Scilit
A fast, free scholarly index — MDPI's comprehensive metadata search.
At a Glance
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Coverage
A free scholarly database aggregating metadata for 100M+ articles and books from Crossref, PubMed, and other sources, updated frequently (verify current counts).
- Access
Free; search and alerts, no subscription.
- Free alternative
- It is free; OpenAlex, Lens.org, Semantic Scholar.
- Regional
Global.
Our Take
Scilit is a free, fast-updating scholarly index built by MDPI that aggregates metadata from Crossref, PubMed, and beyond into a clean search with alerts. It’s a useful no-cost discovery layer, competitive with the open indexes on freshness, and its filters are handy for tracking new work. Two caveats: it’s run by a publisher (MDPI) with its own interests, and, like other metadata aggregators, it’s a discovery layer rather than a curated or full-text source. Use it as a free, current-awareness search; verify and read via the source, and cross-check coverage against OpenAlex or Lens.
Power Tips
- Set alerts to track newly indexed work on a topic — Scilit updates frequently.
- Use its filters to narrow by year, type, and source quickly.
- Cross-check coverage against OpenAlex or Lens.org, and mind the publisher context.
Alternatives & Complements
OpenAlex, Lens.org, Semantic Scholar, Dimensions
Figures last verified: June 15, 2026