What is Scira?

Content last verified May 4, 2026 · by the AI Tools Set Research Team

Scira (formerly MiniPerplx) is a clean, open-source AI search engine that delivers concise, cited answers with a minimalist interface. Built on modern web frameworks, it can be self-hosted and customized, and it supports multiple models and search tools.

It appeals to users and developers who want a fast, no-frills, open alternative to commercial answer engines.

Key Features of Scira

Minimalist search: Concise, cited answers without clutter.
Open source: Self-host and customize.
Multiple tools: Web, academic, and more search modes.
Model options: Use different LLMs.

Use Cases for Scira

Get concise cited answers
Self-host AI search
Search academic sources
Customize your engine
Avoid bloated interfaces

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓

Clean and fast

✓

Open source

✓

Cited answers

✓

Free to use

Cons

✗

Smaller scale

✗

Fewer features than leaders

Pricing

Free

$0 /mo

✓AI search

✓Cited answers

✓Multiple modes