Citation Tools
Citation managers can help you gather, organize, and analyze sources. There are many citation managers to choose from. Below is a comparison of two FREE popular citation tools used by university students, researchers, and writers around the world.
Zotero is a very popular option. For resources on Zotero, see:
- SBTS’s guide to using Zotero
- SBTS’s Zotero tutorial video
- Other Zotero tutorial videos (a collection of community produced videos)
It should also be noted that it is highly recommended that you master Turabian/Chicago citations before using a software, or that you at the very least thoroughly verify the citations produced by the software since it is not perfect and errors do still occur. Nonetheless, if you have a grasp of how to cite properly, a citation management software can save you tons of time and effort.
Breakdown and Comparison of Zotero and Mendeley
| Feature | Zotero | Mendeley |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free Basic Account. Cost for additional storage. | Free Basic Account. Cost for additional storage. |
| Website | Zotero | Mendeley |
| Support | Zotero Documentation | Mendeley Support |
| Web based? | Yes, works with Firefox browser and can sync with online account; connectors for Chrome and Safari available | Not primarily. But syncs with an online account that you can edit. |
| Can I work on Multiple computers? | Yes | Yes |
| Can I work without an internet connection? | Yes | Yes |
| Can I work on a group project or share citations? | Yes | Yes (up to 3 collaborators) |
| Word-processor compatibility | MS Word plugin (Win/Mac) | MS Word plugin (Win/Mac) |
| Open/Libre Office plugin (Win/Mac/Linux) | Open/Libre Office plugin | |
| Google docs (when using Firefox plugin) | (Win/Mac/Linux) | |
| Import from databases | Yes | Yes |
| Import from web pages | Yes | Yes (with a bookmark for a limited number of sites) |
| Import PDF metadata | Yes | Yes |
| Storage capacity | Unlimited on desktop (restricted by local storage capacity); 300MB web attachment storage. Low cost to upgrade storage, see Zotero storage plans. |
Unlimited on desktop (restricted by local storage capacity); 2GB web attachment storage |
| Attach files (i.e. PDFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Create a bibliography | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Citation Styles | 7000+ (selected default styles installed, more styles can be found in the Zotero Style Repository) | 7000+ (selected default styles installed, more styles can be found at CitationStyles.org) |
| Other Information | Can only edit citations through Citation Style Editor (requires knowledge of CSL)
Recommended to use “Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition (full note, short title subsequent)” style |