Unpaywall

Unpaywall is a free browser extension for Chrome and Firefox that automatically finds legal, free versions of scholarly articles as you browse. Backed by a database of over 20 million free full-text PDFs, it instantly shows you when an open access version of a paywalled article is available from university and government web servers.

Key Capabilities

Unpaywall works automatically in the background as you browse publisher websites. When you view a research article, it checks its index for a free, legal copy and displays a colored tab on the right side of your screen: green if a free full text is available, grey if not. It finds Green Open Access papers that authors have legally self-archived on institutional repositories.

Who Should Use Unpaywall

Unpaywall is essential for any researcher, student, or academic who regularly encounters paywalled journal articles. It is especially valuable for individuals without comprehensive institutional subscriptions and for anyone who wants to maximize their access to scholarly literature without additional cost.

Getting Started

Install the Unpaywall extension from the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons. Once installed, it works automatically with no configuration needed. Simply browse to any publisher page with a scholarly article, and the Unpaywall tab will appear indicating whether a free version is available.

Pricing & Accessibility: Unpaywall is completely free to use. The browser extension, the underlying database, and all features are available at no cost. Unpaywall is also open source, with its code available on GitHub.

Why Consider Unpaywall: Unpaywall is a simple, install-and-forget tool that can save researchers significant money by finding legal free versions of paywalled articles. With over 20 million PDFs indexed, it frequently finds open access copies that researchers would otherwise have to pay for or go without.