is aimed at scoping a literature review quickly, and it works best as a starting point that sends you to the papers themselves rather than as a place to read them.
Last updated: 2026-09-20. This site only provides an index; for exact features, pricing, and licensing, see the official website.
literature scoping, finding foundational papers, citation mapping and thesis planning
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It is built from citation links in a scholarly database, so papers that are poorly indexed or very recent may be missing. Treat the map as a strong hint about a field rather than a complete record of it.
There is a limited free allowance for saved graphs, and heavier use needs a paid plan. Many researchers export the interesting papers into a reference manager instead of treating the graph as a library.
It works where formal citations exist, such as science, engineering and social science. Fields with sparse citation practice produce a much thinner map that adds little.
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