what are the best websites for articles

Explore millions of high-quality primary sources and images from around the world, including artworks, maps, photographs, and more.

Explore migration issues through a variety of media types

• Part of Street Art Graphics
• Part of The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Winter 2020)
• Part of Cato Institute (Aug. 3, 2021)
• Part of University of California Press
• Part of Open: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
• Part of Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, Vol. 19, No. 1 (Winter 2012)
• Part of R Street Institute (Nov. 1, 2020)
• Part of Leuven University Press
• Part of UN Secretary-General Papers: Ban Ki-moon (2007-2016)
• Part of Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol. 12, No. 4 (August 2018)
• Part of Leveraging Lives: Serbia and Illegal Tunisian Migration to Europe, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Mar. 1, 2023)
• Part of UCL Press

Harness the power of visual materials—explore more than 3 million images now on JSTOR.

Enhance your scholarly research with underground newspapers, magazines, and journals.

Explore collections in the arts, sciences, and literature from the world’s leading museums, archives, and scholars.

28 Best Academic Search Engines That make your research easier

If you’re a researcher or scholar, you know that conducting effective online research is a critical part of your job. And if you’re like most people, you’re always on the lookout for new and better ways to do it. 

This article aims to give you an edge over researchers that rely mainly on Google for their entire research process.

Table of Contents

#1. Google Scholar

Google Scholar is an academic search engine that indexes the full text or metadata of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines.

#2. ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) 

ERIC indexes over a million articles, reports, conference papers, and other resources on all aspects of education from early childhood to higher education. So, search results are more relevant to Education on ERIC. 

ERIC is a free online database of education-related literature. 

#3. Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha can also be used to find academic articles. Just type in your keywords and Wolfram Alpha will generate a list of academic articles that match your query.

#4. iSEEK Education 

iSEEK is a search engine targeting students, teachers, administrators, and caregiver. It’s designed to be safe with editor-reviewed content.

iSEEK Education is free to use.

#5. BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine)

CORE is an academic search engine that focuses on open access research papers. A link to the full text PDF or complete text web page is supplied for each search result. It’s academic search engine dedicated to open access research papers.

You might also like:

#7. Science.gov

Science.gov is a search engine developed and managed by the United States government. It includes results from a variety of scientific databases, including NASA, EPA, USGS, and NIST. 

#8. Semantic Scholar

#9. refseek.

This is one of the free search engines that feels like Yahoo with a massive directory. It could be good when you are just looking for research ideas from unexpected angles. It could lead you to some other database that you might not know such as the CIA The World Factbook, which is a great reference tool.

#10. ResearchGate 

A mixture of social networking site + forum + content databases where researchers can build their profile, share research papers, and interact with one another.

#11. DataONE Search (formerly CiteULike) 

#12. dataelixir , #13. lazyscholar – browser extension, #14. citeseerx – digital library from penstate, #15. the lens – patents search , #16. fatcat – wiki for bibliographic catalog , #17. lexis web – legal database, #18. infotopia – part of the vlrc family.

Infotopia touts itself as an “alternative to Google safe search.” Scholarly book results are curated by librarians, teachers, and other educational workers. Users can select from a range of topics such as art, health, and science and technology, and then see a list of resources pertaining to the topic. 

#19. Virtual Learning Resources Center

#21. worldwidescience.

Over 70 countries’ databases are used on the website. When a user enters a query, it contacts databases from all across the world and shows results in both English and translated journals and academic resources.

#22. Google Books

A user can browse thousands of books on Google Books, from popular titles to old titles, to find pages that include their search terms. You can look through pages, read online reviews, and find out where to buy a hard copy once you find the book you are interested in.

#23. DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)

DOAJ is a free search engine for scientific and scholarly materials. It is a searchable database with over 8,000 peer-reviewed research papers organized by subject. It’s one of the most comprehensive libraries of scientific and scholarly resources, with over 8,000 journals available on a variety of themes.

#24. Baidu Scholar

#25. pubmed central.

PubMed is a free search engine that provides references and abstracts for medical, life sciences, and biomedical topics.

#26. MEDLINE®

MEDLINE® is a paid subscription database for life sciences and biomedicine that includes more than 28 million citations to journal articles. For finding reliable, carefully chosen health information, Medline Plus provides a powerful search tool and even a dictionary.

Defunct Academic Search Engines 

#27. microsoft academic  .

Microsoft Academic

#28. Scizzle

Final thoughts.

There are many academic search engines that can help researchers and scholars find the information they need. This list provides a variety of options, starting with more familiar engines and moving on to less well-known ones. 

10 thoughts on “28 Best Academic Search Engines That make your research easier”

Thank you so much Joannah..I have found this information useful to me as librarian in an academic library

You are welcome! We are happy to hear that!

Thank You Team, for providing a comprehensive list of academic search engines that can help make research easier for students and scholars. The variety of search engines included offers a range of options for finding scholarly articles, journals, and other academic resources. The article also provides a brief summary of each search engine’s features, which helps in determining which one is the best fit for a specific research topic. Overall, this article is a valuable resource for anyone looking for a quick and easy way to access a wealth of academic information.

We appreciate your support and thank you for your kind words. We will continue to provide valuable resources for students and researchers in the future. Please let us know if you have any further questions or suggestions.

No more questions Thank You

I cannot thank you enough!!! thanks alot 🙂

Typography animation is a technique that combines text and motion to create visually engaging and dynamic animations. It involves animating individual letters, words, or phrases in various ways to convey a message, evoke emotions, or enhance the visual impact of a design or video. – Typography Animation Techniques Tools and Online Software {43}

Expontum – Helps researchers quickly find knowledge gaps and identify what research projects have been completed before. Expontum is free, open access, and available to all globally with no paid versions of the site. Automated processes scan research article information 24/7 so this website is constantly updating. By looking at over 35 million research publications (240 million by the end of 2023), the site has 146 million tagged research subjects and 122 million tagged research attributes. Learn more about methodology and sources on the Expontum About Page ( https://www.expontum.com/about.php )

Hey Ryan, I clicked and checked your site and thought it was very relevant to our reader. Thank you for sharing. And, we will be reviewing your site soon.

Sounds good! Thanks, Joannah!

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Where To Read Good Articles Online: Top 10 Online Publishers

In today’s digital age, it’s easier than ever to access exciting articles. Discover where to read good articles in this article.

If you’re like most Americans, you start every day by picking up your phone and taking a look at short articles that give you a clue into what’s going on in the world, provide you with life hacks to make your life easier, and give life lessons for your to consider.

In a day and age where social media reigns king, it makes sense that many people are more interested in free content that’s educational, engaging, and kicks your day off on a positive note. So when you choose to read vetted articles instead of random viral social media posts, you’ll know you’re getting proven information that you can put to good use in your daily life.

Whether you’re looking for self-improvement advice, personal finance information, an unbiased news source, or life hacks that make it easier to get through the day, it can be tough to know what’s worth reading–and what’s not. So here, we’ve compiled the top places to go when you want to read the best articles to clue you into what’s happening in the world around you.

1. The New Yorker

2. the huffington post, 3. the new york times, 5. lifehacker, 6. business insider, 9. national geographic, 10. psychology today.

Known as one of the top names in American journalism for nearly a century, The New Yorker is a highly respected weekly magazine known for its essays, fiction, cartoons, poetry, journalism, satire, and social commentary. The magazine is known in the literary world as one of the best places for readers to enjoy in-depth reporting. 

The New Yorker is known for taking the news and pop culture topics and covering them in new and unusual ways. While some of the magazine’s in-depth pieces require a time commitment to read, others are quick and punchy, perfect for a fast morning brief. In addition to current events, The New Yorker also publishes deep, moving stories about love, life, family, aging, and more.

Founded in 2005 by political activist Arianna Huffington, The Huffington Post is left-leaning news, opinion, and essay site that partners with companies and writers to provide readers with an overarching view of what’s happening in America–and around the world.  HuffPost publishes news and think pieces and can provide readers with a place to get quick news and dive deep into interesting topics.

With a heavy focus on the U.S and world news, The New York Times is regarded as one of the most reliable sources in journalism today. While The Times publishes satire, essays, and opinion pieces, it is best known for its to-the-minute coverage of happenings worldwide.  The Times started in the mid-1800s and was established as a trustworthy news source , different from the popular sensationalist magazines and newspapers many readers enjoyed during that time. By the early 1900s, The Times  was regarded as one of the best publications in the world due in part to its extensive coverage of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

Not a news site, not a social media site– Quora is something in between the two. The platform allows users to ask and answer questions, connecting people worldwide by providing a space to share real-life experiences and advice.

Questions asked and answered on Quora range from the humorous (users asking parents about the worst their child has ever behaved in public) to the serious (users asking others about what seemingly minor health symptoms they’ve experienced are indicative of a severe problem). While any user can answer a question on Quora, some users have profiles that share their expertise with others.

Interested in doing everything better? Lifehacker provides the tools and tips you need to be a little better in every aspect of life, from relationships to cooking to decorating your home. The articles from writers at Lifehacker won’t just help you boost your knowledge of both popular and everyday topics–they’ll also make you laugh with their witty senses of humor and ability to make any topic interesting.

Looking for ideas on the ways to get the most bang for your buck when you’re grocery shopping? Check out product reviews to learn more about what to add to your Christmas list. Looking to stay up to date on the latest financial and tech news? Business Insider has you covered. The website provides unbiased coverage of interesting day-to-day life topics and world news. Setting Business Insider to your home page on your laptop can be an intelligent way to stay up to date on what’s happening in the world (and to browse fun articles when you’re stuck on a never-ending conference call).

Looking for dynamic new ideas from a variety of perspectives? You’ll love the unique takes that Medium has to offer. The website collects ideas, essays, and articles from people with varying perspectives, providing readers with a place where they can read material that helps them learn to see the world in a different light. When you’re reading Medium, it’s essential to know that anyone can submit writing to the site, and you’ll want to double-check author credentials if you’re using the site for factual information.

Whether you’re a business owner or want to know how the economy will affect your life, Forbes is the place to go for business and financial news. While Forbes is known for its financial coverage, it’s also a great source of world news, lifestyle articles, and more.

If you’re one of the millions of Americans with federal student loans, you’ll want to keep an eye on what Forbes says about the changes the government is currently making to your repayment options. Forbes is widely regarded as a trusted financial news source, so if you’re writing a paper or citing a source to inform business decisions, it’s wise to check out what Forbes says before moving forward.

Ready to travel the world without leaving your town (or your home)? You’ll want to be sure to add National Geographic to your favorite article sources list. National Geographic’s journalism style is immersive and helps you feel transported to new areas of the world. Whether you’re looking to learn more about current crises in the world or want to get to know the culture of another country, National Geographic can take you where you want to go. While the magazine is known for its articles, the website also offers documentaries and other videos, helping you learn more about animals, culture, and more.

Wondering why your parents do that thing they do? Not sure how to get a handle on your anxiety at work? Psychology Today offers in-depth research and simple tips to help you live a happier, healthier life. If you’re not a psychology buff, no worries. The articles on the site break down complicated psychological concepts into simple terms and tips that you can use to boost your relationships, both with others and with yourself. Articles from Psychology Today can also help navigate challenging situations, like figuring out what to say to a friend or coworker following the passing of a loved one.

Are you interested in learning more? Check out our round-up of the 3 types of magazines !

10 Best Online Academic Research Tools and Resources

Every college student conducts research at some point. And professors have strong views on what counts as a credible academic resource. Choosing the wrong sources can hurt your grade.

So how can you conduct research efficiently while avoiding sleepless nights in the campus library? Online academic research tools make it easier to find reliable sources quickly.

Rather than pulling random facts from the internet — and running into problems with citations — college students need to know how to find credible sources and how to use online academic tools. Keep reading to learn how you can find the best credible sources for your college research needs.

Popular Online Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

The 10 Best Academic Research Sources

What resources will point you toward reliable sources for your academic research? Rather than scrolling through pages of search results, turn to these academic resources when you need to find sources.

1. Google Scholar

Looking for an academic article, thesis , or abstract? Google Scholar should be your first stop. Google Scholar helps you find related works, locate full documents at your school library , and access scholarly research.

While Google created Google Scholar, it’s very different from a general online search. Google Scholar brings together academic articles and ranks them based on the authors, publication location, and citation record. That means the top results generally represent the most reliable scholarship on your topic.

For journal articles, books, images, and even primary sources, JSTOR ranks among the best online resources for academic research. JSTOR’s collection spans 75 disciplines, with strengths in the humanities and social sciences . The academic research database includes complete runs of over 2,800 journals.

And if you’re looking for images, turn to Artstor , which offers over 2.5 million images related to the arts, sciences, and literature. However, JSTOR is not an open-access database. That means you’ll need to log in through your university library, which typically includes off-campus access .

3. Library of Congress

As the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress is an amazing online resource for academic research. Students can search its collections to access digital resources, videos, audio recordings, photographs, and maps.

The library’s materials also include notated music, web archives, legislation, and 3D objects. You’ll find materials for almost any topic in its extensive collections. You can search historic American newspapers from 1777-1963 with the Chronicling America tool or look up pirate trials in another digital collection.

4. PubMed Central

The National Library of Medicine, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, runs PubMed Central. Founded in 2000, the database includes academic scholarship dating back to the 18th century. The resource connects college students with life sciences and biomedical academic sources.

And as an open-access database, PubMed Central offers free access to scholarly literature. Today, PubMed Central has over 7 million full-text records, making it a great resource for students in the life sciences or medical fields.

5. Google Books

Whether you’re looking for a recent publication or an out-of-print book, there’s a good chance you’ll find it on Google Books. In 2019, Google announced that Google Books contains over 40 million books .

You can enter any search term to find books that contain matches. And you can download the full text of any book in the public domain — which includes 10 million titles. Make sure to check publisher and author information when using Google Books.

The site also includes reference pages that link to book reviews. Keep in mind that you’ll have more limited access to recent books. Still, Google Books is a great first step to find sources that you can later look for at your campus library.

6. Science.gov

If you’re looking for scientific research, Science.gov is a great option. The site provides full-text documents, scientific data, and other resources from federally funded research.

A U.S. government site, Science.gov searches more than 60 databases and 2,200 scientific websites. You’ll find over 200 million pages of research and development information, including projects funded by 14 federal agencies. Students in any STEM field can benefit from the resource.

7. Digital Commons Network

University librarians curate the Digital Commons Network, which connects students with peer-reviewed articles. The site’s other resources include dissertations, book chapters, conference proceedings, and working papers.

The Digital Commons Network includes scholarly work from diverse disciplines like architecture, business, education, law, and the sciences. You can also access humanities, social sciences, and engineering scholarship through the network.

8. ResearchGate

ResearchGate has been described as social networking for research scientists. But ResearchGate is also a great option to find open-access academic sources. Scholars upload their work to ResearchGate, which makes it available to the public for free.

Currently, over 20 million researchers around the world use the site, which contains over 135 million publications. College students looking for scientific research can often find resources on ResearchGate and even connect with scholars.

9. WorldCat

When you’re looking for library resources, WorldCat is one of the best tools. Connected to over 10,000 libraries, WorldCat is a database that allows you to search library collections.

The database lists books and articles available at your local libraries, making it easier to find materials that are not available online. In addition to books, WorldCat contains music, videos, audiobooks, and scholarly articles.

You can also find digital research materials, including photos. When you’re logged into WorldCat through your university library, you can also access full-text articles and other resources. Or you can use WorldCat to find sources to request through interlibrary loan.

10. Your University Library

When you’re conducting academic research, your university library can be one of your best resources. In addition to online databases, journal articles, and books, your campus library also has academic librarians who can point you to the best sources.

When you don’t know where to start, reach out to an academic librarian to learn more about your school’s research tools. Or use interlibrary loan to get a scanned copy of an article. Many of the campus library’s resources are available online, making them easy to access.

How to Find Credible Sources for Research

How can you find credible sources for research and avoid misinformation? Your instructor likely recommends avoiding general web content or Wikipedia.

Finding the most reliable websites for research starts with evaluating the website itself. Sites run by academic or government organizations rank high in reliability. Databases and specialized search engines can also provide good research sources.

Next, make sure you understand the source of the information and the process used to publish it. Scholarly articles and books that undergo peer review make for the best academic resources.

Finally, when in doubt, check with your instructor or an academic librarian. They can help point you to reliable sources or double-check sources you’re unsure about.

How to Access Academic Resources

Many sites offer open-access resources. That means anyone can access the materials. Other sites restrict what you can read. For example, you might find some blank pages when searching on Google Books because of copyright restrictions. And many academic articles are behind paywalls.

Fortunately, college students benefit from one of the best resources for conducting research: the university library. Your library likely subscribes to multiple academic databases and journals. If you run into a paywall, check whether your library offers access to the resource.

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Top 10 Best Academic Search Engines for Scholarly Articles in 2024

Jc Chaithanya

14 min read

Best Search Engines to Search for Scientific Papers at a Glance 

Top 10 best search engines to search for scientific papers, google scholar key features , google scholar reviews , base key features , base reviews , scispace key features, scispace reviews , core key features , core reviews , scopus key features , scopus reviews, pubmed key features , pubmed reviews , jstor key features , jstor reviews , science.gov key features , science.gov reviews , semantic scholar key features , semantic scholar reviews , baidu scholar key features , baidu scholar reviews , our selection criteria to pick search engines for search for scientific papers, how to choose the best search engine to search for scientific papers, elephas: the research assistant that halves your research time, conclusion , 1. where can i search for scientific papers, 2. how do you search for scientific papers effectively, 3. how to find research papers on google.

Research is the cornerstone of scientific discovery. However, sifting through the vast amount of scholarly literature can feel overwhelming. Fear not, intrepid researchers! Today, we will equip you with the top 10 search engines designed specifically to streamline your search for scientific papers.

We'll delve into the strengths of each platform, helping you identify the perfect tool for your specific research needs. Whether you're seeking a broad overview or a deep dive into a niche topic, our analysis will ensure you learn about the most relevant and reliable search engines to propel your research forward.

To further maximize your research efficiency, we'll also introduce you to Elephas, a powerful AI writing assistant that can revolutionize your research paper writing process. However, we'll save that discussion for later in our article. For now, let's delve into the best search engines to search for scientific papers.

Google Scholar: General search for scholarly literature across various disciplines.

BASE: Free search engine for scholarly articles with summaries and full-text links.

SciSpace: Powerful search engine with AI-powered recommendations for related research.

CORE: User-friendly search engine for open-access scholarly publications.

Scopus: Search engine for high-quality, peer-reviewed scientific publications.

PubMed: Free search engine for biomedical and life sciences literature.

JSTOR: Comprehensive digital library for scholarly articles, ebooks, and primary sources across disciplines.

Science.gov: Free search engine for scientific research from US government agencies.

Semantic Scholar: Uses AI to find relevant research papers and uncover hidden connections.

Baidu Scholar: Search engine for academic literature in Chinese 

1. Google Scholar 

Google Scholar simplifies searching for scholarly literature. It crawls millions of academic publications across various disciplines, including articles, theses, books, and conference papers. Researchers can set up alerts to stay updated on new publications in their field. Google Scholar is like Google Search but specifically designed for academic research.

Massive Database: Search roughly 200 million scholarly articles.

Find Freely Available Papers: Locate research papers and often access full PDFs.

Stay Updated: Set alerts for new publications in your field.

Explore Research: Discover related articles, references, and citations.

Easy Citation Management: Export citations in various formats.

Formatting: Easily export your search results into common citation formats like APA and MLA.

We could not find any public reviews on Google Scholar, so we advise users to stay cautious when using the search engine.

2. Base 

BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine) is a free search engine specializing in scholarly articles. With over 136 million publications (including duplicates), BASE allows you to search for research papers across various disciplines. It provides summaries and links to full text whenever available. While BASE doesn't offer features like finding related articles, cited references, or who cited the paper, it excels in its core function: searching for scientific publications effortlessly.

Free Search Engine: Access millions of scholarly publications without any cost.

Focus on Academic Content: Search a vast collection of research papers across various fields.

Article Summaries: Quickly grasp the research topic with summaries (abstracts) provided for each article.

Full Text Links: When available, access the full scientific paper directly through BASE.

Simple Interface: Navigate BASE's user-friendly interface to find what you need efficiently.

We could not find any public reviews on Base search engine, so we advise users to stay cautious when using the search engine.

3. Scispace

SciSpace is a powerful search engine specifically designed for academic research. With over 300 million scholarly articles across various fields, SciSpace utilizes advanced algorithms to deliver relevant search results. Its user-friendly interface makes navigating millions of research papers simple for both beginners and experienced researchers.

Massive Academic Database: Search over 300 million scholarly articles.

Advanced Search & Filters: Find relevant papers by author, citation count, and more.

AI-powered Recommendations: Get suggestions for related research based on your search.

Integrated Research Tools: Read papers, conduct literature reviews, and generate citations.

User-friendly Interface: Easy to navigate for both novice and experienced researchers.

CORE is a user-friendly search engine designed specifically for scholarly research papers. Unlike traditional search engines, CORE focuses on freely accessible, open-access publications. This means you can easily find millions of scientific articles without any paywalls or restrictions. Every search result on CORE conveniently links directly to the full-text PDF or webpage of the research paper, allowing you to dive deeper into your chosen topic

Vast Collection: Search through over 136 million academic publications.

Full Text Access: Every search result includes a link to the complete article, either in PDF or on the publisher's webpage.

Enhanced Discovery: Easily explore related articles to broaden your research scope.

Simple Interface: CORE's user-friendly design lets you find what you need quickly and efficiently.

Focus on Open Access: CORE prioritizes freely available research, ensuring you can access the latest scientific findings without restrictions.

We could not find any public reviews on Core Search engine, so we advise users to stay cautious when using the search engine.

Scopus is a search engine for scientific research. It helps researchers find scholarly articles, conference papers, and patents. Unlike regular search engines, Scopus focuses on high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. This ensures you find reliable information to support your research. Scopus also offers advanced search options to help you narrow down your search and find relevant papers quickly.

Extensive Coverage: Search millions of peer-reviewed publications across various disciplines.

Accurate Search: Find relevant research with advanced search options and filters.

Verified Content: Explore high-quality, trusted publications with a focus on peer review.

Author Tracking: Monitor the impact of your research by tracking citations and authorship.

Discover Connections: Explore how different research papers are linked and build upon each other.

PubMed , a free search engine developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), specializes in biomedical and life sciences literature. Offering a vast collection of scholarly articles, journals, clinical trials, and more, PubMed is a trusted resource for medical professionals, researchers, students, and anyone seeking scientific information. 

Extensive Collection: Search millions of scientific citations in medicine, health sciences, and related fields.

Accurate Results: PubMed's curated database ensures the quality and trustworthiness of your search results.

Advanced Search Options: Refine your search using keywords, MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms, publication dates, and more.

User-Friendly Interface: The search engine features a user-friendly interface for efficient exploration of scientific data.

We could not find any public reviews on Pubmed, so we advise users to stay cautious when using the search engine.

JSTOR is a comprehensive digital library for researchers across disciplines. Search for academic journals, books, and primary sources in an easy-to-use interface. Explore millions of images and historical documents alongside scholarly articles. JSTOR offers an interdisciplinary approach, allowing you to research immigration through text and imagery or delve into art history with collections from leading museums.

Search All Content: Find scholarly articles, ebooks, images, and primary sources.

Primary Sources: Explore millions of historical documents, artwork, maps, and photographs.

Image Search: Discover over 3 million images to enhance your research.

Independent Voices: Access alternative publications like underground newspapers and magazines.

Artstor Integration: Search millions of art and cultural artifacts from leading institutions.

We could not find any public reviews on the JSTOR search engine, so we advise users to stay cautious when using the search engine.

8. Science.gov 

Science.gov is a free search engine designed specifically for scientific research. It simplifies your search by providing access to over 200 million scientific articles and reports from more than 15 U.S. federal agencies in one central location. This eliminates the need to search through individual agency websites, saving you valuable time and effort.

Search across 15+ U.S. government science agencies: Find scientific information from a vast collection of resources.

200 million+ scientific articles and reports: Access a comprehensive database of scientific research.

Links to full text (when available): Access the complete scientific paper if offered by the database.

Export Options: Export your search results in various citation formats for convenient reference management (availability may vary depending on the database).

We could not find any public reviews on science.gov, so we advise users to stay cautious when using the search engine.

9. Semantic Scholar 

Semantic Scholar is a powerful search engine that uses artificial intelligence to help you find relevant research papers. Its advanced algorithms go beyond keywords to uncover hidden connections and relationships between research topics, delivering more impactful search results.

Natural Language Search: Find research papers using plain language, just like you would search the web.

Comprehensive Coverage: Explore over 40 million scholarly articles across various disciplines.

Detailed Information: Access abstracts, related articles, references, citations, and links to full text (when available).

Export Options: Easily export citations in popular formats like APA, MLA, Chicago, and BibTeX.

We could not find any public reviews on Semantic Scholar, so we advise users to stay cautious when using the search engine.

10. Baidu Scholar 

Baidu Scholar is a powerful search engine designed specifically for academic literature. Despite its Chinese interface, Baidu Scholar indexes a vast collection of scientific papers in English alongside Chinese publications. With over 100 million articles, it offers a valuable resource for researchers worldwide. While some features are limited, like the lack of "cited by" functionality and only showing snippets of abstracts.

Multilingual Search: Find research papers in both English and Chinese.

Large Database: Explore over 100 million indexed articles.

Abstract and Reference Exploration: Gain insights from snippets of abstracts and identify related and cited articles.

Free to Use: Access and search for scientific papers without any cost.

Our selection process focuses on several key criteria to ensure you get the most relevant and reliable results for your scientific inquiry.

1. Depth and Breadth of Content: A vast library of scientific papers is crucial. We looked for search engines that indexed millions of scholarly articles, journals, and publications across various disciplines.

2. Accuracy and Credibility: Trustworthy information is paramount in science. We prioritized search engines that focused on peer-reviewed publications and curated databases to ensure the quality of your results.

3. User-Friendly Interface: A user-friendly interface makes the search process efficient. We considered search engines with clear navigation, advanced search options, and filtering capabilities to help you refine your research.

4. Open Access: Unrestricted access to scientific knowledge is vital. We included search engines that offered a significant amount of freely available, open-access content, alongside those with subscription-based resources for comprehensive searching.

5. Additional Features: Powerful search engines go beyond basic searches. We considered functionalities like AI-powered recommendations for related research, citation management tools, and the ability to export search results in various formats.

By following these selection criteria, we create the top 10 search engines to search for scientific papers. So, explore all the search engines and find the one that is best to Search for Scientific Papers

There are tons of search engines to search for scientific papers out there, and picking the best one for your scientific research can feel like a real challenge. Don't worry, we will help you find the perfect Search Engine to Search for Scientific Papers

Step 1: Identify Your Needs

Breadth vs. Depth: Are you looking for a general overview of a topic or a deep dive into specific research?

Open Access: Do you need freely available articles, or are you affiliated with an institution with access to a wider range of resources?

Focus: Is your research in a specific field like medicine, engineering, or social sciences?

Step 2: Choosing Your Weapon

Now that you know your needs, let's explore some of the top search engines to search for  scientific papers:

General Search Engines:

Google Scholar: The go-to option for a broad search across many disciplines. It crawls millions of scholarly articles and often provides links to full PDFs.

BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine): A search engine with over 136 million publications, offering summaries and links to full text whenever available.

Specialized Search Engines:

SciSpace: Employs AI to deliver relevant results and suggest related research based on your search.

CORE: Focuses on open-access publications, ensuring you can find millions of scientific articles without paywalls.

Scopus: Curates high-quality, peer-reviewed publications for a focus on reliable information.

PubMed: Developed for the medical and life sciences field, PubMed offers a vast collection of articles, journals, and clinical trials.

Additional Powerhouses:

JSTOR: A comprehensive digital library with scholarly articles, ebooks, and primary sources across disciplines, including historical documents and images.

Science.gov: A one-stop shop for scientific research from US government agencies, providing access to over 200 million articles and reports.

Semantic Scholar: Uses artificial intelligence to uncover hidden connections between research topics for more impactful results.

Baidu Scholar: While the interface is in Chinese, Baidu Scholar indexes a vast collection of scientific papers in both English and Chinese.

Remember: No single search engine is perfect. Experiment with a few based on your needs and combine them for a comprehensive search. Many of these engines allow advanced search options to further refine your results.

Now you've got the perfect search engine to find the best research papers, but what about after you've found them? Elephas is an AI writing assistant that can help you with every stage of your research paper writing, from summarizing complex sources to generating creative ideas and even helping you stay on track with your grammar and citations.

Here's how Elephas can make you a research paper writing master:

Summarizes complex research: Struggling to understand a dense academic paper? Elephas can break it down for you, highlighting the key points and saving you valuable time.

Boosts your writing: Whether you need help with brainstorming ideas, structuring your paper, or simply polishing your writing style, Elephas has a variety of features to get you there.

Check your grammar: No more typos or embarrassing mistakes! Elephas ensures your writing is clear, concise, and error-free.

Multiple writing styles: Need your paper to be formal or informal? Funny or serious? Elephas can adapt its writing style to fit your needs.

Works offline: Worried about data privacy? Elephas has an offline mode that lets you work securely without an internet connection.

These are just a few of the ways Elephas can help you write research papers faster and more efficiently. Elephas offers many more features that can significantly reduce your daily workload.

So why not give it a try and see how much time you can save?

In summary, there are many great search engines to search for scientific papers out there, each with its own strengths. The best one for you depends on what you're researching.

Need a quick overview? Try Google Scholar or BASE.

Want in-depth studies? Look at Scopus or PubMed (for medical stuff).

Need free articles? Try CORE or JSTOR (for more than just science).

If you're not sure where to start, try a few and see which one you like best. You can even use them together to find the most information!

Remember, the ideal search engine hinges on your specific requirements.

Are you seeking a broad overview of a particular field, or a deep dive into a niche topic?

Does open-access content suffice, or do you have institutional access to a wider range of resources?

What is your research area's primary discipline (medicine, engineering, social sciences)?

By considering these questions, you can ensure you select the most effective search engine to propel your research forward.

While powerful search engines are essential, there are additional tools that can significantly enhance your research efficiency. Consider Elephas, an advanced AI writing assistant designed to streamline every stage of the research paper writing process. From summarizing complex sources to generating creative ideas and maintaining flawless grammar and citations, Elephas helps you to become a research paper writing master.

You can search for scientific papers in many online search engines like Google Scholar, BASE, CORE, Scopus, PubMed, JSTOR, Science.gov, Semantic Scholar, and Baidu Scholar. Each engine has its strengths, so it depends on your specific needs. 

First, identify your needs. Are you looking for a general overview or a deep dive? Do you need free articles or have access to paid resources? Then choose a search engine that fits your needs. Finally, use the advanced search options in the research search engines to refine your results.

Google Scholar is a search engine specifically designed for scholarly articles. You can search for papers by topic, author, title, and more. It also allows you to find freely available PDFs of many papers.

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Reference management. Clean and simple.

The top list of academic research databases

2. Web of Science

5. ieee xplore, 6. sciencedirect, 7. directory of open access journals (doaj), get the most out of your academic research database, frequently asked questions about academic research databases, related articles.

Whether you are writing a thesis , dissertation, or research paper it is a key task to survey prior literature and research findings. More likely than not, you will be looking for trusted resources, most likely peer-reviewed research articles.

Academic research databases make it easy to locate the literature you are looking for. We have compiled the top list of trusted academic resources to help you get started with your research:

Scopus is one of the two big commercial, bibliographic databases that cover scholarly literature from almost any discipline. Besides searching for research articles, Scopus also provides academic journal rankings, author profiles, and an h-index calculator .

• Coverage: 90.6 million core records
• References: N/A
• Discipline: Multidisciplinary
• Access options: Limited free preview, full access by institutional subscription only
• Provider: Elsevier

Web of Science also known as Web of Knowledge is the second big bibliographic database. Usually, academic institutions provide either access to Web of Science or Scopus on their campus network for free.

• Coverage: approx. 100 million items
• References: 1.4 billion
• Access options: institutional subscription only
• Provider: Clarivate (formerly Thomson Reuters)

PubMed is the number one resource for anyone looking for literature in medicine or biological sciences. PubMed stores abstracts and bibliographic details of more than 30 million papers and provides full text links to the publisher sites or links to the free PDF on PubMed Central (PMC) .

• Coverage: approx. 35 million items
• Discipline: Medicine and Biological Sciences
• Access options: free
• Provider: NIH

For education sciences, ERIC is the number one destination. ERIC stands for Education Resources Information Center, and is a database that specifically hosts education-related literature.

• Coverage: approx. 1.6 million items
• Discipline: Education
• Provider: U.S. Department of Education

IEEE Xplore is the leading academic database in the field of engineering and computer science. It's not only journal articles, but also conference papers, standards and books that can be search for.

• Coverage: approx. 6 million items
• Discipline: Engineering
• Provider: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

ScienceDirect is the gateway to the millions of academic articles published by Elsevier, 1.4 million of which are open access. Journals and books can be searched via a single interface.

• Coverage: approx. 19.5 million items

The DOAJ is an open-access academic database that can be accessed and searched for free.

• Coverage: over 8 million records
• Provider: DOAJ

JSTOR is another great resource to find research papers. Any article published before 1924 in the United States is available for free and JSTOR also offers scholarships for independent researchers.

• Coverage: more than 12 million items
• Provider: ITHAKA

Start using a reference manager like Paperpile to save, organize, and cite your references. Paperpile integrates with PubMed and many popular databases, so you can save references and PDFs directly to your library using the Paperpile buttons:

Scopus is one of the two big commercial, bibliographic databases that cover scholarly literature from almost any discipline. Beside searching for research articles, Scopus also provides academic journal rankings, author profiles, and an h-index calculator .

PubMed is the number one resource for anyone looking for literature in medicine or biological sciences. PubMed stores abstracts and bibliographic details of more than 30 million papers and provides full text links to the publisher sites or links to the free PDF on PubMed Central (PMC)

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20 Best Websites for Research for Students – 2025

October 20, 2024

For any project, finding accurate and useful research can be challenging. Without utilizing outside sources, forming a thesis and building an argument beyond a topic sentence can be hard. But, how do you know what is a credible source? Furthermore, how do you find these credible sources? We’ll reveal the best websites for student research that are credible and good for students of all ages.

Identifying the best websites for research

There are many research websites for students out there, but not all of them are trustworthy. Luckily, credible websites for research usually have several characteristics in common. Or, at least, you should be able to identify some key components before choosing your source material.

For example, a credible website will usually have the following information readily available:

• The Author(s)
• The Publisher
• The Publication Date

Being able to identify who wrote the article is important because then we can ask questions to validate the writer’s credentials. For example, is the author well-known in their field? Have they published research before? Do they have a degree in their field? If the answer to these questions is yes, then the author is likely credible.

Plus, if they are publishing their work with a reputable publisher, then the article was likely peer-reviewed. Peer-reviewed articles also typically indicate credible websites for research.

Best Websites for Research for Students (Continued)

Searching for peer-reviewed articles is also a good step to helping identify good websites for research. A peer-reviewed article means that the research was evaluated by other professionals in the same field before it was published.

Finally, identifying a publication date is important. Making sure that research is recent is always a good idea. That way, you can implement the most up-to-date data into your academic paper.

So, now that we know how to identify credible articles, let’s take a look at where you can find your source materials.

Research websites for students—All Subjects

These websites and databases allow you to research any topic and keyword. You are not limited to a specific subset of academic material.

1)  JSTOR

JSTOR, standing for “Journal Storage,” is a digital library which helps users easily search for and find academic resources. The database comprises of journal articles, books, images, and other primary sources. To date, the database contains millions of source materials across a wide variety of academic disciplines.

Within the search feature, users can categorize the results by material from Journals, Book Chapters, Research Reports, Images, Books, Audio and Video content and more, to receive the most relevant results to their needs. Articles on JSTOR are peer-reviewed publications, making the archives a trusted source for academic research. Material from this database is considered scholarly content.

2)  Google Scholar

Google Scholar is different from the Google search engine. Though both search engines can be used the same way. Google Scholar only shows scholarly literature and articles in its results search, whereas Google does not provide this same feature.

Within Google Scholar, the results are displayed according to several key factors . These factors include how recently the article was cited, where it was published, and the author(s) of the piece. By evaluating this information, Google Scholar will likely provide relevant and trustworthy source materials and more credible websites for research than a regular Google search.

3)  Google Books

The purpose of Google Books is to provide a large and accessible digital library of printed resources. Books are scanned from libraries and uploaded online. To find these books, users can search by keyword or title. Books that are no longer in print or available can be found through Google Books, including titles that are out-of-copyright.

It is important to note that books that are not in the public domain will not be entirely free and accessible. In this instance, only certain pages are readily available online. However, an ISBN number can be found to locate purchasing information for the book, if it’s required for research purposes.

4)  Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and another example of good websites for research. It contains millions of books, films, videos, photographs, maps, and other important primary source materials. The purpose of the Library of Congress is to preserve these materials and provide equitable access to them.

Online, users can search for material through the website’s browse feature. Results can be sorted by Headings, Author, Subject, Names/Titles, Series/Uniforms Titles, and by Call Numbers.

5)  Refseek

Refseek is an academic search engine which aims to make academic information more accessible. Once a user has submitted a specific keyword, RefSeek then searches the Internet for relevant material. During every search, the engine reviews more than five billion documents at a time!

Essentially, this extra filter helps to weed out commercial content and provide more credible websites for research. So, academic sources tend to appear at the top of results list. Students can search for any topic of keyword.

6)  Virtual Learning Resources Center

This search engine indexes thousands of academic sources. By searching a keyword, the database browses thousands of webpages. The results then produce more  relevant material. Most of the shown results include webpages from research portals and public libraries.

Another draw of this resource is that results can be filtered by 17 different “school subject” topics, including results related to Social Studies, Music, History, and more. So, this could be one of the good websites for research for finding information relevant to a specific school subject.

7)  Educational Resources Information Center

Upon searching a keyword on this search engine, users can immediately filter results to show only peer-reviewed results. Additionally, they can also search for results which offer the free, full text.

After the results appear, users can filter by even more specific qualifications. These filters include the text’s publication date, a specific descriptor, the source of the material, publication type, and even education level. Plus, results can also be filtered by audience type and location (country).

8)  BASE

BASE stands for Bielefeld Academic Search Engine. Upon a user search, the database searches millions of citations from over eleven thousand sources to provide the most relevant and accurate results.

Users can also utilize the Advanced Search option to find more specific materials. Filters in the Advanced Search option include the ability to look for certain components of a title or URL, document type, and access.

9)  Infotopia

After users search, results can be filtered by specific topic, like Health, Science, Technology, and Math, and by primary sources. This search engine is powered by Google but does offer more specific filters for research.

Infotopia also has the option for student-friendly sites and search engines, like kidtopia . In this case, this is one of the research websites for students that can be more suitable for younger children.

10)  Digital Commons Network

Digital Commons Network is a database powered by universities. The site has compiled free, full-text scholarly articles from over 700 institutions.

On the site, users can explore by a broad topic, like Medicine and Health Sciences, and then eventually become more specific. For example, within the Medicine and Health Sciences range, users can filter results by neurosciences, orthopedics, dentistry, and more.

11)  WorldCat

WorldCat is a catalog of library materials. Because the database is connected to thousands of libraries and collections, it’s a great tool for research. Results can be filtered by the type of source material, including books, videos, and more. Plus, searches yield both scholarly articles and other digital materials.

12)  Connected Papers

On this website, users can enter a keyword or title to begin their search. Interestingly, results on this site appear in a line graph format. The research is formatted visually. This system is employed to help users see how their papers relate to other articles and to track visual trends in real-time.

This style of research is also helpful for users looking for papers on a similar topic. By hovering over other suggested articles on the graph, users can read the abstract of an article that is similar to theirs!

13) Your University Library

Chances are, your university library has a wonderful website and access to a database just for students. When working on an academic research paper for school, the university library resources are a great place to begin.

Plus, students also have access to the university’s librarians to help answer questions and access other helpful resourses. Universities often also take advantage of the interlibrary loan system, connecting you to thousands of articles and resources.

Research websites for students – STEM-based

For students looking for research in the areas of science, technology , engineering, and math, there are specialized databases created for only academic finding on those topics. These are some good websites for research in the STEM field.

14)  Science.gov

Science.gov is one of the research websites for students that provides users with millions of scientific articles. Users can search results by utilizing specific keywords. The results can be filtered by author, by topic (or subtopic), and the date the article was published. Additionally, users can also filter results by type, meaning they can toggle between text-based results, relevant data, and multimedia results.

The website is free to use and is produced by the U.S. federal government. Material compiled on the site are research and development results from trusted scientific organizations.

15)  PubMed

Another search engine dedicated to compiling biomedical literature, PubMed provides users with results from scientific journal publications and online books. There are more than 30 million citations to search from, using keywords to find specific results.

Users can filter results by availability of the text, including if the full text is provided for free. Filters also include the publication date and in which stage the research was completed. For example, users can search by article type to find clinical trial data, meta-analysis, or systematic reviews.

16)  Research Gate

Research Gate is one of the credible websites for research that allows users to both find relevant publications and connect with their scientific community. With over 160 million citations, information is current and accessible. The database is also free to join.

This website may also be particularly useful for students looking to engage with others in their field. Research Gate features the opportunity for collaboration between scientists and can be used as a professional networking tool.

17)  WorldWideScience

WorldWideScience is a global tool, allowing users to access information from more than 20 participating countries around the globe. Users can not only access scientific databases but also multilingual translations of the work.

What makes this database unique is its ability to filter results by specific country and language. Users can also filter by topic, author, publication, and form of documentation (Full Text; HTML’ PDF). Additionally, academic papers, multimedia, data/software, and public access filters are available.

18)  Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha utilizes a different approach. Their goal is to collect, curate, and compute data to build upon existing scientific achievements. The website accepts input from users to build upon its knowledge and know-how as a search engine.

Users can have “conversations” with Wolfram Alpha about any topic. While there is an emphasis on computation, mathematics, science and technology, users can also ask questions about other topics. For example, there are options for society and culture and everyday life calculations.

Credible Websites for Research for Students (Continued)

19)  sciencedirect.

ScienceDirect is a database which allows users to search for peer-reviewed sources. Results yield articles and book chapters from relevant publications. Plus, users can also search by keyword to find results matching certain terms, or they can search by author. There are more than five thousand journals and 35 thousand books available through the database.

20)  CiteSeerX

A digital scientific library, this research index is home to thousands of articles, academic papers, and research. For users looking primarily for information on computer and information science, this would be a fantastic resource.

With over millions of documents and journals ready for download, users are likely to find exactly what they are looking for.

Research Websites for Students – In Review

Gathering enough evidence to create a compelling research paper can be tricky. Plus, with the rise of AI generative tools, checking to make sure that information is original and accurate can be just as challenging.

Luckily, teachers and professors can use AI detection tools to catch plagiarized work. It can also be a good idea to run your finished research paper through these tools yourself, to make sure that your information is properly cited.

Research can be one of the most challenging components of writing an academic paper. However, once you find good websites for research, you can be sure that your ideas are well-supported and reliable.

Additional Resources

• Best Places to Study
• How to Ask for an Extension
• Best Environmental Research Topics
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• Good Research Paper Topics for High School Students 
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Meghan Dairaghi

With a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing, Meghan has served as a writing tutor at the University of Missouri St. Louis and Maryville University. Additionally, Meghan has held editorial roles at River Styx and Boulevard, and was a prose reader at Farside Review . Most recently, her work has been featured in Belle Ombre , Flypaper Lit , and Mag 20/20 , among others, and she was nominated for the Mary Troy Prize in Fiction. 

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Fake news is a big issue right now. News companies are in the pockets of mega-billionaires. Media bias, inaccurate reporting, and sensationalism are on everyone's mind. We are in an age where we don't trust the people reporting the news.

Despite all this, there are still some trustworthy news sources out there. You just have to know where to look. In this article, we'll list some of the most honest and reliable news sources.

What We Mean When We Say "Trustworthy"

This is going to be a controversial article, no matter which news sites we suggest. Some people will disagree with the ones we choose. Others will be offended that we didn't include their favorite media outlets.

Unfortunately, there's no objective metric of trustworthiness. Most of the sites you'll see listed made their way onto this list because they've developed a solid reputation for unbiased news , and not-politically-motivated reporting.

Yes, you can contest a reputation as it is also in flux always. It can't be easily quantified (though we've cited sources where we can), and people will always have different opinions. That being said, we stand by the assertions we make here. Note that we are presenting these credible news websites in alphabetical order and not ranking by trustworthiness.

What Are AllSides Ratings?

In many of the entries below, we mention AllSides ratings. The ratings are from AllSides , which dedicates itself to exposing bias and providing multiple perspectives on issues. The site determines its ratings in a number of ways—you can check out its methodology for more information.

AllSides is itself a great place to get news, as it clearly labels each story as left-leaning, center, or right-leaning. We highly recommend it when you want to see what different people are saying about the same issue. It's eye-opening and can help you learn to pick out news bias, even on your most trusted news source​​​​​.

1. Associated Press News

If you read a lot of news, you'll see the AP credited all over the place. It often reports stories first, and other outlets pick up those stories and run them for their own readers.

AP is a non-profit, has no corporate sponsorship, and is not government-funded. The crowd-sourced bias rating at AllSides is "left-leaning," as of writing. While you'll most often see AP cited in other news outlets, you can get news directly from the source.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the largest broadcaster in the world. The British government funds the organization, and so it is not beholden to corporate interests. The BBC has a history of over 90 years with a well-earned reputation for accurate, unbiased reporting.

AllSides classifies it as a center news source—meaning if you want balance, it's one of the unbiased independent news sites . Despite being center, US citizens may find that "center" in the UK is notably to the left of what they might be used to.

Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN) has been around since 1979. The channel provides unbiased news coverage of the US federal government, US political events, and limited coverage from the governments of the UK, Canada, and Australia.

C-SPAN is a private, non-profit organization that has never failed a single fact check in the past five years from mediabiasfactcheck.com .

4. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Though it has a focus on politics, the Bureau's stories will likely be of interest to people even outside the British political beat. As a non-profit, independent media organization, it has few ties to groups that might influence its political leanings. The Bureau publishes its stories in conjunction with other outlets—from both sides of the spectrum.

A look at its major investigations does show that many of its stories focus on issues that are generally of more interest to the left. The group prides itself on fact-based reporting, however, and does pull together a lot of data to support its claims.

The Bureau isn't listed on AllSides. But van Zandt, again, calls it among the most unbiased news outlets. Its stated mission is to "hold power to account," and its goal certainly comes through in its journalism. It also aims to drive change through journalism.

5. The Christian Science Monitor

Because it's a news magazine, the format of the Christian Science Monitor is a little different from the other best news sources on this list. It runs fewer stories, but those stories tend to be very in-depth. It was founded in response to the sensationalist press of the early 1900s, and it's maintained a strong reputation over 100 years later, maintaining its independence from mainstream media corporations.

There are two ways you can get news from CSM: through the daily edition (which gives you unlimited access to the site, key daily stories sent each evening via email, along with an explanation of why they're important) or the weekly version (which is also available in print and includes access to the daily edition).

Unfortunately, neither is free. The daily will run you $11/month, and the weekly is $15/month. Before Amazon discontinuing magazine and newspaper subscriptions , you could also grab it on your Kindle. However, the good news is that CSM also has several free newsletters you can subscribe to, including Today's Highlights and several others dedicated to different topics sent out on different days of the week.

6. The Economist

Although AllSides states that while The Economist tends to lean left, it does have a reputation for high-quality reporting. The publication "considers itself the enemy of privilege, pomposity, and predictability."

Throughout its history, the Economist has championed issues on both sides of the political spectrum. Today, it does tend to have a bit more of a left lean. That being said, it's not afraid to align itself with the party it believes best supports its ideals, which focus on free trade and free markets.

One of the unique features of the Economist is the lack of bylines. According to the news outlet's About Us page, "collective voice and personality matter more than the identities of individual journalists."

This is likely to be a controversial one, as public broadcasting is strongly associated with liberal political views in the US. However, NPR has a reputation for journalistic excellence. It's invested in continued government funding, but it remains free of corporate bias.

AllSides rates NPR as left-leaning, with a blind survey, third-party data, community feedback, and secondary research supporting the classification. The Pew survey shows that conservatives tend to mistrust NPR, but its journalistic acumen is high. It's known for rejecting sensationalism, issuing corrections when necessary, and fair reporting.

8. ProPublica

If you get your news from NPR, you've probably heard ProPublica mentioned. Like the AP, ProPublica is a non-profit, non-government-funded news organization. The fact that it was the first online news organization to win a Pulitzer Prize also gives it some credence (it's gone on to win several more since then). Similar to NPR, AllSides rates ProPublica as left-leaning.

ProPublica was founded in 2007-2008 with a mission to "expose abuses of power and betrayals of the public trust by government, business, and other institutions" through investigative journalism. This is a smaller organization than some of the others mentioned on this list, but it's absolutely worth checking out. We have a feeling it's going to continue to grow, both in size and reputation, so you should definitely add it to your trusted news outlets list.

Like the AP, other news outlets often cite Reuters—and that's largely because it has a long and solid reputation for good reporting. The organization is owned by Thomson Reuters. This gives it added resistance to corporate influence.

Reuters strives to use a "value-neutral approach" to guard against bias in its reporting (so much so that it has courted controversy, especially after refusing to use the word "terrorist" after the September 11 attacks in New York).

While you may not be as familiar with Reuters as some of the other outlets listed here, it has a long-standing reputation for good journalism. Its Hallmarks of Reuters Journalism is a great resource for anyone reporting the news, and Reuters editors hold their journalists to its tenets.

10. USA Today

In 2016, USA Today shared the crown of widest circulation in the US with The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. It's read all over the world and is a major source of news for millions of people every day. The op-eds in USA Today are clearly labeled and present a range of viewpoints (a refreshing change from the opinion pieces in some other publications).

AllSides gives the publication a left-leaning rating, although it notes that there's been some disagreement. The fact that two blind surveys and three recent editorial reviews supported this rating adds weight, however. You might be used to seeing USA Today in front of your hotel room door, but if you're looking for good news, do check the site regularly.

11. The Wall Street Journal

This is likely to be another controversial inclusion on the list, due to the ownership of WSJ by News Corporation, the mega-media conglomeration helmed by the Murdoch family. Rupert Murdoch has developed a reputation for being ruthlessly conservative and using his considerable media power for political influence. Some of his news outlets also have a deservedly terrible reputation.

The Journal, however, has consistently ranked as highly trusted in the United States, even after its takeover by News Corp. AllSides gives it a strong center rating in its recent blind survey.

It's important to note that the news and opinions section of WSJ has a strictly enforced separation and that op-eds tend to have a very strong right-leaning bias, which many agree with. Despite that, the news (especially financial news ) published by the outlet is of high quality.

If you're interested in media bias—beyond finding media that's minimally biased—you should definitely check out FAIR. Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting is a watchdog group that writes about media bias. It publishes a number of remarkably stinging critiques of current news practices.

AllSides gives them a provisional left-leaning rating. FAIR is known for writing articles that critique even the largest media organizations, like The New York Times, CNN, and BBC. It doesn't hold back, and no one is safe from its rhetoric.

13. The Pew Research Center

Pew Research describes itself as a "nonpartisan fact tank" aiming to inform the public about the current issues and trends shaping the world. Pew Research derives its reporting from data through research and opinion polls. Like several outlets in this article, Pew Research is a non-profit, nonpartisan, and nonadvocacy organization mainly funded by its founding organization, The Pew Charitable Trusts.

According to AllSides, Pew Research is center-leaning, which the community agrees with. Pew Research doesn't publish new articles daily, so a good way to keep up with their reporting is by subscribing to their free newsletter.

Your Most Trusted News Outlets

These news sites have earned themselves reputations for being trustworthy. That said, news, in general, tends to have a negativity bias, which you can counteract by seeking out positive news.

Reporters and editors also have their own biases, so it's impossible to find 100 percent unbiased news—and that probably wouldn't be very fun to read anyway. But, in general, you can trust what you read from these outlets. The key is to read multiple publications that include a few credible news sources from the other side of the fence.

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The Best Research and Reference Websites

Where to look when you need information

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Research websites come in handy in all kinds of situations, whether you're looking for the average rainfall in the Amazon rainforest, researching Roman history, or just having fun learning to find information.

This list of the best research websites will help greatly, and most of them are updated daily with new information.

I like to pair these sites with free research organizational tools to keep track of everything I gather online.

Best Research Websites

• Library of Congress : LOC.gov lets you not only ask a librarian for help , but also search catalogs of libraries from all over the world. This is truly a huge resource that should be on your Top 10 best research sites list. Anything from Academia Sinica in Taiwan to Yale University in the U.S. is here and ready to be searched.
• ReferenceDesk.org : Dubbed "The Internet's Best Reference Source," this extremely useful web directory provides everything from business and finance information to federal government resources, scholarship details, links to newspapers and calendars, search engines, and more.
• Ask the Space Expert: NASA's source for space and science research help. Use the video links to listen to questions answered by experts. These are from 2013 through 2015.
• USA.gov : This is where you should start when looking for specific U.S. government information. Learn about the country in general or education, housing, disability services, jobs, taxes, laws, and more.
• Reference.com : Extremely simple to use with a basic layout, this reference website lets you browse by category or search by keywords to research everything from food and health to history, beauty, education, technology, vehicles, art, and more.
• Refdesk.com : Billing itself as the internet's fact-checker, this site includes in-depth research links to breaking news, editorials, Today in History, Word of the Day, and other references.
• Encyclopedia.com : The #1 online encyclopedia that lets you search over 200 reference books and encyclopedias at once. The Picks of the week is a neat section to examine each week.
• Encyclopedia Britannica : One of the world's oldest encyclopedias online; has featured posts and category listings. The company launched in the 18th century and has been publishing exclusively online since 2011.
• Purdue University Quick Reference : This site has tons of information that includes resources specific to Purdue University and surrounding areas in Indiana. It also includes an Ask a Librarian service.
• Prescriber's Digital Reference : A wonderful research tool when gathering detailed medical information. The drug name browser includes summaries (dosage, description, and more) for hundreds of drugs.
• iTools.com : Serves as a gateway for reference and research links. It uses other websites for its searches, like YouTube and Google.
• ResearchGate : Scientific knowledge from over 160 million publication pages; browse topics in categories like engineering, biology, climate change, medicine, math, and more.
• Baseball-Reference.com : Here's everything you ever wanted to know about baseball.
• FOLDOC : Free Online Dictionary of Computing is a detailed computing dictionary for researching the meaning behind computer-related tools, standards, jargon, languages, and more. The "random" button is a fun way to learn new concepts.

Depending on the type of research you're doing or how you need to reference the information, you may need quick access to books. There are lots of places to find free book downloads , textbooks , and educational movies .

Other Ways to Do Research

Search engines like Google are a great way to perform online research. You can locate books, articles, interviews, and lots more. Learn how to search better to get the most out of your research.

Another top source of expert information is your local librarian— search for libraries near you at WorldCat . Librarians are trained to find answers to obscure questions, they're friendly, and best of all, you can talk with them face to face. They often ask you questions you might not have considered, leading to even better results. You can get help from librarians online, too, through some of the sources above.

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21 Legit Research Databases for Free Journal Articles in 2024

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Written by  Scribendi

Has this ever happened to you? While looking for websites for research, you come across a research paper site that claims to connect academics to a peer-reviewed article database for free.

Intrigued, you search for keywords related to your topic, only to discover that you must pay a hefty subscription fee to access the service. After the umpteenth time being duped, you begin to wonder if there's even such a thing as free journal articles.

Subscription fees and paywalls are often the bane of students and academics, especially those at small institutions who don't provide access to many free article directories and repositories.

Whether you're working on an undergraduate paper, a PhD dissertation, or a medical research study, we want to help you find tools to locate and access the information you need to produce well-researched, compelling, and innovative work.

Below, we discuss why peer-reviewed articles are superior and list out the best free article databases to use in 2024.

Download Our Free Research Database Roundup PDF

Why peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles are more authoritative.

Determining what sources are reliable can be challenging. Peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles are the gold standard in academic research. Reputable academic journals have a rigorous peer-review process.

The peer review process provides accountability to the academic community, as well as to the content of the article. The peer review process involves qualified experts in a specific (often very specific) field performing a review of an article's methods and findings to determine things like quality and credibility.

Peer-reviewed articles can be found in peer-reviewed article databases and research databases, and if you know that a database of journals is reliable, that can offer reassurances about the reliability of a free article. Peer review is often double blind, meaning that the author removes all identifying information and, likewise, does not know the identity of the reviewers. This helps reviewers maintain objectivity and impartiality so as to judge an article based on its merit.

Where to Find Peer-Reviewed Articles

Peer-reviewed articles can be found in a variety of research databases. Below is a list of some of the major databases you can use to find peer-reviewed articles and other sources in disciplines spanning the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

What Are Open Access Journals?

An open access (OA) journal is a journal whose content can be accessed without payment. This provides scholars, students, and researchers with free journal articles. OA journals use alternate methods of funding to cover publication costs so that articles can be published without having to pass those publication costs on to the reader.

Some of these funding models include standard funding methods like advertising, public funding, and author payment models, where the author pays a fee in order to publish in the journal. There are OA journals that have non-peer-reviewed academic content, as well as journals that focus on dissertations, theses, and papers from conferences, but the main focus of OA is peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles.

The internet has certainly made it easier to access research articles and other scholarly publications without needing access to a university library, and OA takes another step in that direction by removing financial barriers to academic content.

Choosing Wisely

Features of legitimate oa journals.

 There are things to look out for when trying to decide if a free publication journal is legitimate:

Mission statement —The mission statement for an OA journal should be available on their website.

Publication history —Is the journal well established? How long has it been available?

Editorial board —Who are the members of the editorial board, and what are their credentials?

Indexing —Can the journal be found in a reliable database?

Peer review —What is the peer review process? Does the journal allow enough time in the process for a reliable assessment of quality?

Impact factor —What is the average number of times the journal is cited over a two-year period?

Features of Illegitimate OA Journals

There are predatory publications that take advantage of the OA format, and they are something to be wary of. Here are some things to look out for:

Contact information —Is contact information provided? Can it be verified?

Turnaround —If the journal makes dubious claims about the amount of time from submission to publication, it is likely unreliable.

Editorial board —Much like determining legitimacy, looking at the editorial board and their credentials can help determine illegitimacy.

Indexing —Can the journal be found in any scholarly databases?

Peer review —Is there a statement about the peer review process? Does it fit what you know about peer review?

How to Find Scholarly Articles

Identify keywords.

Keywords are included in an article by the author. Keywords are an excellent way to find content relevant to your research topic or area of interest. In academic searches, much like you would on a search engine, you can use keywords to navigate through what is available to find exactly what you're looking for.

Authors provide keywords that will help you easily find their article when researching a related topic, often including general terms to accommodate broader searches, as well as some more specific terms for those with a narrower scope. Keywords can be used individually or in combination to refine your scholarly article search.

Narrow Down Results

Sometimes, search results can be overwhelming, and searching for free articles on a journal database is no exception, but there are multiple ways to narrow down your results. A good place to start is discipline.

What category does your topic fall into (psychology, architecture, machine learning, etc.)? You can also narrow down your search with a year range if you're looking for articles that are more recent.

A Boolean search can be incredibly helpful. This entails including terms like AND between two keywords in your search if you need both keywords to be in your results (or, if you are looking to exclude certain keywords, to exclude these words from the results).

Consider Different Avenues

If you're not having luck using keywords in your search for free articles, you may still be able to find what you're looking for by changing your tactics. Casting a wider net sometimes yields positive results, so it may be helpful to try searching by subject if keywords aren't getting you anywhere.

You can search for a specific publisher to see if they have OA publications in the academic journal database. And, if you know more precisely what you're looking for, you can search for the title of the article or the author's name.

Determining the Credibility of Scholarly Sources

Ensuring that sources are both credible and reliable is crucial to academic research. Use these strategies to help evaluate the usefulness of scholarly sources:

• Peer Review : Look for articles that have undergone a rigorous peer-review process. Peer-reviewed articles are typically vetted by experts in the field, ensuring the accuracy of the research findings.

Tip: To determine whether an article has undergone rigorous peer review, review the journal's editorial policies, which are often available on the journal's website. Look for information about the peer-review process, including the criteria for selecting reviewers, the process for handling conflicts of interest, and any transparency measures in place.

• Publisher Reputation : Consider the reputation of the publisher. Established publishers, such as well-known academic journals, are more likely to adhere to high editorial standards and publishing ethics.
• Author Credentials : Evaluate the credentials and expertise of the authors. Check their affiliations, academic credentials, and past publications to assess their authority in the field.
• Citations and References : Examine the citations and references provided in the article. A well-researched article will cite credible sources to support its arguments and findings. Verify the accuracy of the cited sources and ensure they are from reputable sources.
• Publication Date : Consider the publication date of the article. While older articles may still be relevant, particularly in certain fields, it is best to prioritize recent publications for up-to-date research and findings.
• Journal Impact Factor : Assess the journal's impact factor or other metrics that indicate its influence and reputation within the academic community. Higher impact factor journals are generally considered more prestigious and reliable. 

Tip: Journal Citation Reports (JCR), produced by Clarivate Analytics, is a widely used source for impact factor data. You can access JCR through academic libraries or directly from the Clarivate Analytics website if you have a subscription.

• Peer Recommendations : Seek recommendations from peers, mentors, or professors in your field. They can provide valuable insights and guidance on reputable sources and journals within your area of study.
• Cross-Verification : Cross-verify the information presented in the article with other credible sources. Compare findings, methodologies, and conclusions with similar studies to ensure consistency and reliability.

By employing these strategies, researchers can confidently evaluate the credibility and reliability of scholarly sources, ensuring the integrity of their research contributions in an ever-evolving landscape.

The Top 21 Free Online Journal and Research Databases

Navigating OA journals, research article databases, and academic websites trying to find high-quality sources for your research can really make your head spin. What constitutes a reliable database? What is a useful resource for your discipline and research topic? How can you find and access full-text, peer-reviewed articles?

Fortunately, we're here to help. Having covered some of the ins and outs of peer review, OA journals, and how to search for articles, we have compiled a list of the top 21 free online journals and the best research databases. This list of databases is a great resource to help you navigate the wide world of academic research.

These databases provide a variety of free sources, from abstracts and citations to full-text, peer-reviewed OA journals. With databases covering specific areas of research and interdisciplinary databases that provide a variety of material, these are some of our favorite free databases, and they're totally legit!

CORE is a multidisciplinary aggregator of OA research. CORE has the largest collection of OA articles available. It allows users to search more than 219 million OA articles. While most of these link to the full-text article on the original publisher's site, or to a PDF available for download, five million records are hosted directly on CORE.

CORE's mission statement is a simple and straightforward commitment to offering OA articles to anyone, anywhere in the world. They also host communities that are available for researchers to join and an ambassador community to enhance their services globally. In addition to a straightforward keyword search, CORE offers advanced search options to filter results by publication type, year, language, journal, repository, and author.

CORE's user interface is easy to use and navigate. Search results can be sorted based on relevance or recency, and you can search for relevant content directly from the results screen.

Collection : 219,537,133 OA articles

Other Services : Additional services are available from CORE, with extras that are geared toward researchers, repositories, and businesses. There are tools for accessing raw data, including an API that provides direct access to data, datasets that are available for download, and FastSync for syncing data content from the CORE database.

CORE has a recommender plug-in that suggests relevant OA content in the database while conducting a search and a discovery feature that helps you discover OA versions of paywalled articles. Other features include tools for managing content, such as a dashboard for managing repository output and the Repository Edition service to enhance discoverability.

Good Source of Peer-Reviewed Articles : Yes

Advanced Search Options : Language, author, journal, publisher, repository, DOI, year

2. ScienceOpen

Functioning as a research and publishing network, ScienceOpen offers OA to more than 74 million articles in all areas of science. Although you do need to register to view the full text of articles, registration is free. The advanced search function is highly detailed, allowing you to find exactly the research you're looking for.

The Berlin- and Boston-based company was founded in 2013 to "facilitate open and public communications between academics and to allow ideas to be judged on their merit, regardless of where they come from." Search results can be exported for easy integration with reference management systems.

You can also bookmark articles for later research. There are extensive networking options, including your Science Open profile, a forum for interacting with other researchers, the ability to track your usage and citations, and an interactive bibliography. Users have the ability to review articles and provide their knowledge and insight within the community.

Collection : 74,560,631

Other Services : None

Advanced Search Options :   Content type, source, author, journal, discipline

3. Directory of Open Access Journals

A multidisciplinary, community-curated directory, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) gives researchers access to high-quality peer-reviewed journals. It has archived more than two million articles from 17,193 journals, allowing you to either browse by subject or search by keyword.

The site was launched in 2003 with the aim of increasing the visibility of OA scholarly journals online. Content on the site covers subjects from science, to law, to fine arts, and everything in between. DOAJ has a commitment to "increase the visibility, accessibility, reputation, usage and impact of quality, peer-reviewed, OA scholarly research journals globally, regardless of discipline, geography or language."

Information about the journal is available with each search result. Abstracts are also available in a collapsible format directly from the search screen. The scholarly article website is somewhat simple, but it is easy to navigate. There are 16 principles of transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing that clearly outline DOAJ policies and standards.

Collection : 6,817,242

Advanced Search Options :   Subject, journal, year

4. Education Resources Information Center

The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) of the Institution of Education Sciences allows you to search by topic for material related to the field of education. Links lead to other sites, where you may have to purchase the information, but you can search for full-text articles only. You can also search only peer-reviewed sources.

The service primarily indexes journals, gray literature (such as technical reports, white papers, and government documents), and books. All sources of material on ERIC go through a formal review process prior to being indexed. ERIC's selection policy is available as a PDF on their website.

The ERIC website has an extensive FAQ section to address user questions. This includes categories like general questions, peer review, and ERIC content. There are also tips for advanced searches, as well as general guidance on the best way to search the database. ERIC is an excellent database for content specific to education.

Collection : 1,292,897

Advanced Search Options : Boolean

5. arXiv e-Print Archive

The arXiv e-Print Archive is run by Cornell University Library and curated by volunteer moderators, and it now offers OA to more than one million e-prints.

There are advisory committees for all eight subjects available on the database. With a stated commitment to an "emphasis on openness, collaboration, and scholarship," the arXiv e-Print Archive is an excellent STEM resource.

The interface is not as user-friendly as some of the other databases available, and the website hosts a blog to provide news and updates, but it is otherwise a straightforward math and science resource. There are simple and advanced search options, and, in addition to conducting searches for specific topics and articles, users can browse content by subject. The arXiv e-Print Archive clearly states that they do not peer review the e-prints in the database.

Collection : 1,983,891

Good Source of Peer-Reviewed Articles : No

Advanced Search Options :   Subject, date, title, author, abstract, DOI

6. Social Science Research Network

The Social Science Research Network (SSRN) is a collection of papers from the social sciences community. It is a highly interdisciplinary platform used to search for scholarly articles related to 67 social science topics. SSRN has a variety of research networks for the various topics available through the free scholarly database.

The site offers more than 700,000 abstracts and more than 600,000 full-text papers. There is not yet a specific option to search for only full-text articles, but, because most of the papers on the site are free access, it's not often that you encounter a paywall. There is currently no option to search for only peer-reviewed articles.

You must become a member to use the services, but registration is free and enables you to interact with other scholars around the world. SSRN is "passionately committed to increasing inclusion, diversity and equity in scholarly research," and they encourage and discuss the use of inclusive language in scholarship whenever possible.

Collection : 1,058,739 abstracts; 915,452 articles

Advanced Search Options : Term, author, date, network

7. Public Library of Science

Public Library of Science (PLOS) is a big player in the world of OA science. Publishing 12 OA journals, the nonprofit organization is committed to facilitating openness in academic research. According to the site, "all PLOS content is at the highest possible level of OA, meaning that scientific articles are immediately and freely available to anyone, anywhere."

PLOS outlines four fundamental goals that guide the organization: break boundaries, empower researchers, redefine quality, and open science. All PLOS journals are peer-reviewed, and all 12 journals uphold rigorous ethical standards for research, publication, and scientific reporting.

PLOS does not offer advanced search options. Content is organized by topic into research communities that users can browse through, in addition to options to search for both articles and journals. The PLOS website also has resources for peer reviewers, including guidance on becoming a reviewer and on how to best participate in the peer review process.

Collection : 12 journals

Advanced Search Options : None

8. OpenDOAR

OpenDOAR, or the Directory of Open Access Repositories, is a comprehensive resource for finding free OA journals and articles. Using Google Custom Search, OpenDOAR combs through OA repositories around the world and returns relevant research in all disciplines.

The repositories it searches through are assessed and categorized by OpenDOAR staff to ensure they meet quality standards. Inclusion criteria for the database include requirements for OA content, global access, and categorically appropriate content, in addition to various other quality assurance measures. OpenDOAR has metadata, data, content, preservation, and submission policies for repositories, in addition to two OA policy statements regarding minimum and optimum recommendations.

This database allows users to browse and search repositories, which can then be selected, and articles and data can be accessed from the repository directly. As a repository database, much of the content on the site is geared toward the support of repositories and OA standards.

Collection : 5,768 repositories

Other Services : OpenDOAR offers a variety of additional services. Given the nature of the platform, services are primarily aimed at repositories and institutions, and there is a marked focus on OA in general. Sherpa services are OA archiving tools for authors and institutions.

They also offer various resources for OA support and compliance regarding standards and policies. The publication router matches publications and publishers with appropriate repositories.

There are also services and resources from JISC for repositories for cost management, discoverability, research impact, and interoperability, including ORCID consortium membership information. Additionally, a repository self-assessment tool is available for members.

Advanced Search Options :   Name, organization name, repository type, software name, content type, subject, country, region

9. Bielefeld Academic Search Engine

The Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE) is operated by the Bielefeld University Library in Germany, and it offers more than 240 million documents from more than 8,000 sources. Sixty percent of its content is OA, and you can filter your search accordingly.

BASE has rigorous inclusion requirements for content providers regarding quality and relevance, and they maintain a list of content providers for the sake of transparency, which can be easily found on their website. BASE has a fairly elegant interface. Search results can be organized by author, title, or date.

From the search results, items can be selected and exported, added to favorites, emailed, and searched in Google Scholar. There are basic and advanced search features, with the advanced search offering numerous options for refining search criteria. There is also a feature on the website that saves recent searches without additional steps from the user.

Collection : 276,019,066 documents; 9,286 content providers

Advanced Search Options :   Author, subject, year, content provider, language, document type, access, terms of reuse

10. Digital Library of the Commons Repository

Run by Indiana University, the Digital Library of the Commons (DLC) Repository is a multidisciplinary journal repository that allows users to access thousands of free and OA articles from around the world. You can browse by document type, date, author, title, and more or search for keywords relevant to your topic.

DCL also offers the Comprehensive Bibliography of the Commons, an image database, and a keyword thesaurus for enhanced search parameters. The repository includes books, book chapters, conference papers, journal articles, surveys, theses and dissertations, and working papers. DCL advanced search features drop-down menus of search types with built-in Boolean search options.

Searches can be sorted by relevance, title, date, or submission date in ascending or descending order. Abstracts are included in selected search results, with access to full texts available, and citations can be exported from the same page. Additionally, the image database search includes tips for better search results.

Collection : 10,784

Advanced Search Options :   Author, date, title, subject, sector, region, conference

11. CIA World Factbook

The CIA World Factbook is a little different from the other resources on this list in that it is not an online journal directory or repository. It is, however, a useful free online research database for academics in a variety of disciplines.

All the information is free to access, and it provides facts about every country in the world, which are organized by category and include information about history, geography, transportation, and much more. The World Factbook can be searched by country or region, and there is also information about the world's oceans.

This site contains resources related to the CIA as an organization rather than being a scientific journal database specifically. The site has a user interface that is easy to navigate. The site also provides a section for updates regarding changes to what information is available and how it is organized, making it easier to interact with the information you are searching for.

Collection : 266 countries

12. Paperity

Paperity boasts its status as the "first multidisciplinary aggregator of OA journals and papers." Their focus is on helping you avoid paywalls while connecting you to authoritative research. In addition to providing readers with easy access to thousands of journals, Paperity seeks to help authors reach their audiences and help journals increase their exposure to boost readership.

Paperity has journal articles for every discipline, and the database offers more than a dozen advanced search options, including the length of the paper and the number of authors. There is even an option to include, exclude, or exclusively search gray papers.

Paperity is available for mobile, with both a mobile site and the Paperity Reader, an app that is available for both Android and Apple users. The database is also available on social media. You can interact with Paperity via Twitter and Facebook, and links to their social media are available on their homepage, including their Twitter feed.

Collection : 8,837,396

Advanced Search Options : Title, abstract, journal title, journal ISSN, publisher, year of publication, number of characters, number of authors, DOI, author, affiliation, language, country, region, continent, gray papers

13. dblp Computer Science Bibliography

The dblp Computer Science Bibliography is an online index of major computer science publications. dblp was founded in 1993, though until 2010 it was a university-specific database at the University of Trier in Germany. It is currently maintained by the Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz Center for Informatics.

Although it provides access to both OA articles and those behind a paywall, you can limit your search to only OA articles. The site indexes more than three million publications, making it an invaluable resource in the world of computer science. dblp entries are color-coded based on the type of item.

dblp has an extensive FAQ section, so questions that might arise about topics like the database itself, navigating the website, or the data on dblp, in addition to several other topics, are likely to be answered. The website also hosts a blog and has a section devoted to website statistics.

Collection : 5,884,702

14. EconBiz

EconBiz is a great resource for economic and business studies. A service of the Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, it offers access to full texts online, with the option of searching for OA material only. Their literature search is performed across multiple international databases.

EconBiz has an incredibly useful research skills section, with resources such as Guided Walk, a service to help students and researchers navigate searches, evaluate sources, and correctly cite references; the Research Guide EconDesk, a help desk to answer specific questions and provide advice to aid in literature searches; and the Academic Career Kit for what they refer to as Early Career Researchers.

Other helpful resources include personal literature lists, a calendar of events for relevant calls for papers, conferences, and workshops, and an economics terminology thesaurus to help in finding keywords for searches. To stay up-to-date with EconBiz, you can sign up for their newsletter.

Collection : 1,075,219

Advanced Search Options :   Title, subject, author, institution, ISBN/ISSN, journal, publisher, language, OA only

15. BioMed Central

BioMed Central provides OA research from more than 300 peer-reviewed journals. While originally focused on resources related to the physical sciences, math, and engineering, BioMed Central has branched out to include journals that cover a broader range of disciplines, with the aim of providing a single platform that provides OA articles for a variety of research needs. You can browse these journals by subject or title, or you can search all articles for your required keyword.

BioMed Central has a commitment to peer-reviewed sources and to the peer review process itself, continually seeking to help and improve the peer review process. They're "committed to maintaining high standards through full and stringent peer review."

Additionally, the website includes resources to assist and support editors as part of their commitment to providing high-quality, peer-reviewed OA articles.

Collection : 507,212

Other Services : BMC administers the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry. While initially designed for registering clinical trials, since its creation in 2000, the registry has broadened its scope to include other health studies as well.

The registry is recognized by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), and it meets the requirements established by the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.

The study records included in the registry are all searchable and free to access. The ISRCTN registry "supports transparency in clinical research, helps reduce selective reporting of results and ensures an unbiased and complete evidence base."

Advanced Search Options :   Author, title, journal, list

A multidisciplinary search engine, JURN provides links to various scholarly websites, articles, and journals that are free to access or OA. Covering the fields of the arts, humanities, business, law, nature, science, and medicine, JURN has indexed almost 5,000 repositories to help you find exactly what you're looking for.

Search features are enhanced by Google, but searches are filtered through their index of repositories. JURN seeks to reach a wide audience, with their search engine tailored to researchers from "university lecturers and students seeking a strong search tool for OA content" and "advanced and ambitious students, age 14-18" to "amateur historians and biographers" and "unemployed and retired lecturers."

That being said, JURN is very upfront about its limitations. They admit to not being a good resource for educational studies, social studies, or psychology, and conference archives are generally not included due to frequently unstable URLs.

Collection : 5,064 indexed journals

Other Services : JURN has a browser add-on called UserScript. This add-on allows users to integrate the JURN database directly into Google Search. When performing a search through Google, the add-on creates a link that sends the search directly to JURN CSE. JURN CSE is a search service that is hosted by Google.

Clicking the link from the Google Search bar will run your search through the JURN database from the Google homepage. There is also an interface for a DuckDuckGo search box; while this search engine has an emphasis on user privacy, for smaller sites that may be indexed by JURN, DuckDuckGo may not provide the same depth of results.

Advanced Search Options :   Google search modifiers

Dryad is a digital repository of curated, OA scientific research data. Launched in 2009, it is run by a not-for-profit membership organization, with a community of institutional and publisher members for whom their services have been designed. Members include institutions such as Stanford, UCLA, and Yale, as well as publishers like Oxford University Press and Wiley.

Dryad aims to "promote a world where research data is openly available, integrated with the scholarly literature, and routinely reused to create knowledge." It is free to access for the search and discovery of data. Their user experience is geared toward easy self-depositing, supports Creative Commons licensing, and provides DOIs for all their content.

Note that there is a publishing charge associated if you wish to publish your data in Dryad.  When searching datasets, they are accompanied by author information and abstracts for the associated studies, and citation information is provided for easy attribution.

Collection : 44,458

Advanced Search Options : No

Run by the British Library, the E-Theses Online Service (EThOS) allows you to search over 500,000 doctoral theses in a variety of disciplines. All of the doctoral theses available on EThOS have been awarded by higher education institutions in the United Kingdom.

Although some full texts are behind paywalls, you can limit your search to items available for immediate download, either directly through EThOS or through an institution's website. More than half of the records in the database provide access to full-text theses.

EThOS notes that they do not hold all records for all institutions, but they strive to index as many doctoral theses as possible, and the database is constantly expanding, with approximately 3,000 new records added and 2,000 new full-text theses available every month. The availability of full-text theses is dependent on multiple factors, including their availability in the institutional repository and the level of repository development.

Collection : 500,000+

Advanced Search Options : Abstract, author's first name, author's last name, awarding body, current institution, EThOS ID, year, language, qualifications, research supervisor, sponsor/funder, keyword, title

PubMed is a research platform well-known in the fields of science and medicine. It was created and developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It has been available since 1996 and offers access to "more than 33 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books."

While PubMed does not provide full-text articles directly, and many full-text articles may be behind paywalls or require subscriptions to access them, when articles are available from free sources, such as through PubMed Central (PMC), those links are provided with the citations and abstracts that PubMed does provide.

PMC, which was established in 2000 by the NLM, is a free full-text archive that includes more than 6,000,000 records. PubMed records link directly to corresponding PMC results. PMC content is provided by publishers and other content owners, digitization projects, and authors directly.

Collection : 33,000,000+

Advanced Search Options : Author's first name, author's last name, identifier, corporation, date completed, date created, date entered, date modified, date published, MeSH, book, conflict of interest statement, EC/RN number, editor, filter, grant number, page number, pharmacological action, volume, publication type, publisher, secondary source ID, text, title, abstract, transliterated title

20. Semantic Scholar

A unique and easy-to-use resource, Semantic Scholar defines itself not just as a research database but also as a "search and discovery tool." Semantic Scholar harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to efficiently sort through millions of science-related papers based on your search terms.

Through this singular application of machine learning, Semantic Scholar expands search results to include topic overviews based on your search terms, with the option to create an alert for or further explore the topic. It also provides links to related topics.

In addition, search results produce "TLDR" summaries in order to provide concise overviews of articles and enhance your research by helping you to navigate quickly and easily through the available literature to find the most relevant information. According to the site, although some articles are behind paywalls, "the data [they] have for those articles is limited," so you can expect to receive mostly full-text results.

Collection : 203,379,033

Other Services : Semantic Scholar supports multiple popular browsers. Content can be accessed through both mobile and desktop versions of Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Opera.

Additionally, Semantic Scholar provides browser extensions for both Chrome and Firefox, so AI-powered scholarly search results are never more than a click away. The mobile interface includes an option for Semantic Swipe, a new way of interacting with your research results.

There are also beta features that can be accessed as part of the Beta Program, which will provide you with features that are being actively developed and require user feedback for further improvement.

Advanced Search Options : Field of study, date range, publication type, author, journal, conference, PDF

Zenodo, powered by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), was launched in 2013. Taking its name from Zenodotus, the first librarian of the ancient library of Alexandria, Zenodo is a tool "built and developed by researchers, to ensure that everyone can join in open science." Zenodo accepts all research from every discipline in any file format.

However, Zenodo also curates uploads and promotes peer-reviewed material that is available through OA. A DOI is assigned to everything that is uploaded to Zenodo, making research easily findable and citable. You can sort by keyword, title, journal, and more and download OA documents directly from the site.

While there are closed access and restricted access items in the database, the vast majority of research is OA material. Search results can be filtered by access type, making it easy to view the free articles available in the database.

Collection : 2,220,000+

Advanced Search Options : Access, file type, keywords

Check out our roundup of free research databases as a handy one-page PDF.

How to find peer-reviewed articles.

There are a lot of free scholarly articles available from various sources. The internet is a big place. So how do you go about finding peer-reviewed articles when conducting your research? It's important to make sure you are using reputable sources.

The first source of the article is the person or people who wrote it. Checking out the author can give you some initial insight into how much you can trust what you’re reading. Looking into the publication information of your sources can also indicate whether the article is reliable.

Aspects of the article, such as subject and audience, tone, and format, are other things you can look at when evaluating whether the article you're using is valid, reputable, peer-reviewed material. So, let's break that down into various components so you can assess your research to ensure that you're using quality articles and conducting solid research.

Check the Author

Peer-reviewed articles are written by experts or scholars with experience in the field or discipline they're writing about. The research in a peer-reviewed article has to pass a rigorous evaluation process, so it's a foregone conclusion that the author(s) of a peer-reviewed article should have experience or training related to that research.

When evaluating an article, take a look at the author's information. What credentials does the author have to indicate that their research has scholarly weight behind it? Finding out what type of degree the author has—and what that degree is in—can provide insight into what kind of authority the author is on the subject.

Something else that might lend credence to the author's scholarly role is their professional affiliation. A look at what organization or institution they are affiliated with can tell you a lot about their experience or expertise. Where were they trained, and who is verifying their research?

Identify Subject and Audience

The ultimate goal of a study is to answer a question. Scholarly articles are also written for scholarly audiences, especially articles that have gone through the peer review process. This means that the author is trying to reach experts, researchers, academics, and students in the field or topic the research is based on.

Think about the question the author is trying to answer by conducting this research, why, and for whom. What is the subject of the article? What question has it set out to answer? What is the purpose of finding the information? Is the purpose of the article of importance to other scholars? Is it original content?

Research should also be approached analytically. Is the methodology sound? Is the author using an analytical approach to evaluate the data that they have obtained? Are the conclusions they've reached substantiated by their data and analysis? Answering these questions can reveal a lot about the article's validity.

Format Matters

Reliable articles from peer-reviewed sources have certain format elements to be aware of. The first is an abstract. An abstract is a short summary or overview of the article. Does the article have an abstract? It's unlikely that you're reading a peer-reviewed article if it doesn't. Peer-reviewed journals will also have a word count range. If an article seems far too short or incredibly long, that may be reason to doubt it.

Another feature of reliable articles is the sections the information is divided into. Peer-reviewed research articles will have clear, concise sections that appropriately organize the information. This might include a literature review, methodology, results (in the case of research articles), and a conclusion.

One of the most important sections is the references or bibliography. This is where the researcher lists all the sources of their information. A peer-reviewed source will have a comprehensive reference section.

An article that has been written to reach an academic community will have an academic tone. The language that is used, and the way this language is used, is important to consider. If the article is riddled with grammatical errors, confusing syntax, and casual language, it almost definitely didn't make it through the peer review process.

Also consider the use of terminology. Every discipline is going to have standard terminology or jargon that can be used and understood by other academics in the discipline. The language in a peer-reviewed article is going to reflect that.

If the author is going out of their way to explain simple terms, or terms that are standard to the field or discipline, it's unlikely that the article has been peer reviewed, as this is something that the author would be asked to address during the review process.

Publication

The source of the article will be a very good indicator of the likelihood that it was peer reviewed. Where was the article published? Was it published alongside other academic articles in the same discipline? Is it a legitimate and reputable scholarly publication?

A trade publication or newspaper might be legitimate or reputable, but it is not a scholarly source, and it will not have been subject to the peer review process. Scholarly journals are the best resource for peer-reviewed articles, but it's important to remember that not all scholarly journals are peer reviewed.

It's helpful to look at a scholarly source's website, as peer-reviewed journals will have a clear indication of the peer review process. University libraries, institutional repositories, and reliable databases (and now you have a list of legit ones) can also help provide insight into whether an article comes from a peer-reviewed journal.

Common Research Mistakes to Avoid

Research is a lot of work. Even with high standards and good intentions, it's easy to make mistakes. Perhaps you searched for access to scientific journals for free and found the perfect peer-reviewed sources, but you forgot to document everything, and your references are a mess. Or, you only searched for free online articles and missed out on a ground-breaking study that was behind a paywall.

Whether your research is for a degree or to get published or to satisfy your own inquisitive nature, or all of the above, you want all that work to produce quality results. You want your research to be thorough and accurate.

To have any hope of contributing to the literature on your research topic, your results need to be high quality. You might not be able to avoid every potential mistake, but here are some that are both common and easy to avoid.

Sticking to One Source

One of the hallmarks of good research is a healthy reference section. Using a variety of sources gives you a better answer to your question. Even if all of the literature is in agreement, looking at various aspects of the topic may provide you with an entirely different picture than you would have if you looked at your research question from only one angle.

Not Documenting Every Fact

As you conduct your research, do yourself a favor and write everything down. Everything you include in your paper or article that you got from another source is going to need to be added to your references and cited.

It's important, especially if your aim is to conduct ethical, high-quality research, that all of your research has proper attribution. If you don't document as you go, you could end up making a lot of work for yourself if the information you don't write down is something that later, as you write your paper, you really need.

Using Outdated Materials

Academia is an ever-changing landscape. What was true in your academic discipline or area of research ten years ago may have since been disproven. If fifteen studies have come out since the article that you're using was published, it's more than a little likely that you're going to be basing your research on flawed or dated information.

If the information you're basing your research on isn't as up-to-date as possible, your research won't be of quality or able to stand up to any amount of scrutiny. You don't want all of your hard work to be for naught.

Relying Solely on Open Access Journals

OA is a great resource for conducting academic research. There are high-quality journal articles available through OA, and that can be very helpful for your research. But, just because you have access to free articles, that doesn't mean that there's nothing to be found behind a paywall.

Just as dismissing high-quality peer-reviewed articles because they are OA would be limiting, not exploring any paid content at all is equally short-sighted. If you're seeking to conduct thorough and comprehensive research, exploring all of your options for quality sources is going to be to your benefit.

Digging Too Deep or Not Deep Enough

Research is an art form, and it involves a delicate balance of information. If you conduct your research using only broad search terms, you won't be able to answer your research question well, or you'll find that your research provides information that is closely related to your topic but, ultimately, your findings are vague and unsubstantiated.

On the other hand, if you delve deeply into your research topic with specific searches and turn up too many sources, you might have a lot of information that is adjacent to your topic but without focus and perhaps not entirely relevant. It's important to answer your research question concisely but thoroughly.

Different Types of Scholarly Articles

Different types of scholarly articles have different purposes. An original research article, also called an empirical article, is the product of a study or an experiment. This type of article seeks to answer a question or fill a gap in the existing literature.

Research articles will have a methodology, results, and a discussion of the findings of the experiment or research and typically a conclusion.

Review articles overview the current literature and research and provide a summary of what the existing research indicates or has concluded. This type of study will have a section for the literature review, as well as a discussion of the findings of that review. Review articles will have a particularly extensive reference or bibliography section.

Theoretical articles draw on existing literature to create new theories or conclusions, or look at current theories from a different perspective, to contribute to the foundational knowledge of the field of study.

10 Tips for Navigating Journal Databases

Use the right academic journal database for your search, be that interdisciplinary or specific to your field. Or both!

If it's an option, set the search results to return only peer-reviewed sources.

Start by using search terms that are relevant to your topic without being overly specific.

Try synonyms, especially if your keywords aren't returning the desired results.

Even if you've found some good articles, try searching using different terms.

Explore the advanced search features of the database(s).

Learn to use Booleans (AND, OR, NOT) to expand or narrow your results.

Once you've gotten some good results from a more general search, try narrowing your search.

Read through abstracts when trying to find articles relevant to your research.

Keep track of your research and use citation tools. It'll make life easier when it comes time to compile your references.

7 Frequently Asked Questions

1. how do i get articles for free.

Free articles can be found through free online academic journals, OA databases, or other databases that include OA journals and articles. These resources allow you to access free papers online so you can conduct your research without getting stuck behind a paywall.

Academics don't receive payment for the articles they contribute to journals. There are often, in fact, publication fees that scholars pay in order to publish. This is one of the funding structures that allows OA journals to provide free content so that you don't have to pay fees or subscription costs to access journal articles.

2. How Do I Find Journal Articles?

Journal articles can be found in databases and institutional repositories that can be accessed at university libraries. However, online research databases that contain OA articles are the best resource for getting free access to journal articles that are available online.

Peer-reviewed journal articles are the best to use for academic research, and there are a number of databases where you can find peer-reviewed OA journal articles. Once you've found a useful article, you can look through the references for the articles the author used to conduct their research, and you can then search online databases for those articles, too.

3. How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?

Peer-reviewed articles can be found in reputable scholarly peer-reviewed journals. High-quality journals and journal articles can be found online using academic search engines and free research databases. These resources are excellent for finding OA articles, including peer-reviewed articles.

OA articles are articles that can be accessed for free. While some scholarly search engines and databases include articles that aren't peer reviewed, there are also some that provide only peer-reviewed articles, and databases that include non-peer-reviewed articles often have advanced search features that enable you to select "peer review only." The database will return results that are exclusively peer-reviewed content.

4. What Are Research Databases?

A research database is a list of journals, articles, datasets, and/or abstracts that allows you to easily search for scholarly and academic resources and conduct research online. There are databases that are interdisciplinary and cover a variety of topics.

For example, Paperity might be a great resource for a chemist as well as a linguist, and there are databases that are more specific to a certain field. So, while ERIC might be one of the best educational databases available for OA content, it's not going to be one of the best databases for finding research in the field of microbiology.

5. How Do I Find Scholarly Articles for Specific Fields?

There are interdisciplinary research databases that provide articles in a variety of fields, as well as research databases that provide articles that cater to specific disciplines. Additionally, a journal repository or index can be a helpful resource for finding articles in a specific field.

When searching an interdisciplinary database, there are frequently advanced search features that allow you to narrow the search results down so that they are specific to your field. Selecting "psychology" in the advanced search features will return psychology journal articles in your search results. You can also try databases that are specific to your field.

If you're searching for law journal articles, many law reviews are OA. If you don't know of any databases specific to history, visiting a journal repository or index and searching "history academic journals" can return a list of journals specific to history and provide you with a place to begin your research.

6. Are Peer-Reviewed Articles Really More Legitimate?

The short answer is yes, peer-reviewed articles are more legitimate resources for academic research. The peer review process provides legitimacy, as it is a rigorous review of the content of an article that is performed by scholars and academics who are experts in their field of study. The review provides an evaluation of the quality and credibility of the article.

Non-peer-reviewed articles are not subject to a review process and do not undergo the same level of scrutiny. This means that non-peer-reviewed articles are unlikely, or at least not as likely, to meet the same standards that peer-reviewed articles do.

7. Are Free Article Directories Legitimate?

Yes! As with anything, some databases are going to be better for certain requirements than others. But, a scholarly article database being free is not a reason in itself to question its legitimacy.

Free scholarly article databases can provide access to abstracts, scholarly article websites, journal repositories, and high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles. The internet has a lot of information, and it's often challenging to figure out what information is reliable. 

Research databases and article directories are great resources to help you conduct your research. Our list of the best research paper websites is sure to provide you with sources that are totally legit.

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10 Sites to Kick Off Your Scholarship Search

These websites offer free databases to help students apply for thousands of available scholarships.

10 Sites to find Scholarships

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You don't need to be at the top of your class or a star athlete to win scholarships.

Scholarships can be a good way to ease the financial burden of college or fund your education entirely. Many scholarships are merit-based , meaning they're awarded because of a student's academic, athletic, artistic or leadership abilities.

But you don't need to be at the top of your class or a star athlete to win scholarships . Many are awarded based on a student's financial need, and you may even be able to find some related to your hobbies .

Often, some of the best scholarship sources "are in your backyard ," says Angela Warfield, principal consultant and founder of college admissions consulting firm Compass Academics. School counselors as well as local cultural affinity groups, churches, clubs, community foundations and athletic organizations often award scholarships. Targeting these first is a good way to stack scholarship money, experts say.

But you should expand your search wider, and there are plenty of free websites and apps that can help. Here are 10 websites experts suggest using to start your scholarship search.

Going Merry

A popular site recommended by independent college admissions counselors is Going Merry , which aims to simplify scholarship applications for students. Signing up is free, but students can also check to see how much they're eligible for in scholarships without signing up. According to the website, students have won upward of $40,000.

"I recommend this for students due to its user-friendly platform, which simplifies the scholarship application process and aggregates numerous scholarship opportunities in one place," Denard Jones, lead college counselor at college admissions consulting company Empowerly, wrote in an email. "It offers a time-efficient approach, allowing students to focus more on their studies and extracurricular activities while pursuing valuable merit aid opportunities."

Scholarships.com

This website helps students discover scholarships they qualify for, organize their matches and apply for those scholarships. The recently redesigned website has helped streamline the process even more, says Kevin Ladd, chief operating officer and co-creator of Scholarships.com and a former U.S. News contributor.

Ladd says the platform prioritizes legitimacy, accuracy and ease of function for users.

"If you found it on Scholarships.com, it is safe to apply for it," Ladd wrote in an email. "We thoroughly vet each one, ensuring it’s legit and there are no fees associated with applying. Daily, we are looking at these and checking them against the URL associated with them, looking at the deadline and dollar amount, filtering, etc. and emailing or calling the provider if necessary to ensure timeliness and accuracy."

You may have heard about the Scholly app through the television show "Shark Tank," where founder Christopher Gray shared how he earned $1.3 million in scholarships thanks partly to applying to virtually every scholarship he qualified for. He found that for many of the scholarships he won, he was one of a few applicants or the only applicant.

Financial management company SoFi estimates $100 million in scholarship money goes unclaimed each year, and Gray says he created Scholly to help students find that money. Now owned by educational lender Sallie Mae, the app is free and helps students identify scholarships based on their academic profile and demographics.

“A lot of students are taking on way more debt than they have to,” Gray says. “That’s mainly because they don’t know these scholarships exist."

Fastweb is another free scholarship search provider that claims to have a database of 1.5 million college scholarships worth over $3.4 billion. Owned by Monster.com, Fastweb also offers college planning resources and financial aid information.

"I like it because it’s got such a huge database," says Monica Matthews, author of "How to Win College Scholarships: Guides for Parents and Students in 10 Easy Steps." Matthews helped her three sons win tens of thousands of dollars in college scholarships through websites like Fastweb.

Fastweb is "the most comprehensive website for students to find scholarships," says Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of admissions consulting firm Command Education. Like many scholarship websites, Fastweb may send a lot of emails after you sign up, so Matthews recommends creating an email address specifically for scholarship searches so that your primary email inbox doesn't get flooded.

A platform created by the College Board, BigFuture allows students to search for scholarships and get help paying for college. The website claims to have a database of more than 24,000 scholarships that award more than $1.5 billion annually. The website allows students to create a profile and get matched with scholarships they qualify for.

"I recommend it to high schools because it offers a reliable tool for accessing essential information on both self-help and gift aid search processes," Jones says.

The majority of scholarships are awarded to high school seniors, but RaiseMe advertises scholarships available to students as early as their freshman year. The website matches students with micro-scholarships, which RaiseMe defines as "a small grant that you can earn during high school or community college and put towards tuition at a four-year college or university."

Students must create a profile on the website and enter their grades, hobbies, honors, awards, community service and other achievements. From there, they can potentially earn money from one of the 300 colleges that RaiseMe partners with.

On average, students who use RaiseMe and meet standard eligibility requirements for a college earn $25,000 in micro-scholarships over four years of high school, according to the website.

Previously known as Cappex, Appily is another free resource that allows students to search both schools and scholarships that they qualify for based on their personal profile and demographics. You can search for scholarships based on your year in school, and after you complete a short questionnaire, the site filters schools and scholarships that may be applicable.

"This platform provides a comprehensive scholarship database, aiding students in identifying financial aid opportunities to support their search for affordability in a personalized way by matching opportunities with student preferences," Jones says. "It also features college reviews from actual students, offering valuable insights into campus life, academics and extracurriculars."

Along with searching for scholarships, Niche.com allows students to gain a sense of a school's "personality" by reading student reviews, Hartley says. Similar to other websites, Niche matches students with scholarships that match their qualifications and provides essay-free scholarships, which some students may prefer.

Unigo is another website that pairs students with scholarships that fit their profile. The website has more than 3.6 million athletic, merit-based and company-sponsored scholarships and grants in its database, as well as 650,000 college reviews, statistics and other data points to use when vetting schools.

Users can check each month to find new scholarships that fit their profile, with some applications taking just a few minutes to complete.

Scholarships360

After struggling to find scholarships on their own, brothers Will and Brian Geiger launched Scholarships360 in 2010 to help students find money for college. Since then, the website has offered a free database of thousands of scholarships that can be filtered by grade and demographic, plus scholarships that are easy to apply for and don't require an essay.

A new site feature is that all scholarships "are now 'ungated' so that students don't need to sign up," company CEO Will Geiger wrote in an email. "We think that this makes Scholarships360 particularly student-centric as students can go directly to the scholarship website. They can also use our app to check their eligibility and get matches."

Trying to fund your education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News  Paying for College  center.

12 Ways to Win a Scholarship

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Best Peer-to-Peer Lending Websites for Investors

Alternative investments can yield more than the stock market, and do some good, too.

Best Peer-to-Peer Lending Platforms

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Peer-to-peer lending offers advantages like proprietary credit evaluation algorithms, direct access to borrower interest payments, and the satisfaction of supporting individuals or small businesses.

Key Takeaways

• Peer-to-peer lending can provide new opportunities for investing as well as a way to help great ideas succeed.
• Researching which lending sites to use involves asking questions about their risks, loan terms, penalties and impacts.
• We've selected five sites that top the charts for starting small, automatic investing, real estate investing and sites for accredited investors.

When fixed income just doesn't cut it, some investors turn to peer-to-peer lending platforms for above-market returns.

Peer-to-peer lending has three competitive advantages : First, the platforms' proprietary credit evaluation algorithms can look beyond FICO scores to determine a borrower's creditworthiness, enabling more people and businesses to get funding. Second, by cutting out the bank middleman, peer-to-peer lending allows investors to pocket more of the interest paid by borrowers. Third, peer-to-peer lending can provide other benefits, such as the feel-good benefit of knowing your money is helping another person or small business thrive.

"Engaging in peer-to-peer loans can provide a way to invest in creating opportunities for other people, while also providing intrinsic benefits for lenders," says Kathy Guis, executive vice president for investments at lending nonprofit Kiva. "We have seen educators use peer lending to teach students about the interconnection of global challenges." She gives the example of Dave Smith, a seventh grade social studies teacher, who created a student-fueled $1 million lending project through Kiva that dispersed nearly 43,000 loans worldwide.

Investors should beware that, as with all investments, peer-to-peer lending comes with risk. Many sites encourage investors to diversify their risk by spreading investment dollars across multiple borrowers. This way, you're less at risk of a single default taking out your entire investment. And never loan money you can't afford to lose.

How to Choose a Peer-to-Peer Lending Platform

Before investing in peer-to-peer lending, perform the same due diligence as you would with any investment. You'll want to understand the protections in place for both borrowers and lenders, Guis says. She recommends seeking answers to the following questions:

• What is the risk of investing for the lender?
• Are there penalties, unclear policies or fees for loan transactions?
• What are the loan terms for borrowers?
• Will this investment have a positive impact on the borrower?
• Will it achieve the goals of both the lender and the borrower?

If the platform "doesn't provide clear information on loan terms or borrower protections through their website or when requested, consider moving on to a different organization," Guis says.

Best Peer-to-Peer Lending Sites

There are many peer-to-peer lending sites to choose from, but not all of them make investing easy or open to the general public. Sites like Funding Circle only allow institutional investors to lend. Others don't post their lender requirements but simply direct interested parties to the company's sales team for more information.

Here are five sites that make investing in peer-to-peer lending both easy and transparent:

• Best for starting small: Kiva
• Best for automatic investing: Prosper
• Best for real estate investors: RealtyMogul
• Best for accredited investors: Upstart and Funding Circle

Best for Starting Small: Kiv a

"Kiva is no ordinary peer-to-peer lending platform," says Brian Martucci, personal finance expert at the financial website Money Crashers. "It's built for a higher purpose, with lending activities focused on individual entrepreneurs and microbusinesses in low- and middle-income countries."

Founded in 2005, the international nonprofit connects investors with microentrepreneurs and small business owners around the world. The company was founded on the mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive.

"Kiva carefully vets loans and partners to ensure mission alignment, and that borrowers receive high-quality services that unlock opportunities to help them better their lives," Guis says.

You can lend as little as $25. Every dollar loaned on Kiva goes to funding loans, with about a 96% repayment rate – though Guis points out that financial return isn't the primary goal for Kiva lenders. She notes that lenders are repaid over time to their Kiva accounts, allowing them to re-lend the same amount to other borrowers and "multiply the impact of their contribution."

Best for Automatic Investing: Prosper

Also founded in 2005, Prosper was the first peer-to-peer lending site in the U.S. Since then, it has helped more than 1.7 million customers with over $20 billion invested. Investors can be a part of that funding for as little as $25.

Loans range from AA to HR for "higher risk, higher return." Historically, interest rates on loans that originated since July 1, 2009, have averaged 5.5%. Investors pay a loan servicing fee of 1% per year for each payment received from a borrower.

The company's auto invest tool lets you create a portfolio based on the rating mix you prefer, from AA-B weighted to D-HR weighted, so it's easy to diversify.

Best for Real Estate Investors: RealtyMogul

If real estate is your investment flavor of choice, RealtyMogul may be right for you. The platform facilitates real estate investment trusts (REITs), private placement and 1031 exchange property investments. More than $1 billion has been invested through the platform since its inception over a decade ago.

Deals are vetted by the site's affiliated broker-dealer, RM Securities, before being made available to investors. This includes a thorough review of the real estate company, property, investment plan and legal documents. The process has paid off for investors, who have realized an overall internal rate of return of 18.3%.

Best for Accredited Investors: Upstart and Funding Circle

Powered by artificial intelligence , Upstart is one of the most popular peer-to-peer lending sites for borrowers and investors alike. Through the Upstart Referral Network, the platform's algorithm will refer borrowers to you who match your criteria through the company's website. You can refine your borrower pool based on 15 criteria, from minimum credit score to loan size, geography and more.

The company boasts a gross average return of 12.4%, which is the annual percentage rate, or APR, less the expected annualized loss rate. The vast majority of loans are fully automated, meaning no human involvement is required. When the borrower accepts your offer, funding can be provided as soon as the next business day.

To invest in peer-to-peer lending with Upstart, you need to be an accredited investor, which the Securities and Exchange Commission defines as someone with net worth of more than $1 million or income over $200,000 ($300,000 with a spouse or partner).

Funding Circle

If you want to support small businesses, consider peer-to-peer lending through Funding Circle Holdings (LSE:FCH). While the platform is only available to accredited and institutional investors, it's doing impressive work. To date, it has helped provide more than $20.2 billion for more than 135,000 small businesses.

Investors buy notes with terms up to five years and receive monthly installments. To start, you need to transfer at least $25,000 to your Funding Circle investment account. You can then allocate that $25,000 in as little as $500 increments to fractional notes. Pick your own notes or let the platform's auto invest tool choose for you.

Note there's a 1% servicing fee. The company is also listed on the London Stock Exchange with ticker FCH.

Impact Investing Firms and Funds 

Matt Whittaker July 24, 2024

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The Best Insoles For Work Boots To Boost Comfort On The Job

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Years ago, long before I found my footing as a writer, I worked as a laborer with a small masonry company in the Pacific Northwest. Each morning, I laced up my work boots, spent the day on my feet and came home only to do it all over again the next day. At the time, it seemed easier to ignore foot pain and discomfort than to spend money on a pair of insoles. But as I’ve gotten older (and maybe a bit wiser), I’ve realized that a small investment in your health—insoles—can pay off in the long run.

For that reason, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the best insoles for work boots, focusing on comfort, durability and support. Based on my expertise and in-depth research, the Superfeet All-Purpose High Impact Insoles earn high marks for their impact absorption that reduces stress on the ankles, knees and back. I also like the budget-friendly Copper Fit Work Gear Insoles at less than $15, and the Tread Labs Pace Insoles to relieve pain associated with plantar fasciitis. In total, I’ve identified six of the best work boot insoles available right now. Find all of them below.

Invest in a pair of insoles for your work boots to keep your feet happy when you're standing all ... [+] day.

• Best Insoles For Work Boots Overall: Superfeet All-Purpose High Impact Support Insoles
• Best Budget Insoles For Work Boots: Copper Fit Work Gear Comfort Work Boot Insoles
• Best Cushioned Insoles For Work Boots: Keen Utility K-20 Insoles
• Best Gel Insoles For Work Boots: Dr. Scholl's Work All-Day Insoles
• Best For Arch Support: Timberland Pro Anti-Fatigue Technology Insoles
• Best For Plantar Fasciitis: Tread Labs Pace Insoles

Best Insoles For Work Boots Overall

Durable, comfortable inserts for all-day wear, superfeet all-purpose high impact support insoles.

As the gear editor at Forbes Vetted, I review and recommend products in the consumer outdoors and fitness spaces, from bikes and tents to treadmills and fitness trackers. As a former commerce editor, copywriter and cultural journalist, my work has appeared in publications like Gear Junkie, Field Mag, REI's Uncommon Path and more. When I'm not writing about gear, you can find me testing it in the field while camping, hiking, running, biking and skiing. I hold a degree in kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I spent extended periods working with the institution’s locomotion research group studying bipedal movement. Though I currently live nomadically, I will always identify as a New Englander.

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Materials: Leather, foam | Arch support: Medium, high | Heel cup: Deep

With so many different insoles on the market nowadays, it’s tough to pick just one as the best. Still, Superfeet’s All-Purpose High Impact Insoles top this list for their optimal blend of support, quality and thinness to meet the needs of most feet.

The top of the insole features a moisture-wicking cover to prevent the foam underneath from acting like a sponge—it helps expel sweat as opposed to holding it in. Under that top cover, a layer of responsive foam absorbs repetitive, high impacts, thereby reducing strain on your feet, ankles, knees and back. And that foam is paired with a sculpted heel to lock your foot in place and act as a stabilizer, limiting unwanted movement. When combined, these details cater to those who traverse hard surfaces for hours at a time, day after day.

What’s more, I also like the insole’s thin profile that helps it fit into most work boots. You might have to trim the foam to find the right fit, but it’s a one-and-done process. At $60, these insoles are more expensive than most, but Superfeet’s 60-day warranty gives you plenty of time to wear them and decide if they’re right for you. If they aren’t, simply return them for your money back.

Best Budget Insoles For Work Boots

Easy on your feet, easier on your wallet, copper fit work gear comfort work boot insoles.

Materials: Polypropylene, foam | Arch support: Medium | Heel cup: Deep

Normally, I don’t recommend investing in the cheapest wellness supplies you can find because you get what you pay for. But if you’re simply wondering if insoles are right for you, or if you’re shopping on a budget, I recommend picking up the Copper Fit Work Gear Comfort Work Boot Insoles. Specifically designed for those who spend all day on their feet, these insoles feature a triple-foam footbed to absorb any and all impact, and that cushioning extends to the heel and arch for added protection. I also like Copper Fit’s use of—you guessed it—infused copper to keep unwanted odors at bay. That infused copper pairs with ventilation to help keep your feet cool and funk-free.

While I think it’s worth noting that lots of cushioning won’t help every foot type (some feet actually prefer less cushioning), the $13 price tag makes these a low-risk investment. If they don’t meet your needs, you didn’t drop a lot of money in the first place, and Copper Fit’s 60-day warranty gives you plenty of time to decide if they’re right for you.

Best Cushioned Insoles For Work Boots

Full-length foam cushioning reduces fatigue, keen utility k-20 insoles.

Materials: Foam | Arch support: Medium | Heel cup: Deep

Oregon-based outdoor brand Keen is best known for its hiking boots and water shoes , but the company’s Utility K-20 insole is also a best-seller for those in need of highly-cushioned support. That’s because Keen pairs energy return foam that runs the length of the insole with shock-absorbing pads that reduce fatigue, so you’re essentially walking on a little cloud. Add in medium arch support, a contoured heel cup, quick-drying technology to wick moisture and natural odor control, and you’ve got yourself a well-rounded insole that’s ready for work.

It’s worth noting that, in addition to the Utility K-20 insert, Keen also makes a Utility K-10 insert , and a K-20 Plus Outdoor insert . The K-10 provides a higher arch compared to the K-20, while the K-20 Plus Outdoor features even more cushioning, though it’s technically designed for hiking footwear. Consider the Utility K-10 if you have a high arch and need the added support, or the K-20 Plus Outdoor if you need even more cushioning and don’t mind wearing an outdoors-inspired insole.

Best Gel Insoles For Work Boots

An optimal blend of massaging gel and foam, dr. scholl's work all-day insoles.

Materials: Polypropylene, foam, gel | Arch support: Medium | Heel cup: Deep

You can’t have a conversation about insoles without mentioning Dr. Scholl’s. The brand has been in business for over a century, and its library of insoles is staggering. To save you the trouble of sorting through tens if not hundreds of options, I’ve identified the Work All-Day Insoles as the best gel-infused option for work boots. But why gel? Well, unlike memory foam insoles that offer broad cushioning and support across your entire foot, gel insoles offer more targeted support and shock absorption in areas like the heel, arch and ball of your foot. Just keep in mind that gel isn’t better than foam, and vice versa—it’s all a matter of preference.

Dr. Scholl’s outfits the Work All-Day Insoles with massaging gel in the heel to absorb impact, and a supportive arch helps distribute weight. The material is also treated with the brand’s Polygiene StayFresh Technology that aims to reduce odor and keep your feet feeling fresh. Dr. Scholl’s offers a strong 90-day warranty, so you’ve got plenty of time to take these for a spin and decide if they’re right for you.

Best For Arch Support

Insoles from the king of work boots, timberland pro anti-fatigue technology insoles.

Just like you can’t have a conversation about insoles without mention of Dr. Scholl’s, you can’t talk about work boots without bringing up Timberland. Sure, the brand’s iconic boots might be more popular among style icons than laborers nowadays, but because they know how to make long-lasting footwear, they also know how to develop a durable, supportive insole. 

The Anti-Fatigure Technology Footbed features dynamic arch support to absorb impact and reduce fatigue for those on their feet all day. While the arch isn’t especially high, Timberland claims it’s “dynamic” to support different foot shapes, so it casts a wide net. A layer of OrthoLite foam is added to the top of the insole to improve comfort, and it also helps the material combat odor. Complete with a one-year unconditional comfort guarantee, your investment comes with added peace of mind.

Best For Plantar Fasciitis

Decrease impact, improve stability, reduce pain, tread labs pace insoles.

Materials: Polypropylene, foam | Arch support: Low, medium, high, extra high | Heel cup: Deep

Choosing the best insole for plantar fasciitis in work boots can be tricky since everyone’s feet are different, but I recommend the Tread Labs Pace Insole. Its extra-firm support is ideal for absorbing the repetitive impacts that come with long hours on the job, and the deep heel cup keeps your heel securely in place—where plantar fasciitis pain often strikes. I also appreciate its two-part design, consisting of a durable base and a soft, replaceable top cover. This design is especially helpful if you spend a lot of time standing or walking in work boots, as it allows you to easily replace the foam when it starts to wear out. Plus, Tread Labs offers a replacement guarantee, so if the insoles wear out, they'll send you a new pair with no hassle.

Another reason I recommend the Pace is that it comes in four arch heights—low, medium, high and extra high—making it easier to find the right match for your feet. While the customization makes these insoles a bit more expensive (they’re the priciest on this list at $75), I believe the comfort they provide over time, combined with the lifetime warranty, makes them a worthwhile investment for work boots. Consider reviewing the many insoles we recommend for plantar fasciitis if you’re looking for additional options.

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At Forbes Vetted, we’ve published numerous well-researched articles on gear that supports your health and well-being , and that includes this guide to the best insoles for work boots. Our coverage considers options that cater to different needs and can help alleviate common foot conditions, such as plantar fasciitis, for those who spend long hours on their feet.

• Every recommendation in this insole guide has been carefully reviewed and approved by Forbes Vetted gear editor Cam Vigliotta . With years of experience in the outdoors and wellness industries and a degree in kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts, Vigliotta ensures our selections are both effective and reliable.
• In addition to his professional and educational backgrounds, Vigliotta spent years working for a masonry company, so he knows firsthand how tough work boots can be on your feet. That experience taught him what to look for in insoles that provide adequate support and comfort.
• We also update this guide regularly to keep you informed about the latest insole options and deals. This guide was first written and published in October 2024 by Vigliotta.

How We Chose The Best Insoles For Work Boots

To find and recommend the best insoles for work boots, we drew from our own experience, consulted with others who rely on insoles and analyzed reviews from those who bought these insoles themselves.

• We initially compiled a list of 10 different insoles from a variety of brands, focusing on key features like durability, arch support, heel cup depth and how well they address common pain points in the lower body. From there, we narrowed the list down to six top picks, each of which is featured in this guide.
• We combed through countless consumer reviews to distinguish insoles that offer only slight relief from those that provide substantial support for people spending long hours in work boots.
• This final selection reflects the insoles that both consumers and our editorial team consider the best available for providing support and comfort in work boots.

How To Shop For Insoles For Work Boots

The right insoles can make all the difference when it comes to staying comfortable in your work boots. A good pair can ease pain, give you the extra support you need and keep your feet feeling fresh throughout the day. Here are five things to keep in mind when shopping for insoles:

Arch Support

Different feet need different levels of arch support. Make sure to pick insoles that match your arch type—whether it's low, medium or high—to reduce strain and keep your feet feeling supported.

If you’re on your feet all day or working on hard surfaces, extra cushioning can go a long way. Look for insoles with good shock absorption to take some pressure off your heels and forefoot.

A solid, deep heel cup can help keep your foot stable inside your boot, which is especially important if you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis. It’s great for alignment and reducing stress on your heels.

Work boots take a beating, and your insoles should be able to withstand the wear and tear. Look for options that can handle daily use without breaking down too quickly, and consider brands with strong warranties that stand behind their insoles.

The makeup of your insoles will affect comfort. Gel, foam and cork all have their pros and cons, whether it’s breathability, moisture-wicking or just how they feel underfoot. Choose what fits your needs best and suits your work environment. And don’t be afraid to invest in a multiple pairs of insoles to test them out, find the pair that meets your needs and return the rest.

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29 best freelance websites to find work in 2024

You’ve made the leap to be a freelancer, now it’s time to find impactful work. Here are the 29 best freelancing websites to get your career started.

Use Webflow's visual development platform to build completely custom, production-ready websites — or high-fidelity prototypes — without writing a line of code.

Streamline your search for freelance work by setting up profiles on the top freelance websites.

If you’re starting out in your freelance career, finding new clients or building out your portfolio can seem daunting. Working smarter means using freelance design job boards to your advantage. There are so many job boards designed for freelancers that finding new opportunities is just a few clicks away.

29 best websites to find freelance jobs

Check out our list of freelance websites and job boards to make your hustle less of a grind:

Upwork may be one of the best freelancing websites for finding work, no matter what type of freelancer you are. Those in web development, graphic design, customer support, and even freelance writing will find that Upwork has much to offer. The seemingly unending feed of job postings is continually updated. From small businesses to huge corporations, many different types of companies are looking to hire freelancers in different disciplines, including freelance designers and freelance writers.

Upwork, formerly Elance-oDesk, has a bit of a learning curve when you first get up and running. You’ll have to learn the artistry of writing effective proposals, and you may have to bid below your pay rate to build up your feedback rating. Many freelance jobs are posted on Upwork, but there’s a hungry audience competing for them. Unless you’re an Upwork superstar, bidding on a project that already has 30 proposals usually isn’t worth it.

That being said, some freelance designers secure plenty of work on Upwork and score project after project. Upwork can be worth the time — it offers the potential for great returns once you’ve established yourself on the freelance platform.

2. Designhill

Designhill is a creative marketplace that connects employers with freelance designers. Employers can create a project contest to find creative freelancers and receive a variety of design entries to choose from. Or, they can find freelancers by searching for specific services on the homepage or placing an order for a creative service. Freelancers can post jobs for either short, part-time gigs or more dedicated, long-term work.

Designhill has a lot to offer whether you’re a graphic designer, web designer, WordPress site builder, or pursuing other types of design. Designhill further courts its creatives by offering them the chance to design their own T-shirts, have them printed, and sell them in their online shop. This is a nice touch, giving freelance designers yet another way to get their work out there and make some money off their artistry via a freelancing platform.

Toptal pitches itself as a place to find the top 3% of freelance talent. Their screening process is so rigorous that out of the thousands of submissions they get every month, they only accept a few into their ranks. This exclusivity sets them apart from so many other freelance job sites out there. It may seem intimidating getting in, but if you do, you’ll get the chance to put yourself in front of some pretty big names — Airbnb, Duolingo, and Shopify are companies that have used Toptal to share job opportunities for designers, software developers, and finance experts, product managers.

4. LinkedIn and LinkedIn Services Marketplace

Whatever your field, especially if you're a creative, you should have a LinkedIn profile. Keeping your profile up to date helps you build your network and connect with people via the integrated messaging system. 

You can post examples of your work for each role you've had, making it more than just a resume. And by having your skills searchable on this platform, you're bound to bring in some traffic to your profile and connect with people who may be looking for your exact design expertise. 

Another smart feature that LinkedIn has rolled out is LinkedIn Services Marketplace , which helps businesses find freelancers who are qualified to work for them. Potential employers can filter by different specialties like content marketing, design, data entry, and more. LinkedIn Services also sends project leads your way via email, giving you the chance to write a proposal and bid. It’s like having a recruiter who is always looking out for you.

Thanks to LinkedIn job postings, this is one of the most reliable sites for online jobs, whether you’re looking for remote jobs, part-time gigs, or full-time freelance work. There’s a reason why LinkedIn is one of the best websites for freelancers: they continue to deliver what job seekers are looking for.

5. We Work Remotely

We Work Remotely boasts that they get around 4.5 million visitors to their job boards. That’s huge. They have a multitude of job postings in categories like programming, design, sales, marketing, customer support, and more. We Work Remotely is one of the most well-known sites for online jobs, including both freelance and full-time gigs.

People or companies seeking to hire freelancers or virtual assistants have to spend a fixed price of $299 to list on We Work Remotely, which acts as a screening process and weeds out a lot of low-quality job leads. With heavy hitters such as Google, Amazon, and InVision all listed as companies who’ve posted on it, this is a legitimate platform for freelancers. And what's even better, you don't have to create a profile — all you need to do is click on a job link and be brought straight there.

If you're looking for online freelance jobs, We Work Remotely is a solid resource for part-time and full-time freelance job opportunities that will fit your skill set.

Behance is one of the best sites for freelancers in creative fields. It features so much great work to soak in, including illustrations, animations, web design, mobile app development, and more.

When you fill in your Behance profile with great project samples, your work is put in front of an audience of like-minded creatives. And if your work earns the coveted spot of featured project, you'll get even more positive exposure. Who knows who might see it and might want to hire you? 

Behance also functions as a social media network to connect with other designers. Expanding your list of contacts may bring you new design opportunities.

Behance also offers a jobs section , which has quite a few leads for quality freelance work. You won’t find an endless scroll of jobs, but what’s posted falls in line with Behance’s fantastic reputation.

7. SimplyHired

If you’re still figuring out how to get work as a freelancer, SimplyHired has a lot of great resources that go beyond a simple freelance job board. You’ll find guides on resume writing, cover letter writing, and other information to help you out. SimplyHired even has a free online resume builder if you need to revamp yours. 

This site doesn't charge employers for job postings, which opens a floodgate of job opportunities. And for freelance workers wanting to be seen by potential clients, SimplyHired makes it super easy to upload a resume and get your profile up and running. 

Their job search functions also come in handy, letting you narrow down your searches only to what you’re interested in. Having a focused search is much more valuable than sites that display only loosely related results.

8. Dribbble

Dribbble is one of the most popular freelance websites for designers of all specialties. So if you’re looking for freelance design jobs ranging from graphic design to product design and everything in between — you need to set up a profile on Dribbble. 

Having a high-quality Dribbble profile is a great way to market yourself and show potential clients what you’re capable of. Dribbble gets a lot of traffic, with plenty of clients looking for talented designers. All you need to do is write a stellar bio and show off the best of your portfolio.

Dribbble also gives you an easy way to update your work availability and lets you flip the switch on and off whenever you need to. And if you upgrade to the pro level, you get access to an exclusive freelance design job board.

Web developers, graphic designers, and others with related skill sets won’t only find inspiration on Dribbble but may also find their next freelance gig.

Fiverr got its name because it originally facilitated quick freelance gigs for five dollars — but it’s grown quite a bit since then. Now, you can set your own starting prices, packages, and add ons. Many savvy freelancers use lower sticker prices for small projects to lure in new clients. Kind of like giving them a cheap sample so they’ll want to contract you for larger projects. 

It’s worth noting that Fiverr also builds payments right into the platform, so you don’t have to worry about invoicing your clients or sending them Paypal reminders. Once you complete the buyer’s order, the money is transferred to your account. So while some freelancers dismiss Fiverr because of its humble beginnings, it’s a great freelancing website for beginners as well as anyone willing to offer a range of rates for different work.

10. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour markets themselves as doing a better job of pairing clients with professionals compared to other websites for freelancers. With the help of artificial intelligence, PeoplePerHour aims to bring freelancers and clients together in a more streamlined, precise way. 

Once clients submit the project scope, the artificial intelligence system analyzes the details and matches the project with qualified freelancers. Those freelancers are invited to submit their proposals — setting their own prices — and clients choose from a curated selection. 

PeoplePerHour remains one of the best freelancer websites because clients and freelancers alike can avoid wasting their time searching for the right fit. Plus, PeoplePerHour builds payments into the system to protect both parties from messy payment disagreements.

Guru has an authentic, grassroots feel to what they do. They encourage transparency on their freelance platform and value trust, making sure that whatever your role, expectations are met. These sensibilities also extend to their job postings, which all clearly communicate what a project entails. 

Guru has a built-in vetting process for freelancers, which helps freelancers prove their credibility to potential clients and simplifies the hiring process. Invoicing for your work is simple too, with multiple payment terms and secure payments integrated into the site. 

There's nothing sketchy here, making Guru a reputable source to go to if you’re looking for new freelance design work or freelance in a wide range of industries.

Join us virtually for the remainder of Webflow Conf 2024, where we'll be streaming live from San Francisco and gathering the visual developers, marketers, and leaders behind the world’s greatest websites.

12. Freelancer

Freelancer covers many different facets of freelance work — everything from design work like graphic and logo design to marketing work such as SEO and copywriting jobs.The wide variety of specializations makes Freelancer one of the best freelancing sites to search for opportunities. You can even find freelance gigs in multiple languages including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and more. 

Job seekers can filter jobs by several categories including fixed price projects, hourly rate projects, contests, skills, and languages. And every job listing shows an average bid along with the current number of bidders, so you know what to expect before applying. So if you're looking for flex jobs, remote work, and other freelance gigs — Freelancer is a great option.

13. Wellfound

Working with startups can be exciting. You may get the chance to shape a brand’s identity and flex your creativity a bit more than with established companies. Wellfound , formerly AnglelList Talent, connects freelancers with these up-and-coming businesses.

Wellfound not only makes it easy to find cool startups, but also streamlines the application process for you — one application for thousands of jobs. Who knows which startup will rise up and become the next huge company? You may just get to be a part of the next big thing.

14. DesignCrowd

DesignCrowd is a design job board that covers several design disciplines — connecting freelance designers with clients all around the world. It’s a comprehensive freelance marketplace that caters to clients who love options. 

Clients can court multiple designers, allowing them to find just the right fit. Like many freelance sites, they offer crowdsourcing to do their work. If that’s your thing, you should definitely check out DesignCrowd. Just keep in mind that you’ll be competing with other freelancers on every project without earning an hourly rate for your work.

15. 99designs

99designs is another great website for freelancers that allows designers to connect with businesses around the world. If you’re a designer looking for freelance work online, 99Designs is a great place to start. You can choose the design styles and industries that interest you

However, 99designs does come with some startup costs for freelance workers. 99Designs charges a $100 introduction fee to match you with clients as well as platform and payment fees. ‍

16. Working Not Working

If you’ve ever checked out the Working Not Working magazine , you know that they’re serious about design and empowering those with the tools to help people grow in their careers. This branch of their company works so well in complementing this mission.

Their landing page features profiles of some of the creatives who inhabit this space. Read through these bios and you’ll see that the creative professionals who come here are serious about their craft, with impressive credentials and skill sets. You’re among good company if you sign up for your own account.

Along with giving designers visibility, Working Not Working has a solid job board with a ton of great jobs.

17. Webflow Experts

If you're a Webflow freelancer looking for web design and web development jobs, Webflow Experts is a great way to find highly motivated clients. Companies turn to Webflow Experts for a variety of services such as platform migrations, custom code, rebrands and redesigns, no code app creation, ecommerce, and more. 

And because you have to be accepted into the Webflow Experts program, clients feel confident hiring freelance designers and developers from this pool.

18. YunoJuno

YunoJuno is a UK-based freelance marketplace for creative individuals. They were created on the mission to champion "the future of work" for innovative companies and freelance creatives.

If invoicing and chasing down payments is your least favorite part of freelancing, YunoJuno could be a useful freelance platform for you. You send your invoice directly to YunoJuno and they pay you within 14 days — protecting you from messy back and forth with clients. 

From designers to marketers, YunoJuno is a great freelance website to start with if you're based in the UK.

19. Authentic Jobs

Authentic Jobs is a leading job board for software developers, creatives, and designers. The great thing about this freelance site is that you can look specifically for freelance gigs, internships, part-time, and full-time work. From digital marketing jobs, UI/UX jobs, and software development jobs, you'll find it all on Authentic Jobs.

20. TaskRabbit

While many websites for freelancers focus on remote work, TaskRabbit specializes in local freelance jobs — though they have expanded to include virtual services as well. This freelance marketplace connects freelance workers (taskers) with people in the same area who need help with odd jobs. 

Freelance gigs on TaskRabbit cover day-to-day errands and tasks like furniture assembly, yard work, lightning installation, moving help, etc. TaskRabbit is perfect for anyone who wants to take on occasional freelance gigs in their area.

21. Flexjobs

As the name implies, Flexjobs focuses on flexible, remote work opportunities. Here you’ll find everything from project management and content writing jobs to contract work for programmers. This site for online jobs includes filters that center around flexibility — allowing you to filter the job board by remote/hybrid/onsite, work schedule, or travel requirements.

22. SolidGigs

SolidGigs takes a different approach to freelance job listings. Instead of a traditional job board, SolidGigs does the legwork for you by hand-picking job alerts for the “best 1% of freelance jobs” from different sources and emailing them directly to subscribers. 

This service is available for one flat price. The 7-day trial is free, but goes up to $35 per month after that, or $21 per month for the annual plan. You can cancel at any time and SolidGigs promises to not take a percentage of your client fees. So, if you want to find freelance work but don’t have the time to scour the internet for jobs, SolidGigs is for you. 

23. flowremote.io

Flowremote.io is another online job board for Webflow jobs. Find businesses and agencies who are looking for talented Webflow freelancers. You can also find free resources to help in your job search, or sign up for a weekly newsletter with the latest job postings.

Freelancing websites are just one way to find work

Of course, there are multiple ways to land new gigs. For more resources, visit Webflow University to learn how to build out a portfolio website to showcase your work and attract new clients, or download our free freelance web designer guide on becoming and making a living as a freelancer.

Build completely custom, production-ready websites — or ultra-high-fidelity prototypes — without writing a line of code. Only with Webflow.

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Iran Emerges as a Top Disinformation Threat in U.S. Presidential Race

With a flurry of hacks and fake websites, Iran has intensified its efforts to discredit American democracy and possibly tip the race against former President Donald Trump.

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By Steven Lee Myers Tiffany Hsu and Farnaz Fassihi

A website called Savannah Time describes itself as “your trusted source for conservative news and perspectives in the vibrant city of Savannah.” Another site, NioThinker, wants to be “your go-to destination for insightful, progressive news.” The online outlet Westland Sun appears to cater to Muslims in suburban Detroit.

None are what they appear to be. Instead, they are part of what American officials and tech company analysts say is an intensifying campaign by Iran to sway this year’s American presidential election.

Iran has long carried out clandestine information operations against its adversaries, especially Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States, but until now most of its activities were conducted under the shadow of similar campaigns by Russia and China. Its latest propaganda and disinformation efforts have grown more brazen, more varied and more ambitious, according to the U.S. government, company officials and Iran experts.

Iran’s efforts appear intended to undermine former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign to return to the White House, according to the officials and companies, but they have also targeted President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting a wider goal of sowing internal discord and discrediting the democratic system in the United States more broadly in the eyes of the world.

“Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in their foreign influence efforts, seeking to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions,” Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, warned recently.

Ms. Haines warned Americans to be wary “as they engage online with accounts and actors they do not personally know.”

Her office joined the F.B.I. and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency last month to issue a statement noting that “Iran perceives this year’s elections to be particularly consequential in terms of the impact they could have on its national security interests, increasing Tehran’s inclination to try to shape the outcome.”

Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment on disinformation campaigns and websites targeting the United States. In an earlier statement issued on Aug. 19, addressing efforts to hack Mr. Trump’s campaign , the mission said that the allegations “are unsubstantiated and devoid of any standing” and that Iran “harbors neither the intention nor the motive to interfere with the U.S. presidential election.”

Iran’s vast network of influence operatives and hackers includes front companies controlled by the Revolutionary Guards Corps, according to one Iranian official and another Iranian who works in the state’s media and information sector, both of whom are familiar with the country’s disinformation campaigns. Both asked that their names not be published because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The Revolutionary Guards Corps are a powerful and elite force entrenched in every sector of the country, including the economy, politics and cyberspace.

The government and the Guards also operate a network of individuals who use social media platforms to push Iran’s views, some under assumed names. They also commission projects from tech firms and start-ups in Iran, some of which are not fully aware of the projects’ true purposes, the officials said.

The two Iranians — one is a member of the Guards — said Iran’s government had increased the already significant resources it poured into its information operations since 2022, when women-led protests rocked the nation. Government agents, they said, routinely scout Iranian universities to recruit top tech graduates, offering high salaries, research funding and office space.

“Iran’s strategy in the field of information and propaganda is similar to how the Revolutionary Guards manage the proxy militias across the Middle East,” said Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights and security at Miaan Group, a human rights organization focused on the Middle East. “They infiltrate gradually but forcefully and play the long game.”

Already this year, Iranian operatives have succeeded in hacking the emails of Roger Stone, a longtime adviser to Mr. Trump, and attempted to penetrate the campaign of Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris, with unclear results. Meta disclosed last month that it had detected a similar effort against both political campaigns on WhatsApp, the messaging app.

Iran’s focus on the United States sharpened as Israel, an American ally, invaded Gaza after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Since then, Israel has also exchanged fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both movements are part of an Iranian-backed network of militia across the Middle East.

Across the United States this spring, Iran also used social media to stoke student-organized protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, with operatives providing financial assistance and posing as students, according to American intelligence assessments.

Iran has denied involvement in the protests, though the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cheered them on in an open letter.

Since the Islamic Republic’s inception in 1979, disinformation and propaganda have been a core part of the regime’s identity. As technology evolved, so did Iran’s tactics and ambitions, with Mr. Khamenei in 2011 describing cyberspace as the new frontier for Iran’s information “jihad,” or war.

That year, he ordered the creation of the Supreme Council for Cyberspace, a policymaking body. He called on the Iranian government and armed forces to work with the council — which was called out by human rights groups as a state tool for oppression — to advance the country’s interests and Islamic ideology.

“Iran basically transferred its robust existing infrastructure and mind-set of disinformation from traditional media tools to cyberspace and in the process globalized its mission,” said Omid Memarian, an Iran expert for DAWN, a Washington-based advocacy group, who has researched disinformation.

Before 2020, however, Iran demonstrated little interest in directly affecting American elections, according to a report published early that year by the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.

That began to change after President Trump unilaterally exited the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and imposed severe economic sanctions. Mr. Trump also ordered the 2020 assassination in Baghdad of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani , who led the Revolutionary Guards’ powerful Quds Force .

Influence operations linked to Iran have since accelerated, Microsoft noted in a report last year. The company’s researchers identified seven distinct campaigns in 2021; a year later there were 24.

Clint Watts, the director of Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, warned in a report last month that one Iranian operation has since March been preparing activities in the United States “that are even more extreme.” That could include inciting violence against political figures or groups to sow doubt about the election’s outcome.

At least five deceptive websites have emerged to feed American voters a steady diet of content intended to undermine support for Israel and trust in U.S. democracy more broadly, according to Microsoft and OpenAI, which detected the use of its artificial intelligence tools in the efforts.

Iran’s information efforts have mostly targeted Mr. Trump. One article on NioThinker, the liberal-leaning site that Microsoft tied to Iran’s efforts, described the former president as an “opioid-pilled elephant in the MAGA china shop” and a “raving mad litigiosaur.”

The Iranian campaigns, though, have also targeted Democrats. A recent headline on Savannah Time, which has no obvious connection to the city in Georgia, warned that Ms. Harris represented “a dangerous flirtation with Communist-style price controls.” Its content often echoes conservative news outlets in the United States, railing against policies supporting L.G.B.T.Q. or other gender issues.

The two Iranian officials said Iran was largely unconcerned with the ultimate victor in November and believed that Washington’s animosity transcends either political party. The larger goal, they said, was to sow unrest, deepen polarization, and place Iran in the echelon of Russia and China as a geopolitical power.

Iran has also accused both the United States and Israel of carrying out disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing the country. It has been the target of cyberattacks from both of those countries, including on a military ship and on its nationwide fuel distribution system .

Iran’s influence efforts recall those by Russia, which hacked the campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2016 and conducted influence operations on social media. In the 2020 presidential election, Iran obtained American voter registration data and used it to send intimidating, faked emails to Democratic voters. Some of the messages pretended to be from the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, while others contained links to a deceptive video that attempted to fan doubts about mail-in voting.

A declassified intelligence assessment from 2021 found that Iran sought to undercut Mr. Trump’s election prospects and discredit the democratic process, with a larger aim to damage the perception of the United States in the Middle East.

During the midterm elections in 2022, Iran once again attempted to interfere, hoping to “exploit perceived social divisions,” according to another declassified intelligence report . Experts found evidence that Iranian officials wanted to strengthen nationalist groups and use social media to pit extremists against each other in 2024.

Iran also considered tactics such as establishing fake news agencies to interact with American media outlets and deploying “troll teams” on social media, according to the intelligence assessment.

Twitter, the platform later renamed X, found three Iran-based influence networks in October 2022, according to the assessment. They were made up largely of accounts pretending to be left-leaning Americans who espoused pro-Palestinian sentiments and attempted to raise funds for American candidates and endorse local politicians, generally progressive ones.

“They can be quite creative,” John Hultquist, the chief analyst at Google’s Mandiant Intelligence, said of Iran’s information operations.

Tehran’s covert influence operations are largely conducted by units within the Guards. The United States government has identified at least three front companies it says are controlled by the Guards: International Union of Virtual Media, the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union, and Bayan Rasaneh Gostar Institute.

A help-wanted ad for Bayan Gostar doesn’t describe what type of work the company performs, but it says employees can work remotely and receive a government salary and benefits. Applicants must be “young and ambitious” and “familiar with cyberspace and social media platforms.”

The Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on all three companies ahead of the 2020 election. It specifically accused Bayan Gostar of “exploiting social issues within the United States, including the Covid-19 pandemic, and denigrating U.S. political figures.”

Now, with the next American election just weeks away, Iran appears undaunted.

“They clearly are not concerned about blowback,” said Bret Schafer, a senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy. “The risk tolerance is quite high and that makes them a concern, because if they’re not worried about getting caught or naming and shaming, that allows them to just try a bunch of stuff and be pretty aggressive.”

Steven Lee Myers covers misinformation and disinformation from San Francisco. Since joining The Times in 1989, he has reported from around the world, including Moscow, Baghdad, Beijing and Seoul. More about Steven Lee Myers

Tiffany Hsu reports on misinformation and disinformation and its origins, movement and consequences. She has been a journalist for more than two decades. More about Tiffany Hsu

Farnaz Fassihi is the United Nations bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of the organization, and also covers Iran and the shadow war between Iran and Israel. She is based in New York. More about Farnaz Fassihi