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Paper

Free

Open access to scholarly articles

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Founded
1991
Company
arXiv

About Paper

arXiv is a curated research-sharing platform open to anyone. As a pioneer in digital open access, arXiv.org now hosts more than three million scholarly articles in eight subject areas, curated by a strong community of volunteer moderators. It offers article submission, compilation, production, retrieval, search and discovery, web distribution for human readers, and API access for machines, together with content curation and preservation. arXiv currently serves the fields of physics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative biology, quantitative finance, statistics, electrical engineering and systems science, and economics.

Key Features

Article submission and compilation
Search and discovery
Web distribution for human readers
API access for machines
Content curation and preservation
Moderated by volunteer subject experts

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Free to submit and read
  • No peer-review delay, immediate sharing of preprints
  • Open access to over 3 million articles
  • Strong community moderation for topical relevance
  • API for programmatic access and integration
Cons
  • Not peer-reviewed; submissions presented 'as is' without warranty
  • Limited to specific subject areas (physics, math, CS, etc.)
  • Primarily a hosting platform, not an analysis or writing tool

Best For

Sharing research preprints before peer reviewDiscovering new research in STEM fieldsAccessing scholarly articles without paywallAutomated retrieval of academic papers via API

FAQ

Is arXiv peer-reviewed?
No. Submissions are moderated for topical relevance and scholarly value but are not peer-reviewed. Contents are the responsibility of the submitter and are presented 'as is' without any warranty.
Is there a cost to submit or read?
No, there are no fees or costs for article submission. Reading is free and open to anyone.
Who founded arXiv?
arXiv was founded by Paul Ginsparg in 1991.