Zotero
Reference manager that captures sources from the web, organizes them with tags and collections, and generates citations in 9,000+ styles for Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-11-07
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Open Source
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- Installation
- Clone https://github.com/zotero/zotero or deploy with Docker Compose
- Operational Setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- Where Your Data Lives
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Replaces 4 paid apps
up to $40/mo ($480/yr) in subscriptions
Zotero FAQ
Common questions
Is Zotero free and open source?+
Zotero is an open-source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on local. Reference manager that captures sources from the web, organizes them with tags and collections, and generates citations in 9,000+ styles for Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.
What paid software does Zotero replace?+
Zotero serves as a free replacement for 4 paid SaaS applications: EndNote, Mendeley, Paperpile, RefWorks, saving up to $40/month ($480/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Zotero?+
Installation: Clone https://github.com/zotero/zotero or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup notes: Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
What is the catch or trade-off with Zotero?+
Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.