Publish or Perish

Publish or Perish is a free education and office software designed from the ground up to provide anyone with instant access to an incredibly large database of citations.

However, its built-in tools for searching, sorting, and processing citations make this tool particularly suitable for students and other academic scholars who want to data-mine for valuable data found in citations.

The databases accessible from this app even include sources such as Microsoft Academic Search (MSA) and Google Scholar (GS), which enable users to complete their citation search from within one app, with no need to visit any other source.

Publish or Perish for PC features a simple but dense interface that can help users easily search, sort, and analyze their search strings in mere seconds. The search is available through author name, publication name, title words, keywords, years of publication (exact year or range), and ISSN tag.

Previous search terms are automatically saved, and the app also allows users to manually save their queries. Publish or Perish (PoP) app then provides results that are showcased in the main content screen in the bottom half of the UI. Found citations can be sorted by rank, authors, title, year, publication, publisher, and more.

Whats new

• Expanded the maximum Google Scholar query length from 256 to 2048 characters to align with recent platform changes.
• Improved parsing accuracy for certain Google Scholar profile results.
• Streamlined and standardized various article URL formats for better consistency.
• Added additional article links within the paper information panel and enhanced search report coverage.
• Reorganized article lookup commands across menus for improved accessibility.
• Replaced the paper information display with a read-only edit control to allow easier text selection and smoother scrolling of long abstracts.
• Performed general source code optimizations and cleanup.
• Introduced Copy and Save Results buttons for Google Scholar Profile searches.
• Added extraction of homepage URLs within Google Scholar Profile data.
• Command line updated with new export formats: HTML, XML, QML, and TDF.
• Updated compatibility to support variations in Google account login processes.
• Adjusted Google Scholar Profile integration to accommodate the new requirement for Google account login when searching author profiles.

While the UI and its tools may seem a bit complicated at first, Publish or Perish for Windows 11/10 is, in fact, a very useful app that anyone can learn to use in a short period of time.

The tool features a built-in guide that details all the intricacies found in this usable research tool.

Itcan find and highlight an incredible variety of papers, journals, and books easily, with instant access to advanced analytics metrics with algorithms such as Hirsch’s h-index, contemporary h-index, Egghe g-index, and age-weighted citation rate. Discovered data can be exported in various formats such as ISI, RIS, CSV, PDF, EndNote, and others.

Publish or Perish is 100% Free and can be used without restrictions, both for home, educational, and business use.

The app is optimized for newer versions of Windows OS (Windows 7 and newer) and is still in active development with more features being added each year.

Key Features

• Citation Analysis: It allows users to retrieve and analyze citation data from popular academic databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus.
• Publication Metrics: Users can generate various publication metrics, including citation counts, h-index, i10-index, and more, to evaluate their academic output and impact.
• Keyword Analysis: The software enables users to conduct keyword-based searches to identify relevant publications and authors within their field of study.
• Graphical Visualization: It offers graphical representations of citation data and publication trends, making it easier for users to interpret and present their research impact.
• Export and Reporting: Users can export citation data and analysis results in various formats, including CSV, Excel, and PDF, for further analysis or reporting purposes.

User Interface

It features a user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation menus and customizable settings.

The dashboard provides quick access to essential features such as citation analysis, publication metrics, and keyword searches.

The graphical visualization tools are visually appealing and enhance the overall user experience.

Installation and Setup

The installation process for this program is straightforward and user-friendly. Users can download the software from the official website or FileHorse and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Once installed, users can configure the software settings according to their preferences and set up their academic profiles to begin analyzing their research impact.

How to Use

• Retrieve Citation Data: Enter the author's name or keywords to retrieve citation data from academic databases.
• Generate Metrics: Analyze citation data to generate publication metrics such as h-index, i10-index, and citation counts.
• Visualize Data: Use graphical visualization tools to visualize publication trends and citation impact over time.
• Export Results: Export citation data and analysis results for further analysis or reporting purposes.
• Stay Updated: Regularly update the software to access the latest features and improvements.

FAQs

What is Publish or Perish used for?
Publish or Perish is a citation analysis application developed by Anne-Wil Harzing that retrieves and analyzes academic citation data from sources such as Google Scholar and other databases. It calculates a wide range of research metrics, including h-index, g-index, total citations, and more, making it useful for researchers, institutions, and academic evaluations.

Is Publish or Perish available for Mac and Windows?
Yes. While older versions were Windows-only, current versions of Publish or Perish are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Users can download the appropriate version from the official website depending on their operating system.

Does Publish or Perish require a subscription?
No. Publish or Perish itself is free to download and use. However, access to certain academic databases (such as Scopus or Web of Science) may require institutional subscriptions, depending on the data source you choose to analyze.

What citation sources does Publish or Perish support?
Publish or Perish primarily works with Google Scholar and can also retrieve data from other academic databases, depending on configuration and access rights. The availability and completeness of citation data depend on the selected source.

Can citation metrics be customized or refined?
Yes. Users can refine search queries, filter results, exclude specific publications, and adjust parameters to generate more accurate citation metrics. This flexibility allows researchers to tailor analyses for individual authors, journals, or institutions.

Is Publish or Perish still relevant in 2026?
Yes. In 2026, Publish or Perish remains relevant for researchers who want independent access to citation metrics without relying solely on institutional dashboards. While many universities now provide built-in analytics tools, Publish or Perish continues to be valued for its flexibility, transparency in metric calculations, and support for multiple data sources.

Alternatives

Google Scholar - A free academic search engine offering citation tracking and publication metrics.

Microsoft Academic - A freeware academic database offering citation analysis and research impact metrics.

Pricing

Publish or Perish is available for FREE to academic users for non-commercial purposes. There are no subscription fees or hidden charges associated with the software.

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7
• Processor: Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent
• RAM: 1 GB or higher
• Disk Space: 100 MB of free space
• Internet Connection: Required for accessing online databases

PROS

• Free to use for academic users
• Powerful citation analysis and publication metrics
• User-friendly interface with graphical visualization tools
• Customizable settings and export options
• Regular updates and technical support available

CONS

• Limited to Windows operating systems
• Requires an internet connection to access online databases

Conclusion

All in all, Publish or Perish is a valuable tool for academic researchers, authors, and scientists seeking to measure and analyze their research impact. With its comprehensive citation analysis, publication metrics, and graphical visualization tools, Publish or Perish offers an intuitive platform for evaluating academic productivity and assessing scholarly impact.

Despite its limitations regarding compatibility and internet access, it remains a highly useful and accessible tool for the academic community.