Litmus
arXiv Reader & Quality Scoring
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Score preprints before you read them. Six quality dimensions, integrity detection, 8 sources. On-device AI. Private. No subscription.
WHAT'S NEW (for version 1.0)
Litmus is here. Score academic preprints across six quality dimensions. Browse arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv, and 5 more sources in one feed. Integrity detection flags tortured phrases, phantom references, and retracted citations. All processing on-device. Free to start, Pro when you need it.
Litmus scores academic preprints so you can focus on research that matters.
Every paper is evaluated across six quality dimensions — methodology, transparency, reproducibility, author credibility, writing quality, and integrity flags — giving you a single Litmus Score (0-100) before you invest time reading.
No AI detection guesswork. Only verifiable signals.
HOW IT WORKS
Browse preprints from 8 sources in one feed: arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv, ChemRxiv, SSRN, EarthArXiv, Research Square, and OSF Preprints. Select your research fields and Litmus delivers relevant papers scored and ready to evaluate.
SIX SCORING DIMENSIONS
Methodology — Study design signals, controls, sample size mentions, statistical methods.
Transparency — Data availability statements, code sharing, pre-registration, conflict disclosures.
Reproducibility — Protocol detail, replication potential, materials and methods clarity.
Author Credibility — Publication history, h-index, and retraction checks via Semantic Scholar.
Writing Quality — Readability, structure, clarity, and academic writing conventions.
Integrity Flags — Tortured phrases, phantom references, retracted citations, and paper mill patterns.
INTEGRITY DETECTION
Litmus flags papers with potential integrity issues using verifiable signals:
- 290+ known tortured phrases (synonym-substituted terms common in paper mills)
- Phantom reference detection (DOIs that don't resolve in Crossref)
- Retracted citation alerts
- Suspicious patterns in author metadata
All detection uses local dictionaries and public APIs. No probabilistic "AI-generated" claims.
FREE TO USE
- All 8 preprint sources
- 5 Litmus Scores per day
- Full integrity alerts on every scored paper
- Save up to 25 papers
- APA citation copy
LITMUS PRO (one-time purchase)
- Unlimited Litmus Scores
- Unlimited library
- AI Summaries — structured summaries via Apple Intelligence, entirely on-device
- Author Credibility Profiles
- Citation Export — BibTeX, RIS, MLA, Chicago (import into Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote)
- Offline Reading — download papers for flights, trains, conferences
- Field Notifications — alerts when high-scoring papers arrive in your fields
- Text-to-Speech — listen to abstracts with LaTeX stripped
PRIVATE BY DESIGN
All scoring runs on your device. Your reading history never leaves your phone. No account required. No tracking. No cloud AI. One-time purchase — no subscription.
Built for researchers, by someone who reads papers.
PRIVACY
Privacy Policy: https://kirwana.github.io/litmus-site/privacy.html
Support: https://kirwana.github.io/litmus-site/support
EULA: Apple Standard License Agreement (EULA)
Data Collection: None
Data Linked to You: None
Data Used to Track You: None
Third-Party APIs (not linked to user): Semantic Scholar (author h-index lookup), Crossref (DOI verification)
Ratings & Reviews
- This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
The developer, Alcasoniq, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Alcasoniq
- Size
- 2.4 MB
- Category
- Reference
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 26.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 26.0 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 26.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 26.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 26.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- In-App Purchases
Yes
- Litmus Pro $5.99
- Copyright
- © Alan Kirwan
