Best AI research agents in 2026

Multi-step researchers that produce sourced reports and briefs.

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  Manusv1.2S87

  General-purpose agent that turns a single prompt into a finished deliverable.

  🔬ResearchAutonomousFreemium · from $19

  BrowserTool useCodeMemory

  92k·May 6, 2025·manus.im

  Get AGENTS20code AGENTS20Affiliate
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  Perplexity Labsv2025.4A73

  Multi-step research agent that produces sourced reports from a single question.

  🔬ResearchSemi-autonomousFreemium · from $20

  BrowserRAGMemory

  132k·Apr 18, 2025·perplexity.ai

  Try free →Affiliate
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  Gemini Deep ResearchA73

  Long-running researcher inside Gemini that plans, browses and writes briefs.

  🔬ResearchSemi-autonomousSubscription · from $20

  BrowserRAGMemoryVision

  71k·Mar 12, 2025·gemini.google.com

  Try free →Affiliate
• 

  ElicitB63

  Literature-review agent for academics — extracts and synthesizes from 200M+ papers.

  🔬ResearchAssistantFreemium · from $12

  RAGMemory

  36k·Feb 28, 2025·elicit.com

  Try free →Affiliate