Step 1: Go to the Zotero Download Page, and select 'Install Zotero'.
- For a Mac computer, drag the Zotero icon to the Applications folder and add it to your dock like any other program
- For a PC, run the set up program you downloaded.
- For Linux, follow this link to get more instructions.
Note: RefWorks Citation Manager supports Word 2016 and above. To use RefWorks Citation Manager Internet Explorer 11 or later must be installed (Windows) or Safari (Mac). This Add-In is offered free with your RefWorks subscription. But please be advised that can only be used if your institution currently owns a valid RefWorks subscription. If you plan on using a free APA citation tool, like the one at CitationMachine.com, the names of the authors will format properly for you. ###No authors If the source lacks an author, place the title in the first position in the reference (Section 9.12 of the Publication manual ). CiteMaker.com is the smarter citation machine and bibliography maker to format APA 7th edition citation and bibliography reference lists for academic and student assignments. This free online APA 7th edition citation maker with footnotes generator includes automatic WorldCat OCLC, google scholar, and Bibtex citation generator for distance and remote learning! With the advent of a widely available, free citation manager like Zotero, those seem like things of the past. Platform support. First, you want to know whether you’ll be able to use this. The answer is probably yes. Zotero works on Windows, Mac, almost all Linux distributions, and on the web.
Free Citation Manager Mac
Step 2: A Word Processor Plugin lets you insert citations and bibliographies directly into a word document. Go to the Word Processor Plugin Page, and choose the most recent version. To install:
- Close Word
- Click the link labeled 'Install the Word for Windows Plugin' or 'Install the Word for Mac Plugin'
- When you see the message 'Firefox prevented this site from asking you to install software on your computer' click 'Allow'
- Restart Firefox when prompted
Install Zotero Connectors:
The Zotero Connectors allow your web browser to save citations to your Zotero library automatically. Open the web browser you would like to use Zotero with, and click the Zotero Connector link for that browser to install it.
Each browser has its own version of the Zotero connector, so if you use Chrome, Safari and Firefox, you'll need to install all the connectors.
After you have installed the connector, be sure to close and restart the browser.
Finish Installing:
Be sure to create an account and once you've validated your email, Zotero will ask you to finish setting up your preferences.
Step 1: Add your username and password, then open Zotero by clicking on the Zotero icon in the browser toolbar or opening the Zotero Standalone app from your computer's dock
Step 2: Select the actions menu button (which looks like a gear), at the top of the left column and click 'preference'. Then select the 'Sync' tab.
Step 3: Then enter your username and password into the sync preferences.
Zotero will now automatically sync your saved items!
Citation Software Capabilities
Below are comparison charts to help you think through which citation management software will work best for your needs. They all have pros and cons.
Free Citation Manager Download
I Need to: | Use: | Why: |
|---|---|---|
…work from multiple computers or locations. | EndNote Online Zotero Mendeley | Can be used on its own or with EndNote desktop Zotero saves your citation library to your local computer, but syncs with multiple computers so you can work from home, work, or school. Mendeley is a program that lives on your local computer, but syncs with a web account. |
…work without an Internet connection. | Zotero Mendeley EndNote | Zotero, Mendeley and EndNote store your citation libraries locally on your computer. |
…archive web pages and import citations from sites such as Google Scholar, Amazon, Flickr, and ArtSTOR. | Zotero | Zotero allows you to easily save snapshots of web pages and annotate them within your citation library. It is a great tool for scraping citation information from web-based publications and some commercial and social networking sites. |
…work on a group project or share my citations with others. | Zotero Mendeley EndNote | Zotero - share your citations through shared folders -- you can give individuals or groups permissions to add and edit the citations in the shared folder. |
...work with unusual or complex citation styles, cite unusual document types or create my own document type | EndNote | EndNote has more citation styles than any other program, more flexibility, ability to customize styles. |
...work extensively with PDFs | Mendeley | Mendeley has better ability to extract citation information automatically from PDFs, PDF full-text search-ability, and a social networking component to see what others in your field are reading and commenting on (particularly in the sciences). |
| ...work with more than 2,000 citations for a research project like a systematic review | EndNote | EndNote has unlimited storage capability and can handle manipulating large numbers of citations with ease |
adapted from Penn State University Libraries
Citation Manager Comparison Chart
| Criteria | Zotero | Mendeley | EndNote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website | http://www.zotero.org/ | http://www.mendeley.com/ | http://endnote.com/ |
| Web based? | Yes, works with Firefox browser and can sync with online account; connectors for Chrome and Safari available | Not primarily, but can sync with an online account which is editable | No, but can transfer library to EndNote Online |
| Operating System | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows or MAC |
| Cost | Free for basic account, some cost for more online storage space | Free for basic account, some cost for more online storage space | $ 22.00 for WUSTL Students $44.00 for WUSTL Staff |
| Word-processor compatibility | MS Word, Open Office, Google Docs | MS Word, Open Office, LaTex | MS Office, Open Office, iWork Pages |
| Mobile Device Application | 3rd party iOS and Android apps, web interface | iPad, iPhone, 3rd party Android apps, web interface | iPad, web interface |
| Number of citation styles | About 16 pre-loaded, 'thousands' available for download from Zotero | Over 1180 | Top 100 downloaded, over 4000 more available |
| Number of import filters | 247 'translators;' other sources captured as web page | About 50, + COinS, + integrates with Zotero's 'translators' | 700+ |
| Import from databases | Yes | Yes | Direct export from specific databases |
| Import citation info from web pages | Yes, also archives the page and you can add annotations | Yes, with a bookmark for a limited number of sites (mostly publishers or databases) | only with EndNote Online bookmarklet |
| Storage capacity | Unlimited local storage and data syncing; 100MB free Zotero file syncing (larger syncing plans available for purchase); or can use WebDav | Unlimited local storage and data syncing; 1GB personal and 100MB shared online space (larger online storage plans available for purchase) | Unlimited local storage |
| Attach associated files (PDFs, etc.) | Yes, with option to attach automatically | Yes, and can highlight and annotate PDFs | Yes, and can highlight and annotate PDFs |
| Search full text of PDFs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duplicate detection | Yes | Limited | Yes; fully customizable |
| Create group or shared libraries | Yes | Yes, free for up to 3 group members (larger group plans available for purchase) | Yes, with up to 100 people and includes attachments and PDFs |
| Create bibliography with different styles | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic citation extraction from PDFs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other features | Sync library with multiple computers Use tags to organize/search | Sync library with multiple computers Sync with Zotero library | Insert figures and charts using word processor integration |
Free Reference Manager Software
adapted from Penn State University Libraries