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Open Access Helper

Open Access Helper

skip the academic paywall

4 ratings
2 reviews
📚 Education
📊 Productivity
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • November 5, 2021
  • July 18, 2026

Features

Developer

Claus Wolf
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Open Access Helper screenshot #1 for iPhone
Open Access Helper screenshot #2 for iPhone
Open Access Helper screenshot #3 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
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About

Easily find legal, free versions of paywalled scientific articles using trusted APIs. Seamlessly connect to university library proxies like EZProxy and OpenAthens. This open-source tool respects your privacy and makes research more accessible.

✓Find legal, free scholarly articles
✓Access paywalled research
✓Integrates with unpaywall.org and core.ac.uk
✓Seamless EZProxy/OpenAthens connection
✓Indicates version type (Published, Accepted, Submitted)
✓Open-source and privacy-respecting
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What's New in Open Access Helper

2026.7.1

July 18, 2026

Fixed a small display bug on iPad, sorry if you were inconvenienced by the bug!

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Exactly what I was looking for

Does exactly what it says and provides me with more than simply unpaywall in a nice neat app.

Love the simplicity. Love the in app search feature.

Love the fact that there isn’t a subscription model (I’d be quite happy to pay a one time fee - a donation page might be handy)
Daniel FelsteadDaniel Felstead

Doesn’t even download

Doesn’t even download. Kinda pointless
classisoxclassisox

FAQ

What is Open Access Helper?

Open Access Helper is a tool designed to help users find legal, free-to-read versions of scientific articles that are typically behind a paywall. It leverages APIs from unpaywall.org and core.ac.uk to locate these open access copies.

How does Open Access Helper work?

When you encounter a research article, the extension detects its DOI and searches for an available open access version. A badge will appear, allowing you to click and access the document, indicating whether it's the 'Published Version,' 'Accepted Version,' or 'Submitted Version.'

Can Open Access Helper help with university library access?

Yes, if your university uses EZProxy or OpenAthens for off-campus access, Open Access Helper simplifies this. You can set your institution's domain, and with one click, proxy the current page through your library's server.

Is Open Access Helper legal and safe to use?

Absolutely. Every link provided by Open Access Helper leads to officially open-access or legally archived copies of research articles. The extension also does not collect personal data, only anonymous usage statistics.

What devices does Open Access Helper support?

Open Access Helper is available for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, making it accessible across multiple Apple platforms for your research needs.

Is Open Access Helper free to use?

Yes, Open Access Helper is completely free to use. It is a passion project developed by Claus Wolf and is available at no cost to users.

Does Open Access Helper have ads?

No, Open Access Helper does not contain advertisements. It is designed to provide an uninterrupted research experience.

How often is Open Access Helper updated?

The latest version of Open Access Helper is 2026.2, which was last updated on February 12, 2026. This indicates regular updates to maintain functionality and compatibility.