Bottom line: Liner is an AI search and research assistant built around one promise: answers that cite their sources, line by line. Its free account lets you use Advanced Search and Scholar Mode at $0, but Liner is upfront that a free account offers limited credits which may run out quickly — and the free experience includes ads. For students and researchers who need checkable citations on occasional questions, it is a useful free tool. For daily deep research, expect to upgrade.
What is Liner?
Liner combines AI search, academic research, and writing help in one product: a general search experience, a Scholar mode aimed at academic work, and writing tools for professional drafts. Its pitch against ordinary chatbots is source grounding — answers tied to academic papers and other sources with citations you can verify. This review is based on Liner’s published pricing page and plan summaries, checked October 2026 — not hands-on testing.
What is actually free on Liner?
Liner lists a Free plan at $0 on its pricing page. Based on Liner’s published plan information, the split looks like this:
| Feature | Free | Paid plans |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | Paid subscriptions (Pro, Max, Team) |
| Advanced Search | Unlimited, per Liner’s plan summary | Included, ad-free |
| Scholar Mode | Included | Included |
| Citations | Line-by-line citation included | Included |
| Search history and highlighting | Included | Included |
| AI credits | Limited credits — Liner warns they may run out quickly with just a few tasks | Larger credit allowances (1,000+ on Pro-level plans) |
| File uploads for document chat | 1 file per question, up to 25 MB, once per day | More files, larger sizes, higher frequency |
| Deep Research and Research Assistant | Not included / limited | Included on Pro and up |
| Ads | Ads included | Ad-free search |
Go in expecting a sampler for AI-heavy work, with everyday cited search as the durable free value.
Pros and cons of Liner’s free plan
Pros
- Cited answers are the point: line-by-line citations make claims checkable instead of “trust the chatbot.”
- Scholar Mode is included free, which suits students and researchers working from academic sources.
- Search history and highlighting are included, so free research stays organized.
- No payment required to start evaluating the cited-answer workflow on real questions.
Cons
- Free AI credits are limited and, by Liner’s own description, can run out quickly.
- File upload on free is tight: one file per question, once a day.
- Ads are part of the free experience.
- Deep Research and the full Research Assistant are paid-plan features.
Who is Liner’s free plan best for?
Liner Free is best for students, educators, and professionals who ask research questions occasionally and need sources they can cite — essay research, literature scans, and fact-checking a claim before repeating it. If your week involves repeated document uploads, long research sessions, and deep-research reports, the free credit limit will push you to a paid plan quickly; Liner is designed that way.
Frequently asked questions
Is Liner free to use?
Yes. Liner offers a free account at $0 with Advanced Search, Scholar Mode, and line-by-line citations. AI credits on the free account are limited, and the free experience includes ads.
What is Liner Scholar Mode?
Scholar Mode is Liner’s academic research mode, aimed at answers grounded in scholarly sources rather than the general web alone. It is included on the free plan, per Liner’s plan summary.
Can I chat with a PDF for free on Liner?
Yes, within limits: the free plan allows 1 file per question, up to 25 MB, once per day, according to Liner’s published plan comparison. Paid plans raise those limits substantially.
Why did my Liner credits run out so fast?
Liner’s own pricing FAQ warns that a free account offers limited credits which may run out quickly with just a few tasks. Heavier AI actions consume credits faster than simple searches.
Verdict: is Liner’s free plan worth using?
Yes, with eyes open. Liner Free is a genuinely useful cited-search tool for occasional research, and Scholar Mode at $0 is a real differentiator for students. Just do not mistake it for unlimited AI research — the credit cap is the product’s upgrade lever, and Liner says so itself.
Plan details checked against Liner’s official pricing page in October 2026. Research-based review; no hands-on testing claims.