McMaster LibGuides: A Guide to Citation Management Software: Comparing Citation Managers

There are several systems that can help you manage your citations and your collection of PDFs. This table compares three of the most popular citation management tools, but if these options don't meet your needs, you can view a much larger comparison chart on Wikipedia, which includes both free and fee-based alternatives.

EndNote

Mendeley

Zotero

Developer

Clarivate

Elsevier

Roy Rosenzweig CHNM (Center for History and New Media)

How does it work?

Website, browser plug-ins and desktop application (which can be synced across devices & with website)

Website, browser extension and desktop application (which can be synced across devices & with website)

Website, browser extension and desktop application (which can be synced across devices & with website)

Cost?

No cost to current McMaster employees and students. McMaster has a site license for EndNote.
If not currently affiliated with McMaster, there is a charge for buying the desktop application.
A website only version called EndNote Basic is free to anyone.
EndNote product features are summarized in this chart.

Free
Charges for adding storage space

Free & Open Source
Charges for adding storage space

How do I get it?
Account & Installation info

Download EndNote 21 desktop from McMaster's Software Depot and sign-up for an EndNote web (or EndNote online) account (website).

Create a Mendeley account (website) and download Mendeley Reference Manager desktop

Browser Compatibility

Chrome
Firefox
Edge
Safari

Chrome
Firefox
Edge
Safari

Chrome
Firefox
Edge
Safari

Operating System (OS) Compatibility

Windows
Macintosh
Linux (website only)

Windows
Macintosh
Linux

Windows
Macintosh
Linux

Word Processor Compatibility

MS Word
Google Docs

MS Word

MS Word
Open/Libre Office
Google Docs

What citation styles are available?

7,000+ predefined citation styles

10,000+ Citation Style Language (CSL)

10,000+ Citation Style Language (CSL)

Can you cite while you write (CWYW)?
Can you create in-text citations, footnotes, and bibliographies?

Yes, with MS Word plugin (Win/Mac) or Google Docs plugin (for EndNote 21 users only)

Yes, with plugin
MS Word plugin (Win/Mac)

Yes, with plugins
MS Word plugin (Win/Mac)
LibreOffice plugin (Win/Mac/Linux)
Google Docs (when using browser connector plugin)

Does it support group work such as sharing articles and collaborative writing?

Yes
Desktop: share a library as read and write or read-only
with up to 1,000 other
users / have unlimited
number of read and
write or read-only
libraries shared to you
Website: share a group with
up to 1,000 other
EndNote web/online users
No public groups
More info about groups in EndNote - Desktop | Web (coming soon) | Online

Yes, create and own 5 private groups with a maximum of 25 members; join an unlimited number of private groups
Private groups can share references & files
More info about Mendeley private groups
No public groups. Mendeley retired this feature March 4, 2021.

Yes, unlimited groups, each with unlimited members
Private groups can share references and files (if enabled)
Public groups (closed membership) can share references and files (if enabled)
Public groups (open membership) can share references only
More info about Zotero groups

Can I link to McMaster's full-text resources from my account?
Are link resolvers supported?

Yes.
In EndNote desktop, select Edit > Preferences > Find Full Text and input McMaster's OpenURL path and Authenticate with McMaster's proxy URL
EndNote online should automatically be configured to use McMaster Libraries get it! links.

No. As of February 2016, Mendeley is no longer OpenURL compliant.
Links to publisher websites are included, but accessing McMaster's full-text resources using those links may only work on-campus.