Best Synthesis Alternatives in 2026
15 literature review software our editors would look at instead of Synthesis, in our ranking order.
Synthesis: A comprehensive desktop workflow for searching, screening, managing, and synthesizing literature. Where it falls short: orders and downloads are temporarily suspended during new-release development.
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. Scores and reviews are set by our editors and never change for payment; paid placements are marked Featured. How we rank.
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Buhos not yet scored
Best forFree, end-to-end systematic review teams
A free, end-to-end workspace for individual and collaborative systematic reviews.
- Full-text management
- Systematic review tools
- Collaboration
—not yet scoredVisit Buhos -
Best forMobile-first collaborative review teams
A mobile-first review workspace with free screening, AI tools, and structured extraction.
- Screening workflow
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Rayyan -
Best forAI-assisted systematic review teams
A broad web-based workspace for AI-assisted screening, extraction, and reporting.
- Screening workflow
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit PICO Portal -
Best forTeams wanting a free structured review platform
A free, structured workspace for collaborative literature reviews.
- Full-text management
- Evidence mapping
- Systematic review tools
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit CADIMA -
Best forResearchers combining discovery and review automation
A research assistant that combines discovery, evidence gathering, and review automation.
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Elicit -
ASReview not yet scored
Best forOpen-source AI-assisted screening
A capable free screening tool for teams that can manage full-text access separately.
- Systematic review tools
- Collaboration
- Screening workflow
—not yet scoredVisit ASReview -
Best forAI-assisted reviews with source verification
A broad review workflow with citation inspection, screening, extraction, and PRISMA outputs.
- Screening workflow
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit INRA -
Best forAdvanced mixed-methods evidence synthesis
A broad evidence-synthesis workspace for advanced mixed-methods reviews.
- Screening workflow
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit EPPI-Reviewer -
Best forFlexible AI labeling and screening workflows
A flexible literature review workspace with structured screening and AI labeling.
- Screening workflow
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit Sysrev -
SWIFT-Active Screener not yet scored
Best forTeams needing active-learning prioritization
A collaborative screening workspace that prioritizes references and supports full-text review.
- Screening workflow
—not yet scoredVisit SWIFT-Active -
Best forDeep evidence synthesis with advanced AI
A deep evidence-synthesis workspace with advanced AI and substantial paid-tier costs.
- Screening workflow
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Try Nested Knowledge -
Best forMature, polished systematic review teams
A polished, collaborative review workspace for teams managing evidence from screening to export.
- Screening workflow
3.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit Covidence -
Colandr not yet scored
Best forFree open-source collaborative reviews
A free collaborative review workspace with screening, extraction, deduplication, and exports.
- Screening workflow
—not yet scoredVisit Colandr -
Best forFree AI-assisted abstract screening
A free, open-source option for collaborative, AI-assisted abstract screening.
- Systematic review tools
- Collaboration
- Screening workflow
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit EviSynth -
Best forFree teams focused on screening accuracy
A free screening workspace for teams that prioritize accurate, structured citation review.
- Screening workflow
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Abstrackr
Synthesis Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Synthesis?
Rayyan: #2 in our Literature Review Software ranking, with an editor score of 5.6 out of 10. A mobile-first review workspace with free screening, AI tools, and structured extraction.
Is there a free alternative to Synthesis?
Yes. Buhos, Rayyan, PICO Portal, CADIMA and Elicit have a free plan or a free tier (11 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Synthesis?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, INRA starts lowest, at $7.5/user/mo.
Synthesis vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Discovery tools | Screening workflow | Full-text management | Systematic review tools | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| not scored | Synthesis | — | — | Search | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | Buhos | Yes | None | Search | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| 2 | Rayyan | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | — | 5.6 |
| 3 | PICO Portal | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | — | 5.8 |
| 4 | CADIMA | Yes | None | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 |
| 5 | Elicit | Yes | $11/user/mo | — | — | — | — | 5.0 |
| not scored | ASReview | Yes | None | Recommendations | Yes | No | Yes | — |
| 7 | INRA | Yes | $7.5/user/mo | — | Yes | — | — | 5.8 |
| 8 | EPPI-Reviewer | No | — | — | Yes | — | — | 4.8 |
| 10 | Sysrev | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | — | 4.8 |
| not scored | SWIFT-Active Screener | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 12 | Nested Knowledge | No | — | — | Yes | — | — | 4.8 |
| 13 | Covidence | No | — | — | Yes | — | — | 3.8 |
| not scored | Colandr | Yes | None | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | EviSynth | Yes | None | — | Yes | — | Yes | 7.4 |
| 16 | Abstrackr | Yes | None | — | Yes | — | — | 5.6 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026