Mendeley Reference Manager vs Zotero
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Mendeley Reference Manager
Free reference manager from Elsevier for organising papers, annotating PDFs and citing in Word.
Zotero
Free, open-source reference manager for collecting, annotating and citing research sources.
The short answer
Zotero suits researchers who want an open-source library run by a nonprofit, citation plugins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs, and mobile apps. Mendeley suits people who mainly write in Word and want more free cloud storage: 2 GB against Zotero's 300 MB. The biggest difference is ownership and openness: Zotero is AGPL-licensed, while Mendeley is a closed service run by Elsevier.
Mendeley Reference Manager or Zotero: our take
Both are free reference managers that collect papers, read and annotate PDFs, and insert citations into documents. Mendeley lets you drag in PDFs or whole folders, watch a folder for new files, and save references with its Web Importer extension. Zotero's browser connector detects papers, books and web pages as you browse and saves them with metadata in one click, and its library can be organised with collections, tags and saved searches.
The writing side is where they split most clearly. Mendeley Cite is a Microsoft Word add-in only, with no Google Docs plugin. Zotero has plugins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs and offers more than 9,000 citation styles. Zotero also has apps for iOS and Android, while Mendeley has no current mobile app for reading papers on a phone. Both run on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Storage and data ownership pull in different directions. Mendeley includes 2 GB of cloud storage free, which is enough for many students. Zotero gives 300 MB of free file storage, with paid storage such as $20/year for 2 GB, or you can sync files to your own WebDAV server instead. Zotero is open source under AGPL-3.0 and run by the nonprofit Digital Scholar; Mendeley is closed source and your library lives on Elsevier's cloud. Both support shared libraries, and Zotero's group libraries can include any number of people at no cost.
Pick Mendeley if you write in Word, want a large free storage allowance and don't mind a publisher-run service. Pick Zotero if you use Google Docs or LibreOffice, read on a phone or tablet, collaborate in larger groups, or care about open source and controlling where your files are stored.
Which should you pick?
Choose Mendeley Reference Manager if…
- Students and researchers who want a free, cloud-synced library with a Word citation add-in
- Free to use with 2 GB of cloud storage included
- Desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux plus a web library
Choose Zotero if…
- Students and academics who want a free, open-source library that works with any word processor
- You need iOS and Android, which Mendeley Reference Manager doesn't list
- Free and open source, run by a nonprofit
- Citation plugins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs
About each app
What is Mendeley Reference Manager?
Mendeley Reference Manager is a desktop and web app for building a library of research papers. You can drag in PDFs or whole folders, let a watched folder import new files automatically, or save references from the web with the Mendeley Web Importer browser extension. Papers can be sorted into collections and tags, read and highlighted in the built-in viewer, and annotated, with notes collected in a notebook. Mendeley Cite is a Microsoft Word add-in that inserts citations and builds bibliographies in thousands of styles. Groups give co-authors or lab members a shared library. The app is free with 2 GB of cloud storage, which is enough for many students; the service is run by the publisher Elsevier, and an AI research companion called LeapSpace is promoted alongside it. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, plus a web version. It replaces the older Mendeley Desktop, which is no longer the main app.
What is 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.
Side by side
| Attribute | Mendeley Reference Manager | Zotero |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Open source |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, Browser extension | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web, Browser extension |
| Best for | Students and researchers who want a free, cloud-synced library with a Word citation add-in | Students and academics who want a free, open-source library that works with any word processor |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Mendeley Reference Manager | Zotero |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 2 GB | 300 MB |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
Mendeley Reference Manager vs Zotero pricing
Platforms
| Platform | Mendeley Reference Manager | Zotero |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension |
Mendeley Reference Manager facts
5 of 5 verified- Free storage
- 2 GB
- Checked Oct 30, 2026mendeley.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Enjoy 2GB of free storage”
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Checked Oct 30, 2026mendeley.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Other Systems: Mendeley Reference Manager for Windows Mendeley Reference Manager for Linux”
- Word integration
- Mendeley Cite
- Checked Oct 30, 2026mendeley.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Write confidently with Mendeley Cite Instantly insert citations and build bibliographies in your Word document, using your chosen citation style.”
- Browser importer
- Yes
- Checked Oct 30, 2026mendeley.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Mendeley Web Importer helps you collect, save, and organize references while you research online — so your library grows as your knowledge does.”
- Shared libraries
- Yes (Groups)
- Checked Oct 30, 2026mendeley.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “With Groups, you create shared libraries”
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) .”
- 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.”
Pros and cons of Mendeley Reference Manager
- Free to use with 2 GB of cloud storage included
- Desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux plus a web library
- Watched folders and a browser importer make adding papers quick
- Mendeley Cite works in Microsoft Word only, with no Google Docs plugin
- Not open source, and your library lives on Elsevier's cloud
- No current mobile app for reading papers on a phone
Pros and cons of Zotero
- 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
- 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
Other apps to consider
PaperpileInstead of Mendeley Reference Manager
Built around Google Docs and Google Drive, with unlimited PDF storage for a modest subscription.
Mendeley Reference Manager vs Zotero: common questions
Is Mendeley Reference Manager better than Zotero?
Zotero suits researchers who want an open-source library run by a nonprofit, citation plugins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs, and mobile apps. Mendeley suits people who mainly write in Word and want more free cloud storage: 2 GB against Zotero's 300 MB. The biggest difference is ownership and openness: Zotero is AGPL-licensed, while Mendeley is a closed service run by Elsevier.
Is Mendeley Reference Manager free?
Yes, Mendeley Reference Manager is free.
Is Zotero free?
Yes. Zotero is free, open-source software.
Is Mendeley Reference Manager or Zotero open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Mendeley Reference Manager and Zotero support?
Mendeley Reference Manager: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web and Browser extension. Zotero: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web and Browser extension.