How to Find Scholarly Articles for Free? [2024]

When it comes to research, there are plenty of articles available online, but when you want to study something extremely specific, then you have to look forward to some paid platforms like Scholarly. 

For those who don’t know – Scholarly is a popular and trusted source by Harvard, IIM, and IT alumni, with a goal to help ambitious students with admissions to some of the top universities, including Cambridge, Ivy Leagues, Oxford, and more. 

Yet, there are many currently who are finding it hard to get their hands on the free articles — but if you are one of them, then we are glad you stopped by because this article is here to tell you how to find Scholarly articles for free. 

How to Find Scholarly Articles for Free?

Use Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a trusted and free-of-charge search engine by Google, of course, and it is known to index Scholarly literature through an assortment of sources, including books, confidence, papers, and journals.

With this free search engine, one can find free articles from Scholarly, and all you have to do is simply search for the topic you are interested in and check for the ‘free access’ mentioned next to the title. 

Use Open Access Database

Just as the name sounds – open access databases are available for free and open for everyone, and they also offer Scholarly articles available for free online.

In case you are not aware of any open access data databases, below are some options:

• Center (ERIC)
• ScienceOpen
• Sci-Hub
• arXiv e-Print Archive
• Education Resources Information 
• Directory of Open Access Journals 
• CORE

Use Your Library Resources 

Fortunately, many libraries, especially the modern and bigger ones, offer free access to subscription databases, which also often include Scholarly articles.

To find these articles, you might have to visit the library’s website, or visiting in person and checking out with the reception will help too. 

Write to the Author

Now, this method might not be suitable for everyone – but if you could find the contact details of the author, then you have an option of contacting the author directly and requesting a copy.

Now, will the author be willing to help? Yes, because many authors are always happy to give you copies of their work, especially if it’s for students and researchers.

Final Words 

Now, the Internet may introduce you to a couple of more ways to find Scholarly articles for free – but none of us knows if those ways are legal and easy to act upon.

Instead, all the methods mentioned in this article are the easiest ones, and they are also legal. 

We hope you took the hint – and with that, we have reached the end of the article, and hope you now know how to find Scholarly articles for free.  

Frequently Asked Questions