JabRef AlternativesResearch Managers and other similar apps like JabRef

JabRef is described as 'Bibliography reference manager. The native file format used by JabRef is BibTeX, the standard LaTeX bibliography format' and is a very popular research manager in the education & reference category. There are more than 25 alternatives to JabRef for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Web-based, iPhone and iPad apps. The best JabRef alternative is Zotero, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like JabRef are Qiqqa, Mendeley, DEVONthink and BibSonomy.

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JabRef alternatives are mainly Research Managers but may also be Note-taking Tools or Document Managers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of JabRef.
JabRef iconJabRef
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  • ...

Bibliography reference manager. The native file format used by JabRef is BibTeX, the standard LaTeX bibliography format.

More about JabRef
More about JabRef
JabRef alternatives page was last updated Sep 7, 2024
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  1. Zotero icon
    Zotero icon

    Zotero

     422 likes
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    Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, share research and cite your research sources directly in your favourite word processor, with 300 MB free online storage.

    71 Zotero alternatives
    Zotero screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Microsoft Word
    • Google Docs
    • LibreOffice
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Zotero screenshot 1
    Zotero screenshot 2
    +2
    Zotero screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Browser integration
    2.  LibreOffice Integration
    3.  Document Management
    4.  Microsoft Office integration
    5.  Knowledge Management
    6.  Export to LaTeX
    7.  Cross-references
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  PDF annotation
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    12.  Full-Text Search
    13.  Support for MarkDown
    14.  Real time collaboration
    15.  Works Offline
    16.  Google docs integration
    17.  WebDAV Support
    18.  Compatible with Microsoft Office
    19.  Importing from webpages
    Zotero iconJabRef Icon

    Zotero VS JabRef

    Is Zotero a good alternative to JabRef?
     
    Comments about Zotero as an Alternative to JabRef
     
    Guest

    jabref specifically uses bibtex whereas zotero does not

    Negative comment •Jan 23, 2018
    2
    JabRef Icon
    Zotero icon

    • Some users think Zotero is a great JabRef alternative, some don't.

    • Zotero is the most popular Windows, Mac, iPhone & Linux alternative to JabRef.

    • Zotero is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to JabRef.

    • Zotero is Freemium and Open SourceJabRef is Free and Open Source
    • Zotero is Privacy focusedJabRef is not according to our users
  2. Qiqqa icon
    Qiqqa icon

    Qiqqa

     414 likes
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    Qiqqa is a free research and reference manager. Search for, read and annotate your PDFs. Then review your work, write up and create bibliographies instantly.

    53 Qiqqa alternatives
    Qiqqa screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Qiqqa screenshot 1
    Qiqqa screenshot 2
    +2
    Qiqqa screenshot 3

    Top Qiqqa Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Bib Tex Sniffer
    3.  Full-Text Search
    4.  Document Management
    5.  Cross-references
    6.  Tagging
    7.  Citations
    8.  Annotation report
    9.  PDF OCR
    10.  Brainstorming
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Ad-free
    13.  File Tagging
    14.  Support for LaTeX
    15.  Real time collaboration
    16.  Portable
    17.  Text Highlighting
    18.  Autotagging
    19.  Topic tags
    20.  Search metadata
    21.  Text search feature
    22.  Intranet Function
    Qiqqa iconJabRef Icon

    Qiqqa VS JabRef

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  4. Mendeley icon
    Mendeley icon

    Mendeley

     287 likes
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    Mendeley helps manage and share academic knowledge: Mendeley Desktop is free academic software (Windows, Mac, Linux) for organizing and sharing research papers and generating bibliographies with 1GB of free online storage to automatically back up and synchronize your library...

    76 Mendeley alternatives
    Generate Bibliographies in Word and OpenOffice

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Annotate PDFs
    Sync from Zotero
    +2
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    Mendeley Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  PDF support
    4.  Word integration
    5.  References
    6.  Bibliography generator
    7.  LibreOffice Integration
    8.  Browser integration
    Mendeley iconJabRef Icon

    Mendeley VS JabRef

    Is Mendeley a good alternative to JabRef?
     

    • Some users think Mendeley is a great JabRef alternative, some don't.

    • Mendeley is the most popular Web-based alternative to JabRef.

    • Mendeley is Freemium and ProprietaryJabRef is Free and Open Source
  5. DEVONthink icon
    DEVONthink icon

    DEVONthink

     128 likes
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    DEVONthink is a solution to the digital age conundrum. It is your second brain, the one and only database for all your digital files, be they PDFs, emails, Word docs or even multimedia files.

    152 DEVONthink alternatives
    DEVONthink screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    DEVONthink screenshot 1
    DEVONthink screenshot 2
    +9
    DEVONthink screenshot 3

    Top DEVONthink Features

    1.  Document Management
    2.  File Tagging
    3.  Indexed search
    4.  File Organizer
    5.  Document structure management
    6.  PDF OCR
    7.  Document Annotations
    8.  DMS
    9.  Built-in viewer
    10.  Reminders
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Full-Text Search
    13.  Support for MarkDown
    14.  Split PDF files
    15.  Recurring Tasks
    16.  OCR
    17.  Support for scripting
    18.  Web Clipper
    19.  PDF annotation
    20.  WYSIWYG Support
    21.  Live Preview
    22.  Integrated Search
    DEVONthink iconJabRef Icon

    DEVONthink VS JabRef

    Is DEVONthink a good alternative to JabRef?
     

    • DEVONthink is the most popular commercial alternative to JabRef.

    • DEVONthink is Paid and ProprietaryJabRef is Free and Open Source
  6. BibSonomy icon
    BibSonomy icon

    BibSonomy

     41 likes
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    BibSonomy is a system for sharing bookmarks and lists of literature (BibTex format).

    73 BibSonomy alternatives
    BibSonomy screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online

    BibSonomy Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Bookmarks
    3.  Knowledge Management
    4.  Tagging
    5.  Data Mining
    BibSonomy iconJabRef Icon

    BibSonomy VS JabRef

    Is BibSonomy a good alternative to JabRef?
     
  7. Citavi icon
    Citavi icon

    Citavi

     51 likes
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    Reference management and knowledge organization with integrated task planner. Solution for work groups with data sharing in intranet available.

    37 Citavi alternatives
    Simple Navigation on the left, the editing pane in the middle, preview on the right (for PDF and text documents, images, Web pages, etc.). All You Need You can add ratings, quotations, comments, thoughts, tasks, locations, and links to other references and files. Citavi is your complete toolbox for academic writing.

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Versatile You can adjust the screen layout to your liking, and there is a handy table view, too. Intuitive You won't find another professional program that takes so little time to learn.
    Search the World Citavi lets you search more than 4800 library catalogs and databases. Get a Copy Citavi can help you get a copy of an item once you've discovered it.
    +3
    Evaluate Use the preview to read and evaluate PDFs and other full texts, and to view images, videos, and presentations. Then just click to copy a passage to the refer­ence as a quotation, abstract or table of contents. Save You can tell Citavi to gather all the full texts in your projects, even PDFs you saved elsewhere. This ensures that you always have everything at hand.

    Citavi Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Information gathering
    3.  Book Manager
    4.  Knowledge Management
    5.  PDF Preview
    6.  Knowledge base
    7.  Intuitive Nodes
    Citavi iconJabRef Icon

    Citavi VS JabRef

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  9. ReadCube Papers icon
    ReadCube Papers icon

    ReadCube Papers

     71 likes
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    Papers helps you collect and curate the research material that you're passionate about. This award-winning reference manager will improve the way you find, organize, read, cite, and share.

    41 ReadCube Papers alternatives
    ReadCube Papers screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Firefox
    ReadCube Papers screenshot 1
    ReadCube Papers screenshot 2
    +3
    ReadCube Papers screenshot 3

    ReadCube Papers Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  Built-in viewer
    4.  Text to Speech
    5.  Citations
    6.  Book Manager
    7.  Integrated Search
    ReadCube Papers iconJabRef Icon

    ReadCube Papers VS JabRef

    Is ReadCube Papers a good alternative to JabRef?
     

    • ReadCube Papers is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to JabRef.

    • ReadCube Papers is Paid and ProprietaryJabRef is Free and Open Source
  10. Paperpile icon
    Paperpile icon

    Paperpile

     54 likes
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    Organize your research papers in a Gmail-like web app, sync your PDFs to Google Drive and cite your references in Google Docs.

    41 Paperpile alternatives
    Paperpile screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Office Word
    • Google Drive
    • Google Drive - Docs
    • Google Scholar

    Paperpile Features

    1.  Sync with Google Drive
    Paperpile screenshot 1
    Paperpile screenshot 2
    Paperpile iconJabRef Icon

    Paperpile VS JabRef

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  11. EndNote icon
    EndNote icon

    EndNote

     44 likes
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    A reference management software, used for searching online publication databases, & managing publications / bibliographies, with the ability to insert the references into a word processor.

    43 EndNote alternatives
    EndNote screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    EndNote Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Real time collaboration
    3.  Personal Information Manager (PIM)
    4.  Compatible with Microsoft Office
    EndNote iconJabRef Icon

    EndNote VS JabRef

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  12. ZoteroBib icon
    ZoteroBib icon

    ZoteroBib

     11 likes
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    ZoteroBib is a free service to help people quickly create bibliographies without installing any software or creating an account.

    9 ZoteroBib alternatives
    ZoteroBib screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online

    ZoteroBib Features

    1.  Bibliography generator
    ZoteroBib screenshot 1
    ZoteroBib iconJabRef Icon

    ZoteroBib VS JabRef

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  13. Cite This For Me icon
    Cite This For Me icon

    Cite This For Me

     9 likes
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    Automatically create website citations in the APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard referencing styles at the click of a button.

    17 Cite This For Me alternatives
    Cite This For Me screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Google Chrome

    Cite This For Me Features

    1.  Bibliography generator
    Cite This For Me screenshot 1
    Cite This For Me iconJabRef Icon

    Cite This For Me VS JabRef

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  14. EasyBib icon
    EasyBib icon

    EasyBib

     16 likes
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    Automatic works cited and bibliography formatting for MLA, APA and Chicago/Turabian citation styles. Now supports 7th edition of MLA.

    58 EasyBib alternatives
    Homepage

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Google Drive - Docs

    EasyBib Features

    1.  Bibliography generator
    2.  Citations
    3.  Browser integration
    4.  References
    Project Listing (Working on Arthur C Clarke)
    EasyBib iconJabRef Icon

    EasyBib VS JabRef

    Is EasyBib a good alternative to JabRef?
     
12 of 44 JabRef alternatives