Zotero vs Mendeley
Both Zotero and Mendeley are reference managers that collect citations, store PDFs, organise libraries and insert citations into documents. They differ in ownership, features, storage and collaboration, and these details change, so check each tool's current documentation before you commit.
How to compare
| Question | What to check |
|---|---|
| Cost and storage | Free tier limits, paid storage, institutional access |
| Openness and ownership | Open-source versus company-owned; data export options |
| Citation styles | Number of styles and ease of editing styles |
| Word processor support | Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs integration |
| Browser capture | Quality of the web connector for PubMed and publishers |
| Collaboration | Shared libraries and groups |
| PDF handling | Reading, annotation and sync |
| De-duplication | Tools for merging duplicates |
| Longevity | Easy export to standard formats such as RIS or BibTeX |
Practical advice
- Choose one for each project and use it consistently.
- Check what your institution or collaborators use, since shared libraries make collaboration easier.
- Test with 20 references from your topic.
- Make sure you can export your library in a standard format so that you can move later.
- Back up regardless of the tool.
Illustrative example
Invented for teaching. A team of four needs a shared reference library for a review. They test both tools, find that their institution's library supports one for training and that shared-library features meet their needs, and choose it. They agree to export a backup file each month.
When switching is worth it
Switch only if the current tool blocks something you need, such as shared libraries for a team or a style your journal requires. Export your library to a standard format, import it into the new tool in a test project, and check a sample of records, notes and PDF links. Keep the old library until you have finished the manuscript, so that you can recover any items that did not transfer.
Common pitfalls
- Switching tools mid-project without a tested export.
- Assuming that a tool's free features will stay the same.
Key takeaways
- Both do the core job; choose on collaboration, support and export options.
- Test and back up.
References and further reading
Related reading
This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.