For a more comprehensive list of citation managers, check out Wikipedia: Comparison of Reference Management Software.
More charts comparing Zotero, Mendeley and Endnnote: Harvard Library, UC Berkeley Library and UMass Boston
Citation Managers Comparison Chart |
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|
Feature |
Zotero |
Mendeley |
EndNote Online. Basic |
|
Cost |
Free basic account. Cost for additional storage. |
Free basic account. Cost for additional storage. |
Free basic account. X8 Student discount costs around $100+. Most sophisticated of the citation tool options. |
|
Website |
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Support |
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|
Web Based? |
Yes. However, Zotero for Firefox is no longer available. Now a Standalone with connectors for Firefox, Chrome & Safari (with Zotero 5.0 upgrade). |
Not primarily, but syncs with an online account & a web import button. |
Yes. Formerly known as EndNote Web. Basic account - online only. |
|
Can I work on multiple computers? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Can I work without an internet connection? |
Yes |
Yes |
No - for basic account. Purchased - yes! |
|
Can I work on a group project or share citations? |
Yes |
Yes (up to 3 collaborators) |
Yes |
|
Word-processor compatibility |
Open/Libre Office plugin (Win/Mac/Linux) |
MS Word plugin (Win/Mac) Open/Libre Office plugin (Win/Mac/Linux) |
MS Word Plugin |
|
Import from databases? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Import from web pages? |
Yes |
Yes (Bookmarklet for limited number of sites) |
Yes (Web capture tool) |
|
Import PDF metadata? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Storage capacity |
300 MB |
5GB |
2GB |
|
Attach files (i.e. PDFs) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Create a bibliography |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Number of Citation Styles |
8100+ (selected default styles installed, more styles can be found in the Zotero Style Repository) |
7000+ (selected default styles installed, more styles can be found at CitationStyles.org) |
3400+ |
|
Insider tip |
Known accessibility issues for screen reader users. |
Not as agile with EBSCO database, CINAHL or PsycNET. Citations may need editing. |
Steeper learning curve for importing from databases. |
Comparison chart created and shared with permission by The Library & Learning Commons of the University of Guelph-Humber.
