EndNote and Zotero, one of its free alternatives, side by side.
Reference manager for collecting sources, formatting citations in Word and Google Docs and sharing libraries, sold as a one-time license.
Best for free, open-source reference management
| Fact | EndNote | Zotero |
|---|---|---|
| License | License: Paid | License: Open sourceAGPL-3.0-only |
| Maintenance | Status: Verified | Status: Unknown |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | No | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Works offline | Yes | Yes |
| No account needed | No | Yes |
| Parity with EndNote | The reference | 79% |
License classes: Paid and Open source. Status rules: Active means a commit in the last 90 days. See the methodology.
How Zotero covers what people use EndNote for.
| Feature | Zotero |
|---|---|
| Library | |
| Reference library with attached PDFs | Yes |
| Writing | |
| Cite While You Write in Word | YesNote 1Plug-ins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs |
| Thousands of output styles | YesNote 2Citation Style Language styles |
| Import | |
| Search online databases from the app | PartialNote 3Browser connector saves from sites; no built-in database search |
| PDFs | |
| PDF reading and annotation | YesNote 4Built-in PDF reader with annotations |
| Collaboration | |
| Shared libraries | YesNote 5Group libraries; free storage is 300 MB |
| AI | |
| AI research assistance | No |
| Parity score | 79% |
| Format | EndNote | Zotero |
|---|---|---|
| .enl | Opens and savesFull fidelity | NoNote 1Cannot open .enl files; export from EndNote as RIS or XML |
| .enlx | Opens and savesFull fidelity | NoNote 2Cannot open .enlx files; export from EndNote as RIS or XML |
| .ris | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
| .bib | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesNote 3BibTeX import and export; citation keys may need the Better BibTeX plug-inFull fidelity |