| |
RefWorks |
Zotero |
Mendeley |
| Link to guides |
Proquest guides and videos |
Documentation |
Support Guides |
| Type |
Web-based |
Desktop software and browser add-on for Firefox, Chrome, and Safari (newest version includes single sign-on through zotero.org) |
Desktop software and web-based. Works with IE, Firefox, Chrome and Safari |
| Cost |
Free via Stetson. Sign up for an individual account on the RefWorks website. |
Free. Download Zotero
|
Free. Download Mendeley |
| Learning curve |
Fairly quick to learn; many online user guides and demos |
Quick to learn; simple design, many online user guides and demos |
Quick to learn. Pretty simple interface |
| Strengths? |
- Allows users to share citations
- Good for organizing citations for papers
- Web-based
- Since Stetson has a site license, there's no cost
|
- Simple download of records
- Good for managing a variety of formats, including webpages
- Offers most functionality in a free, open-source product
- Useable PDF reader
|
- Great for managing PDFs
- Has a social aspect. Can see what other users are reading and citing.
- Does an excellent job of pulling citation metadata from PDFs
- Can share citations and documents with others
|
| How does it work? |
You export references from compatible databases into RefWorks |
Zotero can tell when you are looking at an item and shows an icon for it in the Firefox/Chrome URL bar. Click the icon to add the item to your Zotero references |
- You export references from compatible databases.
- Retrieve metadata from pdfs that you uploaded directly from your hard drive.
|
| Does it have many output styles and bibliographic formats? |
Yes, many popular styles and formats |
Yes, many popular styles and formats |
Yes, many popular styles and formats |
| How simple is it to import records? |
- Simple to import records from most research databases
- Always check the citations against the article itself
|
- Very simple, as long as the resource is compatible with Zotero, but you will want to verify that the records are complete after import
- Always check the citations against the article itself
|
- Very simple using the Mendeley browser plugin. However, the import doesn't work with as many databases as other products.
- Always check the citations against the article itself
|
| Are records in your library viewable by others? |
Yes; Users can share references in library with other RefWorks users |
Yes. Users can set up individual and group profiles and share records |
- Yes. Users can set up private groups to share references.
- Users can decide whether or not to make their library viewable by others
|
| Can you export records to other citation software? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Does it work with word processing software? |
Yes. In Microsoft 365, install RefWorks add-in |
Yes. Install the Word Processor Plugin for Microsoft 365 |
Yes. In Microsoft 365, install the Mendeley Cite add-in |
| Other important features |
Since it's web-based, you're not limited to a single machine |
- If you back up records, you can sync multiple computers
- Integrated with Zotero web library
- Fastest download of records
- Saves snapshot of web pages
- Allows users to highlight text and take notes on page
- Allows users to tag records
|
Has a good PDF reader that enables highlighting and comments |
