• DIRECT
  • STATUS
  • HUMAN
  • DATA

How to find open access PDFs with your AI

Connect Unpaywall to your AI client to turn DOIs into direct links to legal, full-text papers.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

Can I find free research papers using my AI?

Yes. You provide a DOI to your AI, and it uses Unpaywall to check if a legal, open-access version of that paper exists. You'll get a direct link to the PDF or the landing page for the full text.

The results

What you get

The outcomes of your search.

DIRECT

Open access links

The AI finds the specific URL for the legal, full-text version of the paper you requested.

STATUS

Availability checks

Your agent confirms whether a paper is behind a paywall or available for free through Unpaywall.

HUMAN

Manual search

If no open access version is found, you'll need to use your institutional login to access the paper.

DATA

DOI verification

The AI validates the DOI you provided to ensure it can pull the correct metadata and status.

The workflow

What your AI does when a DOI is provided.

The AI handles the lookup so you don't have to hunt through databases.

  1. Identify the paper

    The AI takes the DOI you provided and prepares it for a status check.

    get_article_oa_status

  2. Check availability

    The AI queries Unpaywall to see if a legal, free version of the paper is indexed.

    get_article_oa_status

  3. Retrieve the link

    If an open access version exists, the AI pulls the direct URL for the PDF or article.

    get_article_oa_status

  4. Report findings

    The AI tells you if the paper is open access and provides the link or informs you it is paywalled.

    get_article_oa_status

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger the Unpaywall lookup.

Starting points

Swap out the DOI in these examples with the specific paper you are looking for.

Unpaywall Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_FhVinYZ5ipCUoRhSWZX441L0cACxRSjvwvPVvMMz/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Unpaywall capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "unpaywall-open-access-papers-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_FhVinYZ5ipCUoRhSWZX441L0cACxRSjvwvPVvMMz/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Check if this paper is open access: 10.1038/s41586-020-2012-7

  • Find a legal, full-text PDF for DOI 10.1126/science.abb7012

  • Is there an open access version available for 10.1016/j.cell.2021.01.001?

  • Use Unpaywall to find the PDF for DOI 10.1146/annurev.cell.13.01.02.3501

  • Claude
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Start here

Connect Unpaywall once, then ask.

One click connects the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start searching immediately.

Connect Unpaywall to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI download the PDF for me?

    No. The AI finds the link to the legal PDF, but you have to click the link to download it yourself.

  • 02

    What if the paper is behind a paywall?

    The AI will tell you that no open access version was found. It cannot bypass paywalls or access papers through your university library.

  • 03

    Does it work with any DOI?

    Yes, as long as the DOI is valid and indexed in the Unpaywall database.

  • 04

    Can the AI change the paper's metadata?

    No. The AI only reads the status and links from Unpaywall; it cannot edit scholarly records.

  • 05

    Can I use this to find pirated papers?

    No. This tool only looks for legal, open access versions of papers.

  • More questions about Unpaywall? See everything the Unpaywall Connector can do

Connect Unpaywall to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more