Open Access Helper 2025.3

The Open Access Helper extension offers a practical solution for accessing scholarly articles that are behind paywalls. By leveraging trusted APIs from unpaywall.org and core.ac.uk, it enables users to locate legally available open access versions of scientific papers efficiently.

How it functions is straightforward: upon viewing a research article, the extension detects its DOI and queries for open access alternatives. Users can click on the extension badge to directly access these versions. Additionally, hovering over the badge provides information about the specific type of version available—whether it is the “Published Version,” “Accepted Manuscript,” or “Submitted Manuscript.”

For institutions utilizing EZProxy or OpenAthens, the extension simplifies off-campus access by allowing users to configure their university domain. With a single click, users can proxy the current page through their institution’s authentication server, streamlining access without additional steps.

From a legal and privacy standpoint, all provided links point to officially open-access or legally archived sources. The extension does not collect personal data, only anonymous usage metrics aimed at improving service quality.

As an open-source tool developed with user feedback in mind, the project encourages community involvement. Developers and users are invited to review the code, suggest enhancements, or report issues.

In summary, the Open Access Helper serves as a useful resource for researchers, students, and academics seeking easier and lawful access to scholarly literature.