Mendeley vs Zotero

2024. Mendeley improves Search Experience



Academic Paper Management software Mendeley has released new features that will make the researcher’s life a bit easier. The updated version adds ease to your search experience and be on a first name basis with your references. Users can now search for authors by their first name in the library search. Besides, the updated Mendeley Reference Manager allows to organise your library like a pro and sort your references by file, which means you can put all references with a file attached at the top. And if you want to turn a sub-collection into a parent collection, you can simply drag a sub-collection to “Collection” and just like that it becomes a parent collection.


2024. Mendeley adds new shortcuts, Unsorted Collection



Scientific paper management software Mendeley has released new version that features few keyboard shortcuts to help users better navigate Mendeley Reference Manager. Another new feature - is Unsorted Collection. When you have a large library, it can be hard to keep track of what collection a reference belongs to and even harder to know whether a reference belongs to a collection at all. Which is why Mendeley Reference Manager has added a new smart collection that contains all references that do not belong to a user collection. Just like with the ‘All References’ smart collection, users can now drag and drop references from any folder, hard drive, or external storage into their user collections in Mendeley Reference Manager. Besides in the new version you can customise your library experience; whether you want to see as much information as possible, or you prefer a summarised view, users can now resize their table columns to their preferences.


2023. Mendeley Cite adds footnote citation styles



In the sprawling, ever-befuddling universe of academic writing, where citations are the cosmic breadcrumbs connecting intellectual musings across the ages, Mendeley Cite has always been the trusty hitchhiker’s guide to in-text citations. Now, in a stroke of bureaucratic genius surely born from the depths of a particularly scholarly hyperspace, it also supports footnote citations—a feature destined to enhance the art of citing with the elegance of a Vogon poetry recital (but far less painful). Thanks to the harmonious relationship between Mendeley Cite and the Reference Manager, the process of juggling countless references, especially during the Sisyphean task of writing a thesis, becomes marginally less absurd. To deploy the marvel of footnote citations, simply open the app, adjust the Citation Settings, and, with all the flair of flipping an improbability drive switch, select your preferred citation style. From there, either insert a cluster of references using the "insert # citations" pop-up or opt for a solo act by clicking the 'insert citation' button with an air of intergalactic purpose.


2022. Zotero 6 adds new Note Editor with annotations



The new version of reference management software Zotero 6 includes built-in PDF reader with a tabbed interface, which allows users to mark up PDFs with highlights, notes and image annotations. Additionally, users can clean up metadata for items while viewing their PDFs and add annotations to Zotero notes with automatic citations using a new, powerful note editor. Users can cite other items directly in their notes using Zotero’s familiar citation dialog and insert notes into Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs documents with active Zotero citations for automatically generating bibliographies. Finally, users can export notes to external Markdown editors with links back to Zotero items and PDFs. These new features make it easier than ever for researchers to manage their references, notes and citations all in one place.


2021. Reference Management software Mendeley mobile app for Android and iOS is retired



Mendeley developers have decided to withdraw lesser used mobile app from service to focus on those products that are used by more of the Mendeley Community. The app has been withdrawn from the App Store and Google Play. While some researchers indeed used the native Mendeley mobile apps, unfortunately overall usage figures showed that this feature does not support the majority of Mendeley users. Having discontinued the mobile app the developers will now focus on the solutions that the majority of the suite users value most. This includes making improvements to Mendeley Reference Manager, Mendeley Cite and Mendeley Web Importer. In order to continue the use of their Mendeley library, app users are advised to sync their library to the cloud in advance. Users can then access their library on Mendeley Reference Manager web or desktop application.


2020. Mendeley Web Library is changing to the new Mendeley Reference Manager



Mendeley's Web Libraries have now been migrated to the new Mendeley Reference Manager, which provides a cloud-based library that automatically syncs your changes, making them instantly accessible across devices, locations and Mendeley tools like the desktop app and Mendeley Cite. The appearance and functionality of Mendeley Reference Manager online and desktop versions are identical, enabling you to switch between the two versions seamlessly. Moreover, offline mode allows you to continue working regardless of your location, with the assurance that changes to your library will auto-sync when you are back online. The new Mendeley Reference Manager also includes additional features and functionality that make managing references even easier, including the Mendeley Notebook, which helps you organize your notes and highlights from multiple PDFs in one place. Additionally, the desktop version of the new Mendeley Reference Manager is available for download.


2020. Mendeley has introduced new Web Importer



Academic Paper Management software Mendeley has released an updated version of its Web Importer tool. The refreshed design and new features are now available for both Google Chrome and Firefox. The latest version has been rebuilt to ensure reliable referencing and uploading to users' Mendeley library. Additionally, users can continue with other tasks while PDF uploads are in progress. Even if the window is closed or tabs are switched, the tool can continue uploading PDFs. Users can now preview the full text of a PDF before adding it to their Mendeley library by selecting 'View PDF' in the interface. This opens the PDF within Elsevier's enhanced PDF reader, which offers navigational shortcuts and clickable elements to the full text. The new interface of Mendeley Web Importer is more user-friendly, making it easier to add references directly to your collections and groups in the Mendeley library. The tool now also remembers your last selected collection, which saves you time.


2019. Zotero allows to move citations between Google Docs, Word, and LibreOffice



Zotero, an academic paper management software, is introducing a new feature that allows users to transfer documents between Google Docs and Word or LibreOffice while maintaining their active Zotero citations. This feature enables users to start writing a document collaboratively in Google Docs and later move it to Word or LibreOffice for final editing, or vice versa. To use this feature, Zotero converts the citations and bibliography into a temporary format that ensures a safe transfer between word processors. To begin, users need to select "Switch to a Different Word Processor..." from the plugin's Document Preferences window, save the converted file, open the file in the other word processor and click Refresh to continue using it. Google Docs users can also opt for "Switch Word Processors..." from the Zotero menu.


2019. Mendeley has added note-taking feature



Mendeley has recently introduced a new feature called Mendeley Notebook, which serves as a note-taking tool. This tool provides a working space where users can keep their thoughts in one place, making it easy to collect highlights from multiple PDFs and add their own comments. You can add highlights from as many PDFs as you want to your Notebook. Researchers have expressed their desire to have highlights and annotations associated with the PDF, but since they often read multiple PDFs simultaneously, they wanted a way to consolidate their notes in one place. With Mendeley Notebook, users can now achieve this goal.


2018. Zotero allows to scan books from iPhone or iPad



Zotero offers a convenient way to collect online research materials with a single click, but what about adding physical books to your library? If you have an iOS 12 device, you can now scan a book's barcode to add it to Zotero. This feature is made possible through the Shortcuts functionality in iOS 12, which allows you to chain together actions to perform tasks. To use this feature, you'll need to install Apple's Shortcuts app if you haven't already. Then, simply install the Scan Book to Zotero shortcut by clicking on the link below from your iPhone or iPad and selecting "Open in Shortcuts". If you have an iPhone with 3D Touch, you can also access the shortcut by hard-pressing the Shortcuts app icon and selecting "Scan Book to Zotero" from the widget popup.


2018. Zotero allows to create citations on Google Docs



Free Reference Management program Zotero implemented integration with Google Docs (in addition to Microsoft Word and LibreOffice). This integration allows users to search for items in their Zotero library, add page numbers and other details and insert citations into their Google Docs. A formatted bibliography can be inserted with a single click based on the citations in the document. The software supports complex style requirements and name disambiguation and updates citations and bibliographies automatically as changes are made to library items. Additionally, the software can reformat the entire document in any of the over 9,000 citation styles that Zotero supports. The Google Docs support is part of the Zotero Connector for Chrome and Firefox, which adds a new Zotero menu to the Google Docs interface.


2018. Zotero improves PDF retrieval with Unpaywall integration



Open-source Reference Management software Zotero has introduced an enhanced feature that streamlines the process of accessing PDFs for items in your Zotero library. While Zotero has always been able to download PDFs as you save items from the web, many of these PDFs are often behind publisher paywalls, making them inaccessible to many users. To address this, Zotero has integrated with Unpaywall, a database of legal, full-text articles available from publishers and repositories worldwide. If Zotero cannot find or access a PDF from a webpage where an item is saved, it will automatically search for an open-access PDF using data from Unpaywall. The same process is followed when using “Add Item by Identifier” to create a new item and a new “Find Available PDF” option in the item context menu is available to retrieve PDFs for existing items in your library. Moreover, Zotero can now take better advantage of PDFs available through institutional subscriptions. When using “Add Item by Identifier” or “Find Available PDF”, Zotero will first attempt to find a PDF to download associated with the item’s DOI or URL before looking for open access copies.


2018. ZoteroBib allows to create perfect bibliographies in minutes



Zotero has launched ZoteroBib, a complimentary service that enables users to quickly generate accurate bibliographies. Utilizing the same technology as Zotero, ZoteroBib lets users easily add items from various web sources and produce bibliographies in over 9,000 citation styles, leveraging Zotero's unparalleled metadata extraction capabilities. There is no need to download software or create an account and it works on all devices, including tablets and smartphones. The bibliography is stored in the user's browser's local storage unless a version is created to share or use elsewhere, giving the user full control of their data. ZoteroBib is free of charge and there are no ads or costs for advanced citation styles or full functionality. Since the same team that developed Zotero built ZoteroBib and it is backed by the open-source community, users can rely on the same level of expertise and attention to detail that Zotero users depend on when creating dissertations and scholarly papers.


2018. Zotero adds new PDF features, faster citing in large documents



Scientific paper management software Zotero brings several notable enhancements to PDF-related workflows, as well as a new citing mode that can significantly accelerate the use of the word processor plugin in sizable documents, along with various other tweaks and bug fixes. In particular, Zotero 5.0.36 features a brand-new PDF recognizer that employs a web service designed by Zotero, which doesn't depend on Google Scholar and enables recognition of large quantities of PDFs without any rate restrictions. Upon receiving the first several pages of a PDF, the Zotero client sends them to the web service, which utilizes various extraction algorithms and metadata obtained from CrossRef, coupled with DOI and ISBN searches from the client, to construct a parent item for the PDF. The Zotero lookup service doesn't mandate a Zotero account and doesn't track any data about searches' outcomes or contents. Moreover, when metadata is retrieved for a PDF or PDFs are added to existing Zotero items, Zotero automatically renames the file based on the parent metadata, regardless of whether the files are stored or linked. Future Zotero releases will furnish more options to customize the naming format.


2017. Zotero introduced single standalone application



Zotero has released the latest major version of its open-source reference management software, Zotero 5.0, which includes numerous new features and improvements to enhance its responsiveness and stability. With the release of Zotero 5.0, users of all browsers can now access a single standalone application, replacing the previous separate versions for Firefox and Standalone. The new "My Publications" feature enables users to easily create a list of their own works, including articles, papers and books and share them on their profile page on zotero.org. Additionally, users can now subscribe to RSS or Atom feeds from academic journals and the new syncing architecture allows them to choose which libraries to sync from the Sync pane in the preferences. Other new features include improvements to the note editor and UI responsiveness, as well as the ability to install citation styles directly.


2017. Mendeley adds sweet citation management on Windows



The new tool Mendeley Cite allows users to cite references and create a bibliography using Office 365. This feature was previously available with Mendeley's citation plugin, but now it can be accessed through Office 365. Unlike the previous version, you don't need to use Mendeley Desktop to use Mendeley Cite. Instead, the add-in is loaded with your cloud library, allowing you to seamlessly switch between applications while citing references. Although Microsoft Word has a limited number of citation styles, users can install additional styles from BibWord. However, it's important to note that Word's citation system is not the same as the one used by Mendeley Desktop. If both systems are used in the same document, it will result in two sets of citations and two bibliographies. This feature is only available on Windows for Word 2010 and above.


2016. Mendeley enables colored annotations



Mendeley now allows users to annotate PDF articles in eight different colors, enabling the creation of a rainbow of annotations and sticky notes. In addition to this feature, other changes have been made to the reference manager to enhance the annotation experience. Menus will appear when texts or annotations are selected, making the process quicker and more intuitive. Furthermore, organizing documents in the Web Library has become easier with the ability to Drag 'n' Drop documents and folders into other folders. These features are now available in the latest version of Mendeley (iOS 2.90, Desktop 1.16, Android 1.8.2). If you can't see these features, ensure that you have restarted the application while connected to the internet and that you have the latest version of Mendeley.


2015. Mendeley Data allows to get DOI online



There is a growing trend in the scientific community to utilize research data more effectively. With funding bodies and governments now requiring that all research outcomes be made publicly available, researchers are seeking ways to publish, share and provide access to their data to other researchers. The new online Mendeley Data repository has been developed to support this movement. It offers a platform where researchers can upload their raw research data and assign it a unique identifier (a versioned DOI), thus making the research citable. This feature is explained in more detail in the Mendeley Data FAQs. In addition, the platform offers the ability to link research datasets to partnering journal websites such as ScienceDirect, Cellpress and others to come, which allows readers to easily navigate from a research article to the underlying data, while the dataset links back to the article.


2015. Mendeley is launching Recently Read feature



Mendeley has introduced a new feature called "Recently Read" to enhance the user experience across devices. This feature automatically saves the reading position for the 20 most recently read PDFs, allowing users to seamlessly continue reading on any device. For instance, if a user starts reading an article on their desktop computer, they can continue reading it on their tablet or phone without losing their place. This feature is available for Mendeley Desktop (v1.14) on Win/Mac/Linux and iOS (v2.6). The company plans to implement this feature on Mendeley for Android and Web Library in the near future. In addition to Recently Read, the latest update also includes high-quality DOI lookups and full-screen tabs on MacOS.


2015. Zotero has streamlined saving, easier bibliography language selection



Reference Management software for Mac and PC Zotero has released a new version, bringing with it a number of new features and improvements. One major new feature is the improved ability to save items from webpages, thanks to Zotero's site translators which work with most library catalogs, popular websites such as Amazon and the New York Times and many gated databases. Additionally, Zotero now offers the ability to generate citations in dozens of different languages and users can now set the bibliography language at the same time they choose a citation style, whether they're using Quick Copy, Create Bibliography from Selected Items, or the word processor plugins. Furthermore, Zotero now offers an “Export Library…” option for group libraries, which makes it easy to export the full collection hierarchy. Lastly, if you encounter many sync conflicts, you can now choose to resolve all conflicts with changes from one side or the other.