Citation and bibliography management tools help you collect, organize, and retrieve citations you find during your research. Many can even work with your word-processing software to help format your final document via footnotes, endnotes, in-text citations, and bibliography creation.
Tulane University Libraries provides support for:
Which tool is best for you? Use the chart below to assess your needs. For additional help choosing a tool, contact us!
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Endnote web |
Endnote Desktop |
RefWorks |
Zotero |
Mendeley **Undergoing a major update starting Sept 7** |
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PROS |
Available to anyone with a .edu email
Highly compatible with a lot of databases |
Very powerful and customizable.
Can conduct advanced searches and draft citation reports through Web of Science.
Good for systematic reviews
Can have and back-up multiple Libraries
Looks for the full-text of records
Syncs with Endnote Online
Drag and drop PDFs from computer
Has a PowerPoint plugin
Great tech-support |
Can create public links
Highly compatible with a lot of databases
Drag and drop PDFs from computer
Has a Google doc plugin
Can create subfolders |
Open Access – available to anyone
Drag and drop PDFs from computer
Good at capturing non-traditional media like photos, music score, legal documents, etc
Captures screenshots of websites
Can create or join public groups |
Open Access – available to anyone
Drag and drop PDFs from computer
Watch folders are helpful at keeping folders up-to-date
Has a Google doc plugin
Can create or join public groups
Has a scholarly networking site
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CONS |
Can only share with others who have an endnote account
Can’t drag/drop PDFs
No sub-groups
Can’t share PDFs
No Google Doc plugin
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Can only share with others who have an endnote account
Steeper learning curve |
Only online
Not compatible with Open Office/Libre |
No tech support available only knowledge base and discussion forums
No google doc plugin
Only 300MB for stored files for free. Can add space for a cost
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Can only have 2 private group of up to 3 members for free
Less storage space available for free
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Cost |
Free for Tulane users and those with a .edu email |
Free for Tulane users |
Free for Tulane users |
Free with 300 MB of back-up storage ($ for additional space) |
Free with 2GB of web space and 100 MB shared library space ($ for additional space and groups) |
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Alumni Access |
After one year, will revert to free version features |
Accessible once downloaded. May not be able to get latest version |
With an alumni account |
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Type |
Web-based |
Desktop & syncs with web-version |
Web-based |
Web-based and Desktop |
Web-based and Desktop |
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Online Storage Space |
5GB |
X |
100MB |
300 MB |
2GB free |
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Ways to share groups |
Private only. Users must have an endnote account |
Private only. Users must have an endnote account |
Public and private |
Public and private |
Public and private (One private group of 3 members free) |
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Organization tools other than folders/groups |
Folders shared by others are separated |
Smart groups, subgroups. Can share compressed libraries |
Sub folders, tagging |
Tags, smart searching |
Watch folders, favorites, tagging |
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Word/Google Docs Integration |
Works with Word, LateX, and Open Office |
Works with Word, Powerpoint, LateX, and Open Office |
Works with Word, and Google Docs |
Works with Word, Open Office, LibreOffice, LaTeX and Google Docs |
Works with Word, LibreOffice, and Open Office |
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Back-ups |
X |
Syncing with Endnote web acts as back-up. Also possible to save a copy or create a compressed file of library |
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Importing records – Plug-ins |
“Capture reference” |
“Capture reference” |
“Save to RefWorks” |
Plugin Extension |
Plugin Extension |
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Create records from PDFs (drag and drop) |
X |
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What kinds of records can you import and organize (PDFs, images, etc.)? |
Best with articles, books, and other traditional media |
Best with articles, books, and other traditional media
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Articles and books |
Books, articles, patents, legal documents, pictures, and webpages. Also stores PDFs, web screenshots, files, and images in records. |
Web-page snapshots |
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Find Full Text attachments |
X |
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X |
X |
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Annotate PDFs |
X |
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X |
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Accessible offline |
X |
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Can export citation list for offline use |
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Number of Reference Types |
50 + Customizable (ask a Librarian) |
51 predefined + Options available through Endnote Desktop |
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38 + Customizable |
20 + Customizable |
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Tech Support |
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Knowledge Base and message boards |
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