Open Access Helper Web

Helps you find Open Access copies of paywalled scientific articles, by utilizing Unpaywall and core.ac.uk APIs

Open Access Helper: Access Research Articles Easily

"Open Access Helper Web" is a browser extension that helps users find legal, open-access versions of paywalled scientific articles using trusted APIs from Unpaywall and core.ac.uk. It seamlessly integrates with university libraries using EZProxy or OpenAthens, ensuring easy off-campus access. The extension prioritizes user privacy, collecting only anonymous usage statistics. As an open-source project, it encourages community involvement for continuous improvement and support for accessible research.

Add-on stats

Users: 1,684
126
Rating: 4.50
(2)
Version: 2025.2.2 (Last updated: 2025-01-07)
Creation date: 2023-08-29
Risk impact: High risk impact
Risk likelihood:
Manifest version: 3
Permissions:
  • tabs
  • storage
  • contextMenus
  • scripting
Host permissions:
  • *://*/*
Size: 410.84K

Other platforms

Open Access Helper Web (v2025.2.2)
5.00 (1) 4,000
Not available on Android
Open Access Helper (v2025.2.2)
5.00 (1) 261
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Add-on summary

Open Access Helper: Effortless Access to Scholarly Articles

Unlock Open Access Easily find legal, free-to-read versions of paywalled scientific articles. Open Access Helper uses the trusted APIs from unpaywall.org and core.ac.uk to locate open access copies, making research more accessible for students, researchers, and curious minds.

How It Works When you view a research article, the extension detects its DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and checks for an available open access version. Simply click the Open Access Helper badge to access the document!

As you hover over the badge, it will indicate whether you’ll be accessing the “Published Version,” “Accepted Version,” or “Submitted Version.”

EZProxy or OpenAthens Made Simple If your university library uses EZProxy or OpenAthens for off-campus access, this extension makes it seamless to connect. Just set your institution’s domain (e.g., harvard.edu), and with one click, you can proxy the current page through your library’s server.

100% Legal and Privacy-Respecting Every link provided leads to officially open-access or legally archived copies of research articles. Plus, Open Access Helper doesn’t collect personal data—just anonymous usage stats to improve functionality.

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User reviews

Just the thing I needed to do some research for a paper
by Vincent, 2024-12-02

Pretty helpful for some websites.
by Nicole, 2023-10-22
View all user reviews

Add-on safety

Risk impact

Open Access Helper Web requires some sensitive permissions that could impact your browser and data security. Exercise caution before installing.

Risk likelihood

Open Access Helper Web is probably trust-worthy. Prefer other publishers if available. Exercise caution when installing this add-on.

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