How is Google Scholar Different from Google? A Complete Guide for Students and Researchers

When most people think of Google, they picture the world’s most popular search engine used for everyday queries, from checking the weather to finding directions or searching for the latest news. But Google has also developed specialized tools for researchers and academics, one of the most important being Google Scholar.

Although both platforms carry the Google name, they serve different purposes, operate on different data sets, and use ranking systems tailored to their specific audiences. If you are a student, researcher, or professional trying to decide whether to use regular Google or Google Scholar, understanding the differences between the two will help you save time and improve the quality of your research.

This guide will explore how Google Scholar differs from Google, including data sources, search functionality, ranking algorithms, access to materials, and intended use cases. It will also include a step-by-step overview of when and how to use each tool effectively, with a FAQ section at the end for quick reference.

Also Read: How to Find Your Google Scholar ID: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students and Researchers

What is Google?

Google is a general-purpose search engine that indexes billions of webpages from across the internet. It crawls everything it can reach, including news sites, blogs, e-commerce platforms, forums, and entertainment websites.

Its main goal is to answer a broad range of queries quickly and accurately for everyday users. The algorithm considers factors like relevance, freshness of content, site authority, and user behavior when ranking results.

Common uses of Google include:

• Finding factual information, such as “What is the capital of Canada?”

• Locating services, such as “best coffee shops near me”

• Entertainment searches, such as “latest Marvel movies”

• Shopping queries, such as “buy wireless headphones”

• News updates and general browsing

What is Google Scholar?

Google Scholar is a specialized academic search engine launched in 2004. It focuses on scholarly and peer-reviewed content, including journal articles, conference papers, theses, dissertations, patents, and academic books.

Instead of crawling the entire internet, Google Scholar prioritizes academic publishers, university repositories, and professional societies. Its ranking system favors scholarly impact, measured through citation counts and journal reputation, rather than popularity or commercial signals.

Common uses of Google Scholar include:

• Finding peer-reviewed articles for academic assignments

• Locating the latest research in a specific field

• Tracking citations and h-index for authors

• Exporting formatted references for bibliographies

• Accessing institutional subscriptions for full-text articles

Also Read: How to search PubMed, Google Scholar, PMC, ScienceDirect and Crossref: a step-by-step guide for students

Key Differences Between Google and Google Scholar

1. Content Coverage

• Google indexes all kinds of web content: blogs, news sites, Wikipedia, government sites, shopping platforms, and more.

• Google Scholar limits its index to scholarly literature from publishers, universities, libraries, and professional societies.

Example:
Searching “climate change effects” on Google returns news articles, blogs, and government reports. The same query on Google Scholar returns peer-reviewed journal papers, citations, and academic books.

2. Quality Control

• Google does not filter content based on academic standards. Results may include personal opinions, outdated information, or unverified claims.

• Google Scholar filters content toward peer-reviewed or scholarly publications, improving reliability for research purposes.

3. Ranking Algorithms

• Google ranks results using relevance, page authority, backlinks, user behavior, and freshness.

• Google Scholar ranks results by academic impact. Articles with high citation counts or published in reputable journals often appear first.

4. Search Functionality

• Google includes features like autocomplete, knowledge panels, featured snippets, and integration with maps, shopping, and news.

• Google Scholar provides advanced academic tools, such as filtering by publication year, searching for specific authors, and creating citation alerts.

5. Access to Content

• Google links to open webpages, free resources, or paywalled sites, but does not directly connect to institutional library systems.

• Google Scholar integrates with university and library subscriptions. If your institution provides access, you can unlock full-text articles through links like Find it @ [Your Library].

6. Audience and Use Cases

• Google is designed for general users seeking quick answers and information.

• Google Scholar is designed for students, researchers, and academics who need verified scholarly content.

7. Reference Management

• Google provides no built-in citation tools.

• Google Scholar includes “Cite” options that generate references in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other formats.

8. Metrics and Author Profiles

• Google does not track citations or provide author profiles.

• Google Scholar offers metrics like h-index and i10-index. Authors can create profiles to showcase their publications and citation impact.

9. Commercial vs Academic Focus

• Google integrates ads, shopping results, and commercial listings.

• Google Scholar is ad-free and designed purely for academic research.

When to Use Google vs Google Scholar

Use Google when:

• You need quick background information.

• You are searching for general facts, news, or websites.

• You are looking for free open-access resources such as government reports.

Use Google Scholar when:

• You need peer-reviewed research papers.

• You are writing academic essays, theses, or dissertations.

• You want to track citation counts or author influence.

• You need formatted references for bibliographies.

How to Use Google Scholar Effectively

1. Set Up Library Links
   Go to Settings → Library Links, then search for your institution (for example, Catholic University of America). This ensures full-text access through your library.

2. Use Advanced Search
   Click on the menu → Advanced Search. You can filter results by author, publication, date range, and exact phrases.

3. Create Alerts
   Click “Create alert” to be notified when new papers are published on your topic.

4. Save to My Library
   Click the star icon under any result to save it for later. This helps organize your references.

5. Check Citations
   Click “Cited by” under an article to explore related works and measure influence.

6. Export References
   Use the quotation mark icon to copy formatted citations or export to tools like Zotero and EndNote.

Also Read: How to Link Google Scholar with Catholic University of America Library Resources for Full-Text Access

Limitations of Google Scholar

Although powerful, Google Scholar has some drawbacks:

• Not all academic content is indexed. Some publishers restrict access.

• It may include duplicates or incorrect attributions.

• Citation counts are not always accurate, since they include non-peer-reviewed references.

• Full-text access often depends on institutional subscriptions.

Because of these limitations, many researchers combine Google Scholar with subject-specific databases like PubMed, Scopus, or Web of Science.

Comparison Table

Feature	Google	Google Scholar
Content	General web (news, blogs, shopping, Wikipedia, etc.)	Scholarly articles, theses, books, patents
Audience	General public	Students, researchers, academics
Ranking	Popularity, authority, backlinks	Citation counts, journal reputation
Citations	No citation tools	Built-in citation generator
Library Access	No	Yes (via institutional links)
Author Profiles	No	Yes (h-index, i10-index)
Ads	Yes	No

Best Practices for Students

• Start with Google Scholar when writing academic papers.

• Use Google for background information or context.

• Always cross-check information for credibility.

• Export citations correctly to avoid plagiarism.

• Combine Google Scholar with your library’s subject databases for the best results.

Also Read: How Are Results Ranked in Google Scholar? A Complete Guide for Students and Researchers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is Google Scholar better than Google for research?
Yes, for academic research, Google Scholar is better because it focuses on peer-reviewed literature and provides citation tools.

2. Can I use Google Scholar for free?
Yes. Google Scholar is free to use. Some articles are behind paywalls, but you can often access them through your university or by contacting authors directly.

3. Does Google Scholar include everything in Google?
No. Google Scholar does not index news, blogs, or general websites. It is limited to scholarly sources.

4. How does Google Scholar rank results?
Results are ranked by relevance and citation count. Highly cited papers usually appear first.

5. Can I access full-text articles through Google Scholar?
Yes, if your university library provides access. Look for “Find it @ [Your Library]” links or free PDFs in the results.

6. Do employers and institutions value Google Scholar?
Yes. Many researchers use their Google Scholar profile to showcase impact metrics like h-index and citation counts.

7. What is the difference between Google Scholar and PubMed?
Google Scholar covers all academic disciplines, while PubMed focuses on life sciences and medicine.

8. Can I trust everything on Google Scholar?
Most sources are scholarly, but errors do exist. Always cross-check references with the original publisher or database.

9. Is Google Scholar linked to ORCID?
Not directly, but you can list your Scholar profile in ORCID for better visibility.

10. Should I only use Google Scholar for academic research?
It is a great starting point, but for thorough research, combine it with specialized databases like Scopus, Web of Science, or subject-specific repositories.

Final Thoughts

Google and Google Scholar share the same parent company but serve entirely different purposes. Google is best for general web searches, while Google Scholar is a research-focused tool built for students, academics, and professionals. If your goal is to find reliable, peer-reviewed content, track citations, and generate formatted references, Google Scholar is the better choice.

At the same time, Google remains useful for quick fact-checking and gathering general background information. Knowing when to use each tool will make your research process faster, more accurate, and better supported by evidence.