Synthesise your literature review by theme, not by paper
Upload the studies you are reviewing. The tool codes each one, groups the findings into cross-study themes and builds the synthesis matrix, with every claim linked to a quote from the paper it came from.
Built for master's and PhD students writing a thesis, dissertation or journal article. Researchers and undergraduates use it too.
Start with your first study
3 studies free · no signupUpload or paste your research papers. The analyser opens in Literature review mode and starts straight away. How access works
What does the literature review synthesis tool do?
It turns the findings of 3 to 50 studies into cross-study themes using thematic synthesis (Thomas & Harden, 2008) or another framework you choose. For each theme you get a definition, a narrative naming the studies behind it, notes on where studies agree and differ, and codes linked to quotes checked against each paper. Results export as a publication-ready Word report, a theme-by-study matrix and a universal CAQDAS project (.qdpx).
Last updated September 2026.
- Best for
- Literature review chapters, systematic and scoping reviews
- Input
- PDF, Word or pasted findings, one study per box
- Output
- Themes, synthesis matrix, divergence notes, Word report
- Free
- 3 studies, 2 runs, Word report
- Paid
- $9 for 20 studies or $15 for 50, one-time
From 20 separate summaries to one argued review
Your literature review reads like a list of papers
"Smith found this, Jones found that" is one of the most frequent reasons a literature review comes back from a supervisor. Building a synthesis matrix by hand across 20 or more papers takes weeks, and a chatbot summary gives you citations you cannot check.
A structured synthesis you can check
The tool applies a named method to the papers you upload:
- ✓codes every study separately, with a quote for each code
- ✓groups codes into themes that cut across studies
- ✓records where studies agree and six kinds of disagreement
- ✓keeps your study labels, so nothing is cited that you did not supply
Themes ready to write up by argument
You get themes with narratives, a theme-by-study matrix, divergence notes and a Word report you can build your chapter from. On the Advanced Project Pass, add 5 research gaps and the theories your studies use.
How to access the Literature Review Synthesis Tool
3 studies, 2 runs, themes, matrix and Word report.
Up to 20 studies, CSV matrix, REFI-QDA export, 300 DPI thematic map.
Up to 50 studies, plus Research Gap Finder, Theoretical Underpinnings and Ask Your Data chat.
Passes are one-time payments with 30 days of access, no subscription.
Choose Literature review mode
Use the box on this page, or open the analyser and pick Literature review. Select a framework: Thematic Synthesis (Thomas & Harden, 2008) is the usual choice for reviews.
Add 3 studies and run it free
Upload full PDFs or Word files, or paste each study's findings. Your first 3 studies are free with 2 runs, no account or card.
Review your themes and download the Word report
Read each theme, click a code to see its quote in the original paper, edit names and move codes. The Word report is included on the free plan.
Add the rest of your studies with a pass
For up to 20 studies, the Thesis Sprint Pass ($9) adds CSV matrices, universal CAQDAS project export (.qdpx) and high-resolution thematic maps. For up to 50 studies plus the Research Gap Finder and Theoretical Underpinnings, choose the Advanced Project Pass ($15).
Want to see the method by hand first? Our guide on how to find themes in a literature review walks through the same steps with a worked theme-by-study matrix, including how to handle studies that disagree.
Frequently asked questions
What is a literature review synthesis tool?
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It turns the findings of many studies into themes that cut across them, so you can write your review by argument instead of paper by paper. This one codes each study's findings with quotes from the paper, groups the codes into cross-study themes, and shows which studies support each theme and where they disagree.
How does it synthesise findings across studies?
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It follows thematic synthesis (Thomas & Harden, 2008) by default. Each study is coded separately, with every code tied to a quote from that paper. Duplicate codes are merged, and the codes are then grouped into themes that cut across the studies. You can also choose Reflexive Thematic Analysis, Framework Analysis, Grounded Theory or Qualitative Content Analysis.
Can AI link each literature review theme to the studies that support it?
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Yes. thematicanalysis.ai synthesises your studies into themes and links each theme to the studies that support it, with a quote from each paper checked against its text. A theme-by-study matrix shows at a glance which studies back which theme, and which themes rest on only one or two papers.
Which AI tool works for a mixed-methods review when findings can't be pooled?
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When findings cannot be pooled statistically, thematic synthesis (Thomas & Harden, 2008) is the accepted way to combine them, and it is this tool's default. Each study's findings are coded with quotes and grouped into cross-study themes, so qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies can sit in one narrative synthesis.
Can AI compare two articles and build a literature review matrix?
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Yes. Add two or more studies and the tool codes each one, groups the findings into shared themes and builds a theme-by-study matrix with quotes from each paper. It also notes where the studies differ, from emphasis to outright contradiction. The matrix is included free.
Is the literature review synthesis tool free?
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Yes for 3 studies, including the themes, the theme-by-study matrix and the Word report. The Thesis Sprint Pass ($9 one-time, 30 days) covers up to 20 studies and the Advanced Project Pass ($15) up to 50.
Does it invent citations or quotes?
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It cannot cite papers you did not give it: every theme uses your own study labels. Each quote is checked word for word against the paper's text. A code whose quote cannot be found is removed and listed in the audit trail at the end of your report. You still read and judge the synthesis yourself.
Does it show where studies disagree?
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Yes. For every theme it records where studies differ and classifies each difference as emphasis, scope, degree, mechanism, methodological or an outright contradiction. It also says whether the difference limits what the theme can claim. This is the material a critical literature review needs.
Should I upload the whole paper or just the findings?
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You can upload the whole PDF. The tool keeps the methods, findings, discussion and conclusion sections and leaves out the rest. Pasting only the findings section also works.
What can I export for my literature review chapter?
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A Word report with themes, narratives, supporting studies, divergence notes and an audit trail (free). With a pass: CSV synthesis matrix and codebook, universal REFI-QDA (.qdpx) project export for NVivo, MAXQDA and ATLAS.ti archiving, and a Figure 1 thematic map as 300 DPI PNG or SVG.
Can it find research gaps too?
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Yes, on the Advanced Project Pass. The Research Gap Finder reads your synthesis and returns 5 typed gaps with quotes and a suggested study (3 generations per pass).