50 Most Useful Tools for Researchers.

As a PhD student, having the right tools can make your research journey smoother, faster, and more efficient. From literature review to paper writing and data analysis, these tools can save you time and help you achieve your academic goals.

We’ve curated a list of 50 essential tools for researchers, organized into categories. Whether you’re exploring new ideas, analyzing data, or presenting your findings, there’s something here for every stage of your research.

Literature Review Tools

Discover, organize, and track research papers efficiently.

1. Litmaps: Tracks citation networks to monitor emerging trends and key research connections. Follow related studies and visualize developments in your field.

2. ResearchPal: Creates the first draft of literature review which includes references to real papers. Offers to generate both long form and short form literature reviews.

3. Connected Papers: Creates a graph of related academic papers to map out a research topic. Explore foundational and connected works relevant to your study.

4. Scite: Provides citation context to show if a paper is supported, contrasted, or discussed. Evaluate the credibility and relevance of research.

5. Dimensions: A research database combining publications, patents, and grants for a full view of a field. Conduct thorough literature reviews while exploring funding trends.

6. Semantic Scholar: AI-powered search engine that highlights influential papers and concepts. Locate the most relevant and high-quality articles quickly.

7. R Discovery: Recommends papers tailored to your research interests using AI. Stay up-to-date with new articles related to your field.

8. PubMed: Comprehensive database for biomedical and life sciences literature. Access trusted and peer-reviewed studies for medical and biological research.

9. Zotero: A free tool to collect, organize, and cite references seamlessly. Build a well-organized reference library for your research.

10. EndNote: Advanced reference management software for creating citations and bibliographies. Simplify citation formatting and track references with ease.

11. Mendeley: A reference manager and academic social network to organize and share research. Collaborate with peers while managing your citations effectively.

Paper Writing Tools

Enhance writing quality and meet academic standards.

12. Paperpal: Offers real-time feedback on grammar, clarity, and academic style. Edit and refine your manuscript for journal submission.

13. ReviewMyPaper: Reviews your paper and points out areas for improvement. Get clear feedback on how to make your paper better.

14. Trinka.ai: AI-powered tool for checking grammar, style, and technical consistency. Ensure academic rigor and proper tone in your writing.

15. SciSpace: Helps format scientific papers with templates and ensures compliance with journal requirements. Save time formatting documents to fit submission guidelines.

16. Grammarly: A well-known grammar and style checker for polished writing. Eliminate grammatical errors and improve sentence clarity.

17. Overleaf: A collaborative LaTeX editor for creating structured, professional research papers. Write technical papers with equations, citations, and precise formatting.

18. Google Docs: A versatile online writing platform for real-time collaboration. Collaborate with co-authors on drafts and revisions.

19. Scrivener: A writing tool designed for long documents, perfect for dissertations and theses. Organize large writing projects with ease.

20. Julius: Automates structuring and outlining for academic papers. Kickstart your writing process with templates and guidance.

21. Hemingway Editor: Simplifies complex sentences to make academic writing more readable. Improve clarity and readability for broader audiences.

22. Ref-N-Write: A writing tool that offers academic phrase banks and editing features. Enhance technical accuracy and maintain academic tone.

22. Ref-N-Write: A writing tool that offers academic phrase banks and editing features. Enhance technical accuracy and maintain academic tone.

Paper Reading Tools

Make reading and summarizing papers easier.

23. Scholarcy: Breaks down papers into summaries and highlights key points. Save time by focusing on the most important sections.

24. Enago Read: Summarizes dense research papers into concise, understandable summaries. Grasp complex concepts quickly.

25. ReadCube Papers: Organizes and manages PDFs, offering advanced search capabilities. Keep your research papers organized in one accessible library.

26. Scribe AI: Simplifies technical language into layman terms for easier understanding. Understand dense academic texts effortlessly.

27. Petal: Annotates and organizes PDFs of research papers. Keep track of important notes and references.

28. Outread: Guides speed reading to help you comprehend academic texts faster. Cover more literature in less time without losing clarity.

29. Paper Digest: Creates concise summaries of academic papers. Quickly identify the key takeaways of complex studies.

30. PubReader: Formats articles for easier reading on digital devices. Improve readability for papers downloaded from journals.

31. DeepDyve: A rental service for accessing academic papers. Cost-effectively access paywalled articles.

Research Presentation Tools

Create stunning visuals to showcase your findings.

32. Canva: Offers customizable templates for posters, infographics, and slides. Design visually appealing posters for conferences.

33. Mind the Graph: Simplifies the creation of scientific infographics and diagrams. Illustrate complex ideas clearly for presentations or papers.

34. Beautiful.ai: Automates slide design to create professional-looking presentations. Save time crafting polished and effective slides.

35. Gamma: Creates dynamic, interactive presentations. Make your research presentations engaging and memorable.

36. Piktochart: Specializes in creating infographics and charts. Turn data into visually compelling graphics.

37. Designs.ai: Offers AI-assisted tools for creating research visuals and slides. Generate graphics and visuals effortlessly for your work.

38. Visme: A versatile tool for creating presentations and infographics. Design professional slides and visuals for academic audiences.

39. Prezi: Enables non-linear, dynamic presentation designs. Deliver visually captivating, interactive presentations.

40. Infogram: A tool for creating interactive infographics and charts. Make your data stand out with engaging visuals.

41. Vizzlo: Provides tools to create professional charts and visual aids. Easily design data-driven visuals for papers or presentations.

Data Analysis Tools

Analyze and interpret your data efficiently.

42. SPSS: Trusted software for statistical data analysis. Perform advanced statistical tests with ease.

43. Tableau: A tool for visualizing large datasets in interactive dashboards. Communicate complex data insights effectively.

44. Power BI: A business intelligence tool for data visualization and analysis. Share interactive data presentations with stakeholders.

45. Nvivo: Designed for qualitative and mixed-method data analysis. Analyze interviews, surveys, and open-ended responses.

46. Minitab: Offers statistical tools for analyzing data and finding patterns. Perform statistical hypothesis testing efficiently.

47. MS Excel: A versatile tool for managing and analyzing datasets. Use Excel for basic data cleaning, analysis, and graph creation.

48. Python: A powerful programming language for data manipulation and analysis. Automate complex data workflows and run advanced analyses.

49. Google Sheets: A simple, collaborative tool for organizing and analyzing small datasets. Share data and collaborate on basic calculations with teammates.

50. JASP: A user-friendly software for Bayesian and frequentist statistical analysis. Perform robust data analyses with an intuitive interface.

Final Thoughts

These trusted tools are designed to make your research journey more efficient, productive, and enjoyable. From discovering papers to presenting your findings, each tool has been carefully selected to address a specific need.

Need help selecting the right tools for your research? Let us know we’re here to assist!