Zotero Alternatives for Mac

There are many alternatives to Zotero for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac alternative is Mendeley, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Zotero and many of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to Zotero are Polar, JabRef, DEVONthink and TheBrain.

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

375

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...

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Mendeley
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Research Manager
Document Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
74 Mendeley alternatives
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...
- - Mendeley is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Zotero.
- - Mendeley is the most popular free alternative to Zotero.
Suggest and vote on features
Mendeley Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Mendeley simultaneously.
2. PDF annotationMendeley support PDF Annotation for highlighting, notes etc
PDF support
Word integration
References
Bibliography generator
LibreOffice Integration
Browser integration
Microsoft Office integration
Comments about Mendeley as a Alternative to Zotero
Most users think Mendeley is a great Zotero alternative.
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 comment•
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 comment•
25
Polar
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Read It Later Tool
Document Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Chrome OS
Electron / Atom Shell
68 Polar alternatives
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
Polar 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.
Offline Reading
Sync with Anki
Save web page for offline use
Text Highlighting
Technical paper notes
Tagging
Document Annotations
Document Repository
Capture web pages
Book Manager
Opinions about Polar as a Alternative to Zotero
Almost everyone thinks Polar is a great Zotero alternative.
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.
Suggest and vote on features
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
DEVONthink
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Research Manager
Document Manager
Mac
iPhone
iPad
165 DEVONthink alternatives
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.
- - DEVONthink is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Zotero.
- - DEVONthink is the most popular commercial alternative to Zotero.
Suggest and vote on features
DEVONthink Features
1. File TaggingDEVONthink can organize and highlight your files with tags and labels.
2. Recurring TasksDEVONthink supports scheduling a task to recur at any frequency, such as daily or weekly.
3. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
4. Full-Text SearchDEVONthink lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
5. Support for MarkDownDEVONthink supports MarkDown for document formatting.
6. Built-in viewerDEVONthink shows you a quick preview of an image, page or file in supported formats.
7. RemindersDEVONthink allows you to set reminders for tasks, events or actions, based on parameters of time, place or condition.
8. Works OfflineDEVONthink can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
9. Split PDF filesDEVONthink can split PDF files into multiple documents.
Indexed search
Document structure management
DMS
PDF OCR
Integrated Search
Document Annotations
Annotate Screenshot
Combine PDF
Ad-free
Support for scripting
TheBrain
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Mind Mapping Tool
Team Collaboration Tool
Mac
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
134 TheBrain alternatives
TheBrain helps you organize all your Web pages, contacts, documents, emails and files in a context-driven visual map.
- - TheBrain is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Zotero.
Suggest and vote on features
TheBrain Features
1. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
2. PortableTheBrain can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Visual timeline
Visual-thinking
Visual bookmarks
Brainstorming
Interactive map
Comments about TheBrain as a Alternative to Zotero
This alternative is disputed. TheBrain is still a legitimate Zotero alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
InfinitlyZero
Simply not a viable alternative.
Negative comment•
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 comment•
1

Guest
It is not a simple research management tool like Zotero. At least it is for me.
Negative comment•
0
EndNote
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Research Manager
Mac
Windows
Online
iPhone
iPad
42 EndNote alternatives
A reference management software, used for searching online publication databases, & managing publications / bibliographies, with the ability to insert the references into a word processor.
Suggest and vote on features
EndNote Features
1. PDF annotationEndNote support PDF Annotation for highlighting, notes etc
2. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in EndNote simultaneously.
Personal Information Manager (PIM)
Compatible with Microsoft Office
Comments about EndNote as a Alternative to Zotero
Most users think EndNote is a great Zotero alternative.
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 comment•
6

Guest
this is the program that the journals ask to make references using it
Positive comment•
0
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.
Suggest and vote on features
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.
ReadCube Papers
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Research Manager
Mac
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Microsoft Edge
Google Chrome
Safari
Firefox
41 ReadCube Papers alternatives
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
ReadCube Papers 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.
Citations
Book Manager
Integrated Search
Paperpile
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Research Manager
Document Manager
Mac
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Google Chrome
Microsoft Office Word
Google Drive
Google Drive - Docs
Google Scholar
39 Paperpile alternatives
Organize your research papers in a Gmail-like web app, sync your PDFs to Google Drive and cite your references in Google Docs.
Suggest and vote on features
Paperpile Features
Sync with Google Drive
Comments about Paperpile as a Alternative to Zotero
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
It is an amazing software and has many great features when compared to Zotero
Positive comment•
0
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.
Suggest and vote on features
MyBib Features
Citations
Data export/import
Bibliography generator
Export citation
Citation detection
Importing from webpages