AlternativeTo LogoLoginSign up 
AlternativeTo Logo

Mendeley Alternatives

Mendeley is described as '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' and is a very popular research manager in the education & reference category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Mendeley for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Online / Web-based, Mac, iPhone and iPad. The best alternative is Zotero, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Mendeley are Qiqqa, Polar, JabRef and MyInfo.

Mendeley alternatives are mainly Research Managers but may also be Document Managers or Note-taking Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Mendeley.
This page was last updated
Mendeley iconMendeley
  284
  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Online

Mendeley helps manage and share academic knowledge: Mendeley Desktop is free academic software (Windows, Mac, Linux) for...

Learn more about Mendeley
  1. Zotero icon

    Zotero

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Microsoft Office Word
    • Google Drive - Docs
    • LibreOffice
    • Firefox
    66 alternatives to Zotero 

    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.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Support for MarkDownZotero supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    2.  Privacy focusedZotero is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
    3.  Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
    4.  Ad-freeZotero doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsZotero can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    6.  PDF annotationZotero support PDF Annotation for highlighting, notes etc
    7.  Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Zotero simultaneously.
    8.  File TaggingZotero can organize and highlight your files with tags and labels.
    Main Interface
    Word Processor Compatibility
    Data and File Syncing
    Zotero vs Mendeley opinions
    Almost everyone thinks Zotero is a great alternative to Mendeley.
    Guest

    Open source and made in the U.S.A!

    Positive comment• ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.   
    -5
    Guest

    Amazing. Full featured; sqlite db, tagging, notes... Hey, knowledge at your fingertips

    Positive comment• ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.   
    9
  2. Qiqqa icon

    Qiqqa

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Windows
    53 alternatives to Qiqqa 

    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.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  PDF annotationQiqqa support PDF Annotation for highlighting, notes etc
    2.  Full-Text SearchQiqqa lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
    3.  File TaggingQiqqa can organize and highlight your files with tags and labels.
    4.  Support for LaTeXQiqqa supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
    5.  PortableQiqqa can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
    6.  Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Qiqqa simultaneously.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
    Qiqqa vs Mendeley opinions
    Most users think Qiqqa is a great alternative to Mendeley.
    Guest

    Has the feature to tag regions of a pdf with a keyword or add a note with a tag and later compile all occurrences of the tagged regions with a particular keyword across the whole library..

    Positive comment• ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.   
    0
    Guest

    Differently from Qiqqa, Mendeley has no annotation report feature, meaning that it is not possible to gather all highlights/annotations on a paper into a single file. This is very useful for large pdf.

    Positive comment• ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.   
    0
  4. Polar icon

    Polar

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    • Chrome OS
    70 alternatives to Polar 

    Polar is a powerful desktop app for managing all your web content, books, and notes. Polar keeps all your content in one place, supports tagging, annotation, highlighting and keeps track of your reading progress.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  PDF annotationPolar support PDF Annotation for highlighting, notes etc
    2.  Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
    3.  Built-in viewerPolar shows you a quick preview of an image, page or file in supported formats.
    Captured HTML content available for offline viewing at any time.
    Document repository for tagging and managing your documents.
  5. JabRef icon

    JabRef

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Firefox
    • Google Chrome
    • Vivaldi Browser
    • Microsoft Edge
    40 alternatives to JabRef 

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

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Full-Text SearchJabRef lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
    2.  Support for LaTeXJabRef supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
    3.  AutocompletionJabRef can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
    Screenshot
    JabRef vs Mendeley opinions
    Most users think JabRef is a great alternative to Mendeley.
    Guest

    JabRef only handles bibtex files.

    Negative comment• ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.   
    1
  6. MyInfo icon

    MyInfo

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Windows
    286 alternatives to MyInfo 

    MyInfo is free form personal information manager- a reference-management system that allows you to collect, organize, edit, store, and find documents, notes, and project-support materials.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Web ClipperSave any page or content from the web with a single click with MyInfo.
    2.  RemindersMyInfo allows you to set reminders for tasks, events or actions, based on parameters of time, place or condition.
    3.  Full-Text SearchMyInfo lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
    4.  Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with MyInfo.
    5.  Privacy focusedMyInfo is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
    6.  Ad-freeMyInfo doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
    7.  No TrackingMyInfo will not track you or use your personal data.
    8.  Works OfflineMyInfo can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
    9.  WYSIWYG SupportMyInfo integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
    Screenshot
  8. BibSonomy icon

    BibSonomy

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Online
    68 alternatives to BibSonomy 

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

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in BibSonomy simultaneously.
    Screenshot
  9. Citavi icon

    Citavi

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    32 alternatives to Citavi 

    A handy, intuitive reference-managing tool. Citavi researches in over 4800 databases and catalogs, organizes and structures your literature, references, quotes and idea collections and assists you with your documentation or publication.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    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.
    Citavi vs Mendeley opinions
    pros, cons and recent comments
    Guest

    Great knowledge item management.

    Positive comment• ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.   
    0
  10. Academia.edu icon

    Academia.edu

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    19 alternatives to Academia.edu 

    is a social networking website for academics. The platform can be used to share papers, monitor their impact, and follow the research in a particular field. It was launched in September08, with 31 million registered and over 8 million uploaded texts.

     Academia.edu has no features, suggest some!
    Screenshot
  11. ResearchGate icon

    ResearchGate

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Free • Proprietary
    • Online
    • iPhone
    21 alternatives to ResearchGate 

    Access scientific knowledge, and make your research visible.

     ResearchGate has no features, suggest some!
    Homepage
    ResearchGate vs Mendeley opinions
    pros, cons and recent comments
    youdaoyzbx

    ResearchGate is a platform to share ideas and papers.

    Positive comment• ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.   
    0
  12. ReadCube Papers icon

    ReadCube Papers

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Safari
    40 alternatives to ReadCube Papers 

    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.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  PDF annotationReadCube Papers support PDF Annotation for highlighting, notes etc
    2.  Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
    3.  Built-in viewerReadCube Papers shows you a quick preview of an image, page or file in supported formats.
    4.  Text to SpeechReadCube Papers allows you to transform written text into spoken text.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
Showing 10 of 68 alternatives
AlternativeTo

AlternativeTo is a free service that helps you find better alternatives to the products you love and hate.

The site is made by Ola and Markus in Sweden, with a lot of help from our friends and colleagues in Italy, Finland, USA, Colombia, Philippines, France and contributors from all over the world. That's right, all the lists of alternatives are crowd-sourced, and that's what makes the data powerful and relevant.

Feel free to send us your questions and feedback at hello@alternativeto.net, in our forums or on social media.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or chat with us on Discord. This is build Docker_20230127.1 , .