Open Source Zotero Alternatives

The best open source alternative to Zotero is Qiqqa. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Zotero and 18 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Zotero are JabRef, BibSonomy, Paperwork and WizNote.

Zotero alternatives are mainly Research Managers but may also be Note-taking Tools or Document Managers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Zotero.

Zotero alternatives page was last updated

Zotero

376

Freemium • Open Source
Research Manager

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, share research and cite your research sources directly in...

More about Zotero

Qiqqa
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Research Manager
Document Manager
Windows
55 Qiqqa alternatives
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.
- - Qiqqa is the most popular Open Source alternative to Zotero.
Suggest and vote on features
Qiqqa 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.
Bib Tex Sniffer
Cross-references
Tagging
Citations
Annotation report
Brainstorming
Text Highlighting
PDF OCR
Autotagging
Topic tags
Comments about Qiqqa as a Alternative to Zotero
Most users think Qiqqa is a great Zotero alternative.
phytographer
Qiqqa does not have:

Chrome connector for gathering citations

Google Docs integration

LibreOffice Integration
Negative comment•
3
Alternative User929
Not like Zotero or Mendeley.
Negative comment•
0

altenativeto
The open source transparency and the WebDav sync make Zotero a better option for Users with a certain degree of Data control/ privacy needs.
Negative comment•
-1

Guest
They both manage PDFs and allow you to do reference management and bilbiographies.
Positive comment•
1
JabRef
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Research Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Microsoft Edge
Vivaldi Browser
Google Chrome
Firefox
41 JabRef alternatives
Bibliography reference manager. The native file format used by JabRef is BibTeX, the standard LaTeX bibliography format.
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JabRef 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.
Export citation
Browser integration
Tagging
Grouping entries
Automatic file renaming
Comments about JabRef as a Alternative to Zotero
Almost everyone thinks JabRef is a great Zotero alternative.
Guest
Open source, clean, robust. Works best with BibTex/Latex environment.
Positive comment•
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 comment•
0
BibSonomy
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Research Manager
Bookmark Manager
Social Bookmarking Tool
Online
68 BibSonomy alternatives
BibSonomy is a system for sharing bookmarks and lists of literature (BibTex format).
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BibSonomy Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in BibSonomy simultaneously.
Bookmarks
Knowledge Management
Tagging
Data Mining
Paperwork
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Document Manager
Document Scanner
Windows
Linux
25 Paperwork alternatives
Paperwork is a personal document manager for scanned documents (and PDFs).
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Paperwork Features
1. PortablePaperwork can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
Document structure management
Scanner
Scan to PDF
Gtk
Indexed search
WizNote
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
BSD
Windows Phone
iPad
286 WizNote alternatives
WizNote is a Note software, which is especially designed for Internet users and mobile Internet users. WizNote focuses more on notes of rapid collection, management, reading and sharing. WizNote is smaller, more stable, and more suitable for computers, phones and mobile devices.
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WizNote Features
1. Support for MarkDownWizNote supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Sync with Google CalendarWizNote can be synchronized with Google Calendar
3. Works OfflineWizNote can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
4. PortableWizNote can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Calendar IntegrationWizNote lets you sync your tasks and events with your calendar application.
6. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
7. Handwritten NotesWizNote supports writing by hand (or a stylus) and your text will be converted to text.
Store by Folder
Folder Hierarchy
Tagging
Google Calendar integration
Support for Docker
Calendar Sync
Save web page for offline use
Opinions about WizNote as a Alternative to Zotero
Most users think WizNote is a great Zotero alternative.
MyBib
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Chrome OS
Google Chrome
Firefox
14 MyBib alternatives
A new FREE citation generator. Automatically create bibliographies, references, and citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and over 8000 more styles with a totally free and no-ads citation generator.
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MyBib Features
Citations
Data export/import
Bibliography generator
Export citation
Citation detection
Importing from webpages
ZoteroBib
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Online
10 ZoteroBib alternatives
Powered by the same technology behind Zotero, ZoteroBib lets you seamlessly add items from across the web — using Zotero’s unmatched metadata extraction abilities — and generate bibliographies in more than 9,000 citation styles.
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ZoteroBib Features
Bibliography generator
KBibTeX
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Research Manager
Linux
26 KBibTeX alternatives
KBibTeX is a reference management software primarily for BibTeX which is typically used in conjunction with TeX/LaTeX.
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KBibTeX Features
1. Support for LaTeXKBibTeX supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
Comments about KBibTeX as a Alternative to Zotero
pros, cons and recent comments
superluminar
Only an alternative if you use BibTeX/TeX/LaTeX.
Comment•
0
Peerlibrary
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Research Manager
Online
27 Peerlibrary alternatives
PeerLibrary is an open source project developing a collaborative online community where scholars and researchers can discover, read, and discuss scholarly literature all within one site. This project focuses on expediting access to publications, enabling public recordings of...
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Peerlibrary Features
1. PDF annotationPeerlibrary support PDF Annotation for highlighting, notes etc
Bibliography generator
Add a screenshot
BibDesk
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
32 BibDesk alternatives
BibDesk is a bibliographic reference manager for Mac OS X. BibDesk is designed to help organize and use bibliographic databases in BibTeX .bib format.
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BibDesk Features
1. Support for LaTeXBibDesk supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
Typesetting
Tex