The preprint papers on arXiv are like 99% the same as the published versions, except they're free instead of locked behind a multi-thousand dollar/year paywall.

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upbeat_general 4 hours ago | parent [-]

And if there are differences, that is often a good thing! It can mean the author wanted to format something in a particular way that the journal didn't allow.

	▲	senderista 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Often they are extended versions of the journal articles and contain valuable material that had to be cut for space limits.