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Managing Your References: Tips for Choosing

How do I choose?

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help you choose a reference manager.  Compare answers for Endnote, Mendeley and Zotero:

EndNote Mendeley Zotero
What support can I get? Ongoing support is available through Endnote.com from Clarivate Analytics. ITS can troubleshoot many technical problems. The Library provides online video tutorials and guides. Mendeley provides support through online guides and video tutorials. Zotero provides support through online guides and video tutorials.
How do I get it? Already available on the Student Desktop. Free on application: Create an account online and download a copy. Create an account online and download a copy.
How much does it cost?

Students: Free on student virtual desktop, free for personal licence. Staff: Free to install on any University-owned computer, free for personal device.

Free. Free.
What citation styles does it have? 6000+ styles including all main styles. 2000+ styles including all main styles. 2000+ styles including all main styles.
How many references can I have? Unlimited. Unlimited references up to 100 Gb of personal and shared storage. Unlimited to the 100 Mb limit.
How much storage space do I get? Limited only by the memory space you choose to commit to it. Up to 100 Gb of personal and shared storage. 300 Mb free online, unlimited space on the desktop version.
Does it integrate with Microsoft Word? Yes. Yes. Yes.
Will it work on my Mac OS X? Yes. Yes. Yes.
Can it manage abbreviated journal names? Automatic substitution with Journal Terms List. Must activate/install this list before previewing a reference. Must edit abbreviations manually. Must edit abbreviations manually.
Can I access my library from a mobile device?

Yes for Endnote Basic.

iPad app available for Endnote.

Apps for both Android and iPad available. Apps for both Android and iPad available.
Does it support collaboration? Yes but with limits. Yes. Unlimited groups with up to 100 collaborators Yes.
Can I work offline? Yes. Yes. Yes.

 

 

Comparison Sites

There are a number of websites that provide comparisons of reference management programs.  Below are some we recommend:

Official Product FAQ's

Is your question about a product not answered in the table to the left? Need more detail? Try these instead: