Subject Guides: Citation and Reference Management: Reference Management

What is Reference Management Software?

Reference management software can be very useful if you need to use a lot of information sources for your research. This type of software allows you to:

collect, store, and organize references from library databases and websites
format your references automatically in your chosen citation style
automatically generate in-text citations and a reference list as you write a paper
save or link to full-text documents (e.g., PDFs)
share your references with others
sync references across multiple devices

Choosing Reference Management Software

The University of Alberta Library does not recommend or endorse any particular product, but we have gathered information on some of the most popular options for reference management software.

EndNote: Blog post | Resources and support
Mendeley: Blog post | Resources and support
Zotero: Blog post | Resources and support

For a simple visual comparison of these three reference managers, use our decision tree. For a detailed comparison, use the table below. Software features change regularly, so if you find additional or conflicting information, feel free to contact us and we will try to incorporate the information.

Note: U of A access to RefWorks ended December 31, 2021.


ACCESS AND COST COMPARISON
Product and Vendor	EndNote X9 Desktop (Clarivate)	EndNote Basic (Clarivate)	Mendeley (Elsevier)	Zotero (open source)
Where to get it	UAlberta IST OnTheHub	EndNote Online	Mendeley download	Zotero download
Costs	$140 via UAlberta OnTheHub (one-time cost)	Free	Free (cost to upgrade storage)	Free (cost to upgrade storage)
Operating system	Windows 7 SP1 or later macOS 10.10 or later	Windows 7 or later macOS Linux	Windows 7 or later macOS (but not macOS 11 Big Sur) Linux (64 bit)	Windows 7 or later macOS 10.11 or later, including Catalina and Big Sur 1 Linux Chromebook
Main access (web/cloud or desktop/laptop)	Mainly single desktop/laptop. Can sync to cloud through Endnote Online/Basic.	Web/cloud only	Desktop/laptop and web/cloud. Can sync with multiple computers.	Desktop/laptop and web/cloud. Can sync with multiple computers.
Mobile version (phone, tablet)	Yes (iOS, not Android)	Yes (iOS, not Android)	No	Yes (iOS or 3rd party options)
Registration/account required?	Only for cloud sync and collaborator sharing. Can use locally without an account.	Yes	Yes	Only for cloud sync and collaborator sharing. Can use locally without an account.
Support options	Email or phone Community forum	Email or phone Community forum	Email, phone, or chat	DIY support only, via user forums
Accessibility	ADA Compliance	ADA Compliance	Accessibility	Accessibility forum posts
PROS / CONS	EndNote X9	EndNote Basic	Mendeley	Zotero
Best features	Ability to store a large number of references and PDFs (10,000+); partially automated retrieval of full text (30-50% will be retrieved); deduplicates large numbers of references; increased citation accuracy due to large number of reference types; highly customizable; ability to work offline.	Cloud-based, so option to work away from primary workstation.	Free (up to 2GB of online storage); user-friendly interface; easy to add references; PDF annotation within the program; ability to work offline; connects with MS Word.	Free (up to 300 MB online storage); open source; user-friendly interface; easy to add references; PDF annotation within the program; ability to work offline; connects with MS Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice.
Possible drawbacks	Price (~$140); license tied to one device; steeper learning curve than other options; importing non-traditional types of reference (e.g., webpages) can be challenging.	Limited storage capacity; limited citation styles.	Does not connect with Google Docs; limited storage space when sharing with groups; difficulty importing accurate metadata for some source types.	Limited free cloud-based storage space; works best with one primary workstation.
REFERENCE MANAGEMENT FEATURES	EndNote X9	EndNote Basic	Mendeley	Zotero
Storage (references and file attachments)	Unlimited	50,000 references or 2GB	Unlimited on local computer, 2GB in cloud (can pay to upgrade)	Unlimited on local computer, 300MB in cloud (can pay to upgrade)
Reference import methods	Manual RIS file Direct from many databases	Manual RIS file Direct from many databases	Manual RIS file Direct from some Elsevier databases PDF drag & drop Identifier (e.g., DOI)	Manual RIS file PDF drag & drop Identifier (e.g., DOI, ISBN)
Browser import	Capture Reference Tool Chrome Firefox Safari	Capture Reference Tool Chrome Firefox Safari	Mendeley Web Importer Chrome Firefox Edge	Zotero Connector Chrome Firefox Safari (bundled with Zotero 6 download) Edge
Duplicate record detection	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Customizable metadata fields	Yes	No, but can add notes	No, but can use tags and add notes	No, but can use tags and add notes
Search within own records	Simple and advanced	Simple search only	Simple and advanced	Simple and advanced
Search external catalogues or databases	Yes (7000+)	Yes (5)	Yes (in online version), details are unclear	No
Annotate PDFs	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Collaboration tools	Share full library	Share folders	Groups for sharing ideas and references. Private groups only.	Share folders. All collaborators must have Zotero account.
Export records	Yes, but doesn't transfer attachments	Yes, but doesn't transfer attachments	Yes, in desktop version, but doesn't transfer attachments	Yes, but doesn't transfer attachments
CITATION GENERATION FEATURES	EndNote X9	EndNote Basic	Mendeley	Zotero
Word processor integration (e.g. MS Word, Google Docs)	MS Word LibreOffice	MS Word LibreOffice	MS Word LibreOffice	MS Word LibreOffice Google Docs
Number of citation styles	7,000+ predefined	Top 21 most commonly used styles	9000+ pre-defined	9000+ pre-defined
Custom style editing	Yes	No	Yes	Yes