Zotero

Free, open-source reference manager for collecting, annotating and citing research sources.

Verified facts: 6 of 6
Alternatives ranked: 2
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Zotero

Zotero is a free reference manager built by Digital Scholar, a nonprofit organisation. A browser connector detects papers, books, articles and web pages as you browse and saves them, with metadata, to your library in one click. Items can be grouped into collections, tagged and pulled into saved searches, and the built-in PDF reader handles highlights and notes. Its word processor plugins insert citations and bibliographies in Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs, with more than 9,000 citation styles available. Syncing is optional: bibliographic data syncs free, and file storage comes with 300 MB free, with paid storage plans for more, or you can point it at your own WebDAV server. Group libraries can be shared with any number of people at no cost. Zotero runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with apps for iOS and Android, and the code is open source under the AGPL.

Best for: Students and academics who want a free, open-source library that works with any word processor.

What works

Free and open source, run by a nonprofit
Citation plugins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs
Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android
Unlimited group libraries at no cost

Why people leave

Only 300 MB of free file storage before paying for more
Interface feels utilitarian next to newer commercial tools
Fewer built-in AI or discovery features than Mendeley or EndNote

Top Zotero alternatives

See all 2

1
Mendeley Reference Manager
Gives 2 GB of free cloud storage, more than Zotero's free tier, with a polished desktop app.
66.5
2
Paperpile
A tidier web-based option for Google Docs writers, with unlimited PDF storage on Google Drive.
59.6

Why people left Zotero

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Reviews

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Zotero: common questions

Is Zotero free?

Yes. Zotero is free, open-source software.

Is Zotero open source?

No, Zotero is not open source.

What platforms does Zotero run on?

Zotero is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web and Browser extension.

What are the best alternatives to Zotero?

The highest-ranked Zotero alternatives right now are Mendeley Reference Manager and Paperpile. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 2 Zotero alternatives

Zotero facts

6 of 6 verified

Price: Free; Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “Description: Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, annotate, cite, and share your research sources.”
License: AGPL-3.0; Checked Oct 29, 2026zotero.org(opens source in a new tab); “released under the GNU Affero General Public License (version 3) .”
Free storage: 300 MB; Checked Oct 29, 2026zotero.org(opens source in a new tab); “300 MB Free”
Paid storage: $20/year for 2 GB; Checked Oct 29, 2026zotero.org(opens source in a new tab); “2 GB $20/year”
Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android; Checked Oct 29, 2026zotero.org(opens source in a new tab); “Download Available for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS , and Android Just need to create a quick bibliography?”
Citation styles: 9,000+; Checked Oct 29, 2026zotero.org(opens source in a new tab); “With support for over 9,000 citation styles, you can format your work to match any style guide or publication.”