Zotero vs Mendeley
Last verified · repository stats fetched 19 Oct 2026
Both collect references and PDFs, organise them and insert citations into Word. Zotero is open source and run by a non-profit, with desktop apps for Mac, Windows and Linux plus iOS and Android. Mendeley Reference Manager is a free web and desktop app with paid plans that add storage and AI features.
| Zotero | Mendeley | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | AGPL-3.0 Open source (copyleft) | Proprietary Freemium or paid |
| Source code | GitHub | Not open source |
| ★ Stars | 15.7k 15,663 | n/a |
| Last commit | 15 Oct 2026 | n/a |
| Runs on | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Web |
| Opens | RIS, BibTeX, BibLaTeX, MODS, CSL JSON, EndNote XML, Citavi XML, Zotero RDF, Mendeley (online import) EndNote .enl libraries can't be opened directly: export them as EndNote XML first. | Not documented |
| Price | Free; storage from $20/year (2 GB) zotero.org, checked 21 Oct 2026 | Free with 2 GB; paid from $4.99/month (5 GB) mendeley.com, checked 21 Oct 2026 |
| Free alternative to | EndNote, Mendeley | — |
Key differences
- Zotero is open source and developed by an independent non-profit, the Corporation for Digital Scholarship. (zotero.org · zotero.org/storage)
- Zotero gives 300 MB of free file storage; paid storage is $20 a year for 2 GB, $60 for 6 GB and $120 for unlimited. (zotero.org/storage)
- Mendeley gives 2 GB of free storage. Paid plans start at $4.99 a month (or $55 a year) with 5 GB, going up to unlimited storage at $14.99 a month. (mendeley.com · mendeley.com/pricing)
- Zotero cites inside Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs, with over 9,000 citation styles. Mendeley Cite inserts references and bibliographies into Microsoft Word. (zotero.org · static.mendeley.com/md-stitch/releases/live/mendeley-reference-manager-introduction.89035544.html)
- Mendeley's paid plans add AI tools such as an unlimited Reading Assistant and, on higher tiers, Ask My Library. (mendeley.com/pricing)
- Zotero libraries can be shared with as many people as you like at no cost, and group file storage draws on the group owner's storage. (zotero.org · zotero.org/storage)
Which should you pick?
- Zotero: Pick Zotero if you want an open-source tool from a non-profit, use LibreOffice or Google Docs as well as Word, or need Linux or mobile apps.
- Mendeley: Pick Mendeley if you mostly work in Word, want 2 GB of free PDF storage rather than 300 MB, or want its built-in AI reading tools.
This verdict is based on the documented facts above, not on hands-on testing.
Moving your data
Moving from Mendeley to Zotero: Zotero's documentation describes importing a Mendeley library online, which brings across references, collections and files. Keep your Mendeley account until you've checked the result.
Sources: zotero.org/support/kb/mendeley_import.
Read more
Other comparisons
Sources: zotero.org · zotero.org/storage · mendeley.com · mendeley.com/pricing · static.mendeley.com/md-stitch/releases/live/mendeley-reference-manager-introduction.89035544.html · zotero.org/support/kb/mendeley_import · zotero.org/support/kb/importing_standardized_formats · zotero.org/support/kb/importing_records_from_endnote. Stars and last-commit dates come from each project's public repository. “Not available” or “Not documented” means we found no official source for it, not that the feature is missing.