Compare software

OpenAlex vs PubMed: catalog facts
OpenAlex	PubMed
Free Free to search, analyze and reuse.	Free Free to use, run by a US government agency.
Web	Web
Covers about half a billion scholarly works Web app, API and bulk download	Over 40 million biomedical citations in one place Advanced search, clinical queries and MeSH browsing
A search catalog rather than an AI reading assistant Analysis beyond the web app needs API or data skills	Mostly citations and abstracts; full text depends on PubMed Central or publishers Limited to biomedical and life-sciences subjects
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 October 1, 2026

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