When to Cite Sources
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Why use a citation management tool?
Citation managers make it easy to
- Organize and store sources for easy access anywhere
- Create bibliographies, reference lists and add in-text citations to your documents in many different styles
- Collaborate and share sources with other researchers, faculty and students
Choose the citation manager that's right for you
Compare citation managers and choose the tool that's best for you.
| Feature | Zotero | Mendeley | *EndNote Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free basic account. Cost for additional storage. | Free basic account. Cost for additional storage. | Free basic account. |
| Website | Zotero | Mendeley | EndNote Online |
| Support | Zotero Documentation | Mendeley Support | EndNote Support |
| Web Based? | Yes. *N.B. Zotero for Firefox no longer available. Now a Standalone with connectors for Firefox, Chrome & Safari (with Zotero 5.0 upgrade). | Not primarily, but syncs with an online account & a web import button. |
Yes. *N.B. Formerly known as EndNote Web. Web Capture bookmarklet for most browsers |
| Can I work on multiple computers? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can I work without an internet connection? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Can I work on a group project or share citations? | Yes | Yes (up to 3 collaborators) | Yes |
| Word-processor compatibility |
Open/Libre Office plugin (Win/Mac/Linux) |
MS Word plugin (Win/Mac) Open/Libre Office plugin (Win/Mac/Linux) |
MS Word Plugin |
| Import from databases? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Import from web pages? | Yes | Yes (Bookmarklet for limited number of sites) | Yes (Web capture tool) |
| Import PDF metadata? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Storage capacity | 300 MB | 5GB | 2GB |
| Attach files (i.e. PDFs) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Create a bibliography | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Citation Styles | 8100+ (selected default styles installed, more styles can be found in the Zotero Style Repository) | 7000+ (selected default styles installed, more styles can be found at CitationStyles.org) | 3400+ |
| Insider tip | Known accessibility issues for screen reader users. | Doesn't import correctly from EBSCO CINAHL or APA PsycNET. | Steeper learning curve for importing from databases. |
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