Covidence
The systematic-review workflow — screening, extraction, and team collaboration.
At a Glance
- Publisher
- Covidence (a nonprofit, Cochrane's recommended tool)
- Coverage
Not a content database — software to manage systematic reviews: import references, screen at title/abstract and full text, resolve conflicts, extract data, and track PRISMA (verify current counts).
- Access
Freemium — limited free reviews; institutional and paid plans for more.
- Free alternative
- Rayyan for free screening.
- Regional
Global; Cochrane's recommended tool.
Our Take
Covidence is the standard workflow tool for systematic reviews — it takes a team from imported references through dual screening, conflict resolution, full-text review, and data extraction, with PRISMA tracking baked in, which is why Cochrane recommends it. Its value is process rigor and auditability, not search. The trade-offs are cost beyond the free allowance and a workflow that assumes you’re doing a formal review. Use it to run a rigorous, auditable review with a team; pair it with comprehensive database searches (PubMed, Embase, etc.) that you import in.
Power Tips
- Use dual screening with conflict resolution to keep the review defensible.
- Let it generate your PRISMA flow numbers automatically as you screen.
- Import from every database you searched so de-duplication and counts are complete.
Alternatives & Complements
Rayyan, DistillerSR, Zotero, EndNote
Figures last verified: June 15, 2026