Collect and annotate research, insert citations and generate bibliographies while you write.
Free local library · AGPL-3.0 · Free data sync · 300 MB hosted attachment storage
Notes, tasks & docs
JabRef
Free optionOpen sourceLocal
Organise research references, import publication details and maintain bibliographies for your writing.
What you can use it for
Organise research references, import publication details and maintain bibliographies for your writing.
- Manage portable BibTeX and biblatex libraries and organise references with groups.
- Import publication metadata using identifiers and link local research files.
Workflow coverage and comparison notes
Maintain a local research reference library and produce BibTeX/biblatex bibliographies instead of a paid EndNote desktop licence, particularly for LaTeX writing. This is a different citation workflow, not an identical EndNote Word add-in or institutional service.
Before you switch
Best suited to BibTeX/biblatex and LaTeX workflows; learning the bibliography format and checking imported metadata takes work. Do not expect EndNote’s identical Word Cite While You Write experience, AI tools or managed institutional collaboration. File storage, backups and any sync provider are yours.
Alternatives to these paid apps
Each comparison covers the workflow described above, rather than every paid feature.