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OpenAlex vs Google Scholar: catalog facts
OpenAlex	Google Scholar
Free Free to search, analyze and reuse.	Free Free to use.
Web	Web
Covers about half a billion scholarly works Web app, API and bulk download	Very broad coverage across disciplines Includes case law and court opinions
A search catalog rather than an AI reading assistant Analysis beyond the web app needs API or data skills	Library, alerts and profiles need a Google account Can throttle automated or heavy use
Web application, Hosted service	Web application
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 26, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.