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:
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, Mendeley, and Zotero.
Use the following comparison tables to help you decide which one might work best for you. Software features change regularly, so if you find additional or conflicting information, please contact us.
| EndNote 2025 | Mendeley | Zotero 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best features |
Can store 1 million references and PDFs Deduplicates large numbers of references Many reference types (helpful for accurate citation) Highly customizable Ability to work offline Integration with multiple word processors |
Free (up to 2GB of online storage) User-friendly interface Ability to work offline |
Free (up to 300 MB online storage) Open source User-friendly interface Imports accurate metadata for a wide variety of source types Ability to work offline Integration with multiple word processors |
| Drawbacks |
Price (~$140) License tied to one device Steeper learning curve than other options |
Small number of reference types Limited group sharing for free accounts No Google Docs integration (only MS Word) |
Limited free cloud-based storage Works best with one primary workstation |
| EndNote 2025 | Mendeley | Zotero 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Clarivate | Elsevier | open source |
| Where to get it | UAlberta IST OnTheHub | Mendeley Reference Manager download | Zotero download |
| Price |
$139.99 via UAlberta OnTheHub (one-time cost) |
Free (cost to upgrade storage) |
Free (cost to upgrade storage) |
| Operating system |
Windows 10 or later macOS 10.14 or later |
Windows 7 or later macOS 10.10 or later Linux (64 bit) |
Windows 7 or later macOS 10.12 or later Linux |
| Main access (web/cloud or desktop/laptop) |
Mainly single desktop/laptop Can sync to cloud through EndNote Web |
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 only) | No | Yes (iOS and 3rd party Android options) |
| Registration/account required? | Only for cloud sync and collaboration | Yes | Only for cloud sync and collaboration |
| Support options | Email or chat | User forums | |
| Accessibility | ADA Compliance | Accessibility | Accessibility forum posts |
| EndNote 2025 | Mendeley | Zotero 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference and file storage | Unlimited file storage; up to 1 million references | 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 or BibTeX file Direct from many databases |
Manual RIS or BibTeX file Direct from some Elsevier databases PDF drag & drop Identifier (e.g., DOI) |
Manual RIS or BibTeX file PDF drag & drop Identifier (e.g., DOI, ISBN) |
| Browser import plugin |
EndNote Click (Chrome, Edge, Opera) |
Mendeley Web Importer (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) |
Zotero Connector (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) |
| Reference types | 55 | 20 | 36 |
| Customize metadata fields | Yes | No | No |
| Tags/Keywords | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Notes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Detect duplicate records | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Search within own records | Simple and advanced | Simple and advanced | Simple and advanced |
| Search external catalogues or databases | Yes (7000+) | Yes (cloud version only; the details are unclear) | No |
| Annotate PDFs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Collaborate | Share full library with up to 1000 users |
Private groups (references and attachments) Free accounts can own up to 5 groups with maximum 25 members each |
Private or public groups (references and attachments) |
| Export records | Yes (without attachments) | Yes (without attachments) | Yes (without attachments) |
| EndNote 2025 | Mendeley | Zotero 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word processor integration |
MS Word LibreOffice Google Docs |
MS Word |
MS Word LibreOffice Google Docs |
| Citation styles | 7,500+ predefined | 10,000+ pre-defined | 10,000+ pre-defined |
| Custom style editing | Yes | Yes | Yes |