The Best Zotero AlternativesTop Research Managers and other similar apps like Zotero

Zotero is described as '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' and is a very popular research manager in the news & books category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Zotero for a variety of platforms, including Web-based, Windows, Mac, iPhone and iPad apps. The best Zotero alternative is Mendeley, which is free. Other great apps like Zotero are Qiqqa, JabRef, TheBrain and Paperwork.

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Zotero alternatives are mainly Research Managers but may also be Note-taking Tools or Todo List 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 Zotero.
Zotero iconZotero
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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.

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Zotero alternatives page was last updated Sep 19, 2024
  1. Mendeley icon
     289 likes

    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...

    77 Mendeley alternatives
    Generate Bibliographies in Word and OpenOffice

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online

    Mendeley Features

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

    Mendeley VS Zotero

    Is Mendeley a good alternative to Zotero?
     
    Comments about Mendeley as an Alternative to Zotero
     
    Nick Scientist

    Mendeley is not open-source. After the migration to the Mendeley Reference Manager which has been a disaster in performance for the desktop apps, exhibit buggy behavior, are much more taxing to computers. Web plugin much better in Zotero too.

    Positive commentFeb 7, 2023
    2
    John Fastman

    Mendeley differs from Zotero like this: 1) It is not open source, but it's still free (as in beer); 2) it has better features for annotating pdf files; 3) It emphasizes connections between academics working in similar areas, which helps in discovery of references. Zotero doesn't do that. However, Zotero is better at extracting meta data from pdf files and has the superior browser plugin.

    Positive commentDec 30, 2016
    25
    Zotero Icon
    Mendeley icon
    • Most users think Mendeley is a great Zotero alternative.

    • Mendeley is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Zotero.

    • Mendeley is the most popular free alternative to Zotero.

    • Mendeley is Freemium and ProprietaryZotero is Freemium and Open Source
  2. Qiqqa icon
     414 likes

    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.

    55 Qiqqa alternatives
    Qiqqa screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Top Qiqqa Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Bib Tex Sniffer
    3.  Full-Text Search
    4.  Cross-references
    5.  Tagging
    6.  Citations
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  File Tagging
    10. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    11.  Real time collaboration
    12.  Portable
    Qiqqa iconZotero Icon

    Qiqqa VS Zotero

    Is Qiqqa a good alternative to Zotero?
     
    Comments about Qiqqa as an Alternative to Zotero
     
       
    phytographer

    Qiqqa does not have:

    1. Chrome connector for gathering citations
    2. Google Docs integration
    3. LibreOffice Integration
    Negative commentOct 30, 2020
    3
    Alternative User929

    Not like Zotero or Mendeley.

    Negative commentJul 5, 2023
    0
    Guest

    They both manage PDFs and allow you to do reference management and bilbiographies.

    Positive commentDec 3, 2015
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Zotero Icon
    Qiqqa icon
    • Most users think Qiqqa is a great Zotero alternative.

    • Qiqqa is the most popular Open Source alternative to Zotero.

    • Qiqqa is Freemium and Open SourceZotero is also Freemium and Open Source
  3. JabRef icon
     102 likes

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

    45 JabRef alternatives
    JabRef screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • Mozilla Firefox

    JabRef Features

    1.  Export citation
    2.  Tagging
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Full-Text Search
    5. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Autocompletion
    8.  Browser integration
    9.  Automatic file renaming
    10.  Grouping entries
    JabRef iconZotero Icon

    JabRef VS Zotero

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

    Open source, clean, robust. Works best with BibTex/Latex environment.

    Positive commentOct 24, 2020
    3
    Guest

    Screen clear with all important informations easily readible. Avoid import of existing records and efficient merge compared to zotero !!! So no duplicate. We can create many librairies and we are not limited to one big with every records in, so quicker when you have a lot of references.

    Positive commentAug 15, 2023
    0
    Zotero Icon
    JabRef icon
    • Almost everyone thinks JabRef is a great Zotero alternative.

    • JabRef is Free and Open SourceZotero is Freemium and Open Source
  4. TheBrain icon
     138 likes

    TheBrain helps you organize all your Web pages, contacts, documents, emails and files in a context-driven visual map.

    127 TheBrain alternatives
    TheBrain screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    TheBrain Features

    1.  Visual timeline
    2.  Visual-thinking
    3.  Visual bookmarks
    4.  Brainstorming
    5.  Cloud Sync
    6.  Portable
    7.  Interactive map
    TheBrain iconZotero Icon

    TheBrain VS Zotero

    Is TheBrain a good alternative to Zotero?
     
    Comments about TheBrain as an Alternative to Zotero
     
    InfinitlyZero

    Simply not a viable alternative.

    Negative commentFeb 11, 2021
    1
    Guest

    TheBrain is a non-linear visual mapping tool. It is not first and foremost a reference manager. I own it, and use it, and it's never struck me as a good alternative to Zotero.

    Negative commentOct 11, 2020
    1
    Guest

    It is not a simple research management tool like Zotero. At least it is for me.

    Negative commentOct 30, 2022
    0
    Zotero Icon
    TheBrain icon
    • This alternative is disputed. TheBrain is a legitimate Zotero alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • TheBrain is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Zotero.

    • TheBrain is Freemium and ProprietaryZotero is Freemium and Open Source
  5. Paperwork icon
     35 likes

    Paperwork is a personal document manager for scanned documents (and PDFs).

    29 Paperwork alternatives
    Paperwork screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub

    Paperwork Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  OCR
    3.  Document structure management
    4.  Scanner
    5.  Scan to PDF
    6.  Gtk
    7.  Indexed search
    Paperwork iconZotero Icon

    Paperwork VS Zotero

    Is Paperwork a good alternative to Zotero?
     
  6. DocsBoard icon
     5 likes

    Solve your documentation problems with a single platform that integrates all document formats, enhances collaboration, and maintains real-time updates.

    24 DocsBoard alternatives
    DocsBoard screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    DocsBoard Features

    1.  Cloud Sync
    2.  Real time collaboration
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4.  Ad-free
    5. Google Sheets icon  Google Sheets integration
    6. Google Docs (Suite) icon  Google docs integration
    7.  DMS
    8.  Import from Google Slides
    9.  PDF support
    10.  Document Sharing
    DocsBoard iconZotero Icon

    DocsBoard VS Zotero

    Is DocsBoard a good alternative to Zotero?
     
    • DocsBoard is the most popular SaaS alternative to Zotero.

    • DocsBoard is Free and ProprietaryZotero is Freemium and Open Source
  7. EndNote icon
     44 likes

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

    44 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. Microsoft 365 Copilot icon  Compatible with Microsoft Office
    EndNote iconZotero Icon

    EndNote VS Zotero

    Is EndNote a good alternative to Zotero?
     
    Comments about EndNote as an Alternative to Zotero
     
    John Fastman

    Unfortunately, in terms of sheer functionality and completeness as a reference manager, EndNote is probably the best. Unfortunately, because it's very expensive, it's not open source and it doesn't work on Linux. But the level of customization over citation styles, and the integration with MS Word make it a default for many. In my estimation, 90%+ of researchers would find enough in Zotero not to have to pay for End Note.

    Positive commentDec 30, 2016
    6
    Guest

    this is the program that the journals ask to make references using it

    Positive commentMay 11, 2020
    0
    Zotero Icon
    EndNote icon
    • Most users think EndNote is a great Zotero alternative.

    • EndNote is the most popular commercial alternative to Zotero.

    • EndNote is Paid and ProprietaryZotero is Freemium and Open Source
  8. MyInfo icon
     39 likes

    MyInfo is a personal information manager for Windows. It will help you capture, organize, edit and share ideas, documents, tasks, and web pages.

    295 MyInfo alternatives
    MyInfo screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Tagging
    3.  Tree structure
    4.  Web Clipper
    5.  Reminders
    6.  Portable
    7.  Full-Text Search
    8.  Hierarchical Structure
    9.  File Tagging
    10.  Built-in viewer
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  No Tracking
    MyInfo iconZotero Icon

    MyInfo VS Zotero

    Is MyInfo a good alternative to Zotero?
     
  9. BibSonomy icon
     41 likes

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

    74 BibSonomy alternatives
    BibSonomy screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Online

    BibSonomy Features

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

    BibSonomy VS Zotero

    Is BibSonomy a good alternative to Zotero?
     
9 of 72 Zotero alternatives