# How is PICO Portal Individual different from Connected Papers?

Connected Papers draws one graph from a seed paper.

Site: https://www.connectedpapers.com

## Where they differ

One graph is the fastest way to see which papers sit next to a seed.

The graph does not say which papers you kept. PICO Portal Individual does.

| | PICO Portal Individual | Connected Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 14-day free trial. No department contract. | Free tier, plus a paid plan. |
| Search | 470 million articles from OpenAlex, ORCID and PubMed. | One seed to a graph. |
| Answer | Plain language, each claim linked to a source. | None. |
| Screen | Named reviewer, time, rationale, source passage. | None. |

PICO Portal Individual is the better fit for The decision after that look.

Connected Papers is the better fit for A first look at a literature neighborhood.

## How is PICO Portal Individual different from Connected Papers?

The graph does not say which papers you kept. PICO Portal Individual does.

## What does Connected Papers do that PICO Portal Individual does not?

One graph is the fastest way to see which papers sit next to a seed.

## Who should use which?

PICO Portal Individual is the better fit for The decision after that look. Connected Papers is the better fit for A first look at a literature neighborhood.

## Can I use PICO Portal Individual and Connected Papers in the same review?

Yes. Keep Connected Papers for One seed to a graph. Put the include or exclude in PICO Portal Individual. The record shows the named reviewer, the time, the rationale, and the source passage.

## Do I name Connected Papers in the methods?

Yes, if you searched there. Also name PICO Portal Individual if the decision sits there. A reader must be able to open the same record.

## Can a student start without a university license?

Yes. PICO Portal Individual starts with a 14-day free trial and does not need a department contract. Connected Papers: Free tier, plus a paid plan.

## What do I lose if I leave Connected Papers?

One graph is the fastest way to see which papers sit next to a seed.

## Does either tool write the review?

No. Connected Papers returns None. PICO Portal Individual returns a cited answer. You write the sentence.

## Where is the decision record?

On the PICO Portal Individual record: named reviewer, timestamp, rationale, source passage. Connected Papers: None.

## Can I upload a file from Connected Papers?

Yes, if it is a citation file. You then see that file in the same queue as the OpenAlex results.

## Which tool do I open first?

Open Connected Papers if you already have a list. Open PICO Portal Individual if you have a question and no file.

## Is the answer a substitute for the paper?

No. Open the citation. The passage is on the record so a second person can check the claim.

## What can a supervisor check?

The question, the search, each include or exclude, and the passage. You see the queue, the conflicts, and the agreement while the stage is still open.