Reference managers

A reference manager is the one research tool almost everyone needs. It saves sources with their metadata, keeps PDFs and notes together, and inserts citations and a bibliography in the style your department or journal asks for. Starting one early, with the first paper you save, avoids a painful clean-up when a thesis grows to several hundred references.

Zotero is free and open source, run by a nonprofit, with a browser connector that saves the item you are viewing and plugins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs. Mendeley, owned by Elsevier, offers a reference manager with a PDF reader and a Word add-in, and many universities promote it. EndNote from Clarivate is a long-standing paid option common in health sciences and in universities that license it. Paperpile is built around the browser and Google Docs, with Word support too. Citavi combines references with knowledge organization and task planning. JabRef works directly with BibTeX files, which suits people who write in LaTeX.

AI features in reference managers are still modest compared with search and reading tools, but the basics matter more. Good metadata, clean deduplication and reliable citation styles save more time than a summary button. Whatever you choose, check imported details such as author names, years and journal titles, since metadata saved from web pages is often incomplete.

Featured AI research tools: reference managers

SponsoredReference managers This position is open Put your tool at the top of the reference managers page. Paid spots are always labeled Sponsored. From $99 a month. Get featured

What a featured listing costs ยท from $99 a month

6 AI research tools in reference managers

Zotero

by Corporation for Digital Scholarship

Free, open source reference manager that saves sources from the browser, stores PDFs and adds citations in Word, Google Docs and LibreOffice.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Open source
  • Works in Word or Google Docs

Mendeley

by Elsevier

Elsevier's reference manager with a PDF reader, shared groups and the Mendeley Cite add-in for citing in Word.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Works in Word or Google Docs

JabRef

Free, open source reference manager that works directly with BibTeX and BibLaTeX files, used by many LaTeX writers.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Open source

EndNote

by Clarivate

Long-running paid reference manager from Clarivate, with Cite While You Write for Word and large library support.

  • Works in Word or Google Docs

Paperpile

Web-based reference manager built around Google Docs and Google Drive, with citation support for Word as well.

  • Works in Word or Google Docs

Citavi

by Lumivero

Reference manager that combines citation management with knowledge organization and task planning, with a Word add-in.

  • Works in Word or Google Docs

Think about collaboration and moving later. If you co-author with people who use a different manager, shared formats such as RIS and BibTeX let you swap references. Group libraries in Zotero and Mendeley help a lab share a common reading list. And because tools change ownership and terms, keep a regular export of your library in an open format.

The main difference between these tools is less about features and more about where you write. If your department works in Word, a manager with a stable Word add-in matters most. If you write in Google Docs, check how well the tool handles citations there, since support varies. If you write in LaTeX, you need a clean .bib file, and every tool on this page can produce one in some way. Pick the one that matches your writing setup and your co-authors, then learn its keyboard shortcuts.

The tools below are listed in no particular order, each with a short description we wrote and a link to its official site. Ask your library which ones it licenses and supports before you pay.

Questions about reference managers

Which reference manager is easiest to move away from later?

Any tool that exports RIS or BibTeX lets you move your references. Zotero and JabRef use open formats by design. PDFs and annotations are harder to move, so check how each tool stores them before you commit.

Do I need a reference manager if I write in LaTeX?

LaTeX handles citations through BibTeX or BibLaTeX files, so you need some way to keep those files tidy. JabRef edits them directly, and Zotero can keep a .bib file in sync with your library through a plugin.

Can my supervisor and I share references?

Yes. Zotero and Mendeley support shared group libraries, and Paperpile and EndNote offer sharing too. If you use different tools, export and import RIS or BibTeX files instead.

Why are some of my citations wrong in the bibliography?

Usually because the saved metadata is wrong or incomplete, such as a missing year or an author name stored in the wrong field. Fix the item in the reference manager and refresh the citations in your document.

Does my university provide a reference manager?

Many do. Libraries often license EndNote or support Zotero and Mendeley with training sessions. Ask your library before paying for a personal plan.

Related categories