Many AI chatbots can access the internet and answer questions using real-time information, but did you know some AI tools have a deep research mode that's way more powerful?
In this guide, we're sharing our top picks for AI research tools in 2025. We've tested them all so you don't have to — here are the ones we think are best.
When you ask AI a question, it normally gives you an answer based on its existing knowledge. This can cause two problems:
Deep Research is a mode where AI runs multiple web searches and combines them into one report with sources.
Usually, deep research results contain no made-up data — everything in the answer is backed by sources.
Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, for example, all have this feature, though each implements it a bit differently.
We tested these tools on complex research tasks to see which ones are the most accurate.
Here's how they compare:
Let's break down what each tool does and when to use it.
Overchat AI can summarize content from multiple sources — documents, articles, links, and YouTube videos.
After summarizing, the platform lets you chat with the source. You can ask questions about the document to understand it more deeply.
This way, you can extract information quickly without reading full articles or watching entire videos.
To use the tool:
There's also a web search feature that lets you query real-time information and get summarized results with sources. It's faster than manually skimming through search results.
Pricing: Free to try, then $4.99 weekly or $59.99 annually.
Perplexity AI gives you fast, citation-backed answers by searching the web in real-time and summarizing results with source links.
Every claim in the answer links directly to the source article. You can verify information immediately without digging through search results yourself.
How to use it:
Focus Mode organizes information into sections with grouped sources. It's useful for research questions that need multiple perspectives.
Notice the related questions that appear below each answer to help you explore deeper without starting new searches.
Pricing: Free with unlimited basic searches, Pro costs $20/month and includes GPT-5 and enhanced answer generation.
ChatGPT handles deep exploration and document analysis using GPT-5, web browsing, and file uploads.
Learn how ChatGPT compares to Perplextiy AI.
The Deep Research mode automatically searches the web, checks sources, and puts together detailed reports with citations. It usually takes 5–30 minutes and delivers analyst-level summaries.
How to use it:
Deep Research runs on OpenAI’s o3 model, browsing hundreds of sources autonomously. It adapts its approach as it goes and produces reports that rival human research analysts.
There are some usage limits to be aware of:
Pricing is as follows:
Claude is built for deep-dive research and handling large, complex inputs. It shines when you throw at it big topics, long documents, or tasks that demand more than just a quick answer.
Its Deep Research mode runs multiple searches, checks and compares sources, and pulls everything together into a well-structured report with citations. It’s built for questions that need depth and context — not just quick answers.
How to use it:
Pricing: Free with usage limits, Pro costs $20/month
Elicit is an AI tool built for scientific research. It pulls data from sources like Semantic Scholar and helps you organize research into simple tables with summaries, methods, and key findings.
To use this tool:
The table view makes it easy to spot trends — you can see which approaches are most common, where studies disagree, and where there’s still room for more research, all without digging through dozens of PDFs.
Pricing:
Other tools with deep-research features include DeepSeek and ResearchRabbit, which helps visualize research networks by linking papers, authors, and citations. Consensus is another one — it answers yes/no questions by summarizing findings from peer-reviewed papers, making it great for quickly checking scientific claims.
Deep Research is a feature available in some AI chatbots that runs multiple web searches and compiles the results into a single, analyst-level report. It goes beyond the short, surface-level answers you usually get, offering much deeper insights.
The trade-off is that it can take up to 30 minutes to finish, and because web queries are costly to run, this feature is typically reserved for paid users.
Still, Deep Research can save you hours of manual searching — especially when you need to gather a lot of information for a work project or school report.
