The shortlist
Choose by output and setup: an answer-oriented app, or a researcher you install and configure. Citations, operating costs and source coverage need checking on the task you actually have.
These are documentation and catalogue-based suggestions, not hands-on benchmarks. Check the linked product sources, supported languages, regional availability, permissions and current costs. Use the same evaluation worksheet for each candidate.
Freemium
An answer-oriented app with source links. Consider it when you want to research in an interface rather than build a pipeline; check the current plan and verify the cited evidence.
Capability source ↗— You need auditable control over sources and retrieval — it is a consumer product.
30k stars · Open source · Python
A configurable research project to evaluate when you want to operate a report-generation workflow yourself. Check required model and search providers, setup and usage costs.
Capability source ↗— You want a polished consumer product rather than a repo you run yourself.
32k stars · Open source · Python
A research project focused on sourced long-form articles. Evaluate its current setup and maintenance before adopting it; low recent activity does not prove that a project is complete or ready for production.
Capability source ↗— You need conversational research rather than long-form report generation.
Citations tell you where a claim came from, not that it's true — every research agent can still mis-read a source. For anything decision-grade, spot-check the two or three citations that carry the conclusion.
