Research paper summarizer
Understand a research paper in minutes
Paste an arXiv link or drop in a paper. Luminar gives you a plain-language briefing of what the paper asks, how it was done, what it found and where it falls short, with every point cited.
How it works
Add the paper
Paste an arXiv link or drop in the PDF.
Get the structure
Luminar pulls out the question, method, main results and limits, in plain words.
Check the claims
Tap any point to see the passage it came from before you quote it.
What it is good for
Literature reviews
Triage many papers fast and decide which ones to read in full.
Outside your field
Get the idea of a paper even when the terms are new to you.
Reading groups
Share a briefing so everyone starts from the same summary.
Staying current
Keep a library of papers you have read, sorted into collections.
What you get with every briefing
A briefing is more than a block of text. It is short, it shows where each point came from, and it stays with you.
Every point cited
Each point in the briefing links back to the part of the source it came from, so you can check it in one tap.
Saved to your library
Briefings stay in your library. Sort them into collections and come back to them later.
Listen instead
Have any briefing read aloud when you would rather listen than read.
Share or download
Send a link to the short version, or download the briefing as a PDF.
Your language
Read the briefing in 16 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Diagrams when they help
When the source compares things, follows a timeline or explains a process, the briefing can include a simple diagram.
Questions
Does it work with arXiv?
Yes. Paste an arXiv link and Luminar reads the paper.
Will it explain the jargon?
The briefing is written in plain words, so you can follow the main idea even outside your field. Check the original for exact definitions.
How many papers can I summarize?
The free plan covers research articles within its 20 summaries a month. Pro includes 50 research articles a month and Power includes 100.
Should I cite the summary?
No. Use it to understand and find the right passages, then cite the paper itself. Every point in the briefing links to its source to make that easy.
Is it free?
Yes, you can start free with no card. The free plan includes 20 summaries a month, of which 3 can be audio or video up to 20 minutes each. Paid plans start at $8 a month billed annually and add more audio and video hours.
Read next
How to read research papers faster. The three-pass method, which sections to read first, and where an AI summary helps.