The differences that affect the work
| What matters | Elicit | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Research workflow | Explicit screening and extraction workflows sit alongside search, reports and a source library. | Search and cited synthesis include multistep research and structured outputs; the scope overlaps. |
| Review structure | Test how inclusion rules and requested extraction fields survive through the review. | State population, date and study requirements and verify how they affect synthesis. |
| Evidence tracing | Check extracted values against the relevant sentence, table and source document. | Open citations and verify which source text supports each summary claim. |
| Useful output | A checked evidence table with explicit missing fields and documented exclusions. | A checked synthesis that distinguishes agreement, disagreement and unanswered parts of the question. |
Where both can fit
A discovery or synthesis pass can suggest papers for a separate structured review. Keep one reference register and reconcile duplicates, exclusions and conflicting extractions.
Run a small, useful comparison
Use one bounded research question and a manually checked reference set; compare relevant studies found, extraction errors and unsupported synthesis claims.
- Define a narrow question, date range, eligible designs and three extraction fields; independently identify a small reference set.
- Run the same question in both tools and inspect the original papers for every included finding and each missing reference.
- Compare exclusion reasons, missing fields and synthesis support; save corrected outputs and record where additional searching is still required.
What to check before committing
- A cited answer can still combine studies with incompatible populations, methods or outcomes; appraise comparability before drawing a conclusion.
- Database coverage and full-text availability affect results. Neither a polished report nor this trial establishes an exhaustive systematic search.
How to use this advice
The fit suggestions are editorial judgments drawn from the official descriptions below. This AI-assisted guide uses desk research; we have not run a controlled product test for it. Keep your trial inputs and record the corrections, review effort and delivery steps that matter to your team. Confirm current features, plans and data terms with the publisher.
Official sources behind the comparison
- Elicit research workflows ↗
Supports literature search, customized reports and systematic-review screening and data extraction.
Reviewed 2026-11-11 - How Consensus Works ↗
Supports question-led search, cited synthesis, structured extraction, tables and multistep research capabilities.
Reviewed 2026-11-11