Reference Management Tools

Citation Manager Comparison Table

Refworks (ProQuest)

EndNote

EndNote Online (Basic)

Mendeley

Zotero

Access

Web-based

Desktop software with an online version (EndNote Web)

Web-based

Desktop software, but can sync with an online account which is editable

Zotero software with browser add-on (Firefox and Chrome).

Where is my database stored?

Local Computer with cloud storage and syncing via EndNote Web

Web-based

Local computer with web based syncing between computers

Local computer with optional web based syncing between computers

How does it work?

Export from databases into EndNote. Can search catalogues from within EndNote.

Browser bookmarklet can import from many databases. Can also import using text files

Import from many popular databases. Extract citation information from PDFs.

Detect citations that can be captured from databases or web pages. Search and import records using PMID, DOI, or ISBN. Extract citation information from PDFs.

Ability to work offline

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Cost

Free

Register with SWH email

This is a paid service, university affiliated staff and students can access via their institution. EG: Deakin Software Library

Free

Register

Free. Can upgrade for more storage space.

Free.

Word-processor compatibility

MS Word, Google Docs and Hangul, using Write-n-cite

MS Word, OpenOffice (EndNote X3+), Pages (X4+)

MS Word

MS Word, Open Office, LaTex

MS Word, Google Docs, Open Office

Import from Library databases

Direct export from specific databases

Yes

Yes

Yes

Import citation info from web pages

Yes, with ‘Save to Refworks’ tool installed

No

Yes, with bookmarklet

Yes, with a bookmark for a limited number of sites (mostly publishers or databases)

Yes, also archives the page and you can add annotations

Manage large libraries

Easy

Easy

Moderate to difficult

Moderate to difficult

Difficult

Storage capacity

Unlimited local storage. Software purchase provides term access to unlimited storage via EndNote Web

Limited to 50,000 citations

Free with 1GB of web space (500 MB personal & 500 MB shared.) Storage upgrades available for a monthly fee

Free with 300 MB of storage.  Storage upgrades available for a monthly fee

Attach associated files (PDFs, etc.)

Yes, and can highlight and annotate PDFs

Yes, and can highlight and annotate PDFs

Yes, 2 GB storage

Yes, and can highlight and annotate PDFs

Yes, with option to attach automatically

Search full text of PDFs

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Create group or shared libraries

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Create bibliography w/ different styles

Yes, hundreds of styles available.

Yes

Yes

Yes, limited number included by default; hundreds can be downloaded from Zotero.org

Edit output styles

Yes

Yes

No

No

Difficult

Strengths

-Easy to use and library provides workshops and individual support

- Accessible anywhere

- Best for organizing large collections of citations and managing PDFs

- Wide variety of citation styles

- Easily customized

- Easy to work in multiple locations

- Easy to share access with colleagues

- Quick to learn with a simple interface

- Good for managing PDFs and has a social network built in

- Automatic citation extraction from PDFs

- Easy to learn

-Quick for collecting citations

- User friendly features such as tagging, attachments, and notes