Citation managers -- also known as "bibliographic management software" -- are programs that store and format scholarly references and citations. They can be used to keep track of books, articles, websites, and other sources of information; for formatting citations properly using a variety of citation styles; for sharing research; and sometimes even offer outlining, notetaking, or even paper formatting services.
Most citation managers will help you to do the following:
There are many different citation managers out there. Some are free and some have a cost attached to them. Below are a few of the options that CGI students, faculty, and staff have found useful.
Important: The APA has updated to the 7th edition. Each citation manager will convert to APA 7 on its own schedule. Be sure to check which edition the service is formatting citations in.
| Zotero | Mendeley | EndNote Basic | Easybib Pro | PERRLA | |
| Website | http://www.zotero.com | http://www.mendeley.com | http://endnote.com | http://www.easybib.com/ | https://www.perrla.com/ |
| Cost | Free for basic account; some cost for more online storage space | Free for basic account; some cost for more online storage space | The basic version is free; there is a paid subscription option. | $9.99 per month for the "Pro" plan. A free version is available that only handles MLA citations. | $59 per year |
| Access Options |
Browser plugin Desktop Utility Word integration |
Mobile app Browser plugin Desktop Utility Word integration |
Mobile app Browser plugin Word integration |
Mobile-friendly (responsive; works across all devices) Chrome extension Google Docs integration |
Online version and Word integration for Windows/Mac included with fee |
| APA Citation Formatting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Import Records from Databases | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No; it requires that you use its own citation builder. |
| Notes |
Sync your library with multiple computers Uses tags to organize/search Annotated bibliographies can be created using the "Extra" field |
Sync library with multiple computers Sync with Zotero library Can annotate/highlight PDFs |
Insert figures and charts using word processor integration | Built-in functions for notetaking or creating annotated bibliographies | A more comprehensive product than just a citation manager -- you can write your entire paper directly in PERRLA. |
| Why Choose This One? | Single-click capture works with more databases and websites than Mendeley. Uses metadata to create citations just from dragging a PDF into Zotero. Open source. | Strongest website and community platform; best if you are primarily creating citations from PDFs. | EndNote is the old man in the neighborhood. Best if you work with unusual or complex citation styles, and then those are available only through the paid version. | 30 different citation styles to choose from. Can find your source from external databases or websites, fill in the information,and automatically format the citation. | Works best if you also need help formatting an APA-style paper. |
| Research Guide | Zotero | Mendeley | EndNote Basic | -- | -- |