VOSviewer
The bibliometric map-maker — turn citation data into readable networks.
At a Glance
- Publisher
- Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University
- Coverage
Not a content database — free software to build and visualize bibliometric networks (co-authorship, co-citation, keyword co-occurrence) from database exports (verify current counts).
- Access
Free; desktop and web.
- Free alternative
- It is free; Bibliometrix, CiteSpace.
- Regional
Global; a scientometrics standard.
Our Take
VOSviewer is the standard free tool for bibliometric visualization — feed it exports from Scopus, Web of Science, OpenAlex, or Dimensions and it builds clean, readable maps of research fields, collaboration networks, and keyword clusters. For research landscaping, trend analysis, and the maps that headline scientometric papers, it’s the go-to, and being free and from CWTS gives it credibility. It visualizes data you supply; it doesn’t gather the literature. Use it to map a field or a collaboration network from your database exports; pair it with a clean, de-duplicated dataset for meaningful maps.
Power Tips
- Export full records (with references) from your database so co-citation maps work.
- De-duplicate and clean the dataset first — messy input makes misleading maps.
- Combine keyword co-occurrence and co-authorship views to characterise a field.
Alternatives & Complements
Bibliometrix, CiteSpace, OpenAlex, Dimensions
Figures last verified: June 15, 2026