What is Zotero?
Zotero is a reference manager built for students, academics and anyone who writes with sources. A browser connector lets you save articles, books, web pages and PDFs with one click, and Zotero pulls in the citation details automatically. Everything lands in a searchable library you can sort into collections and tag.
When you write, the Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs plugins insert citations and build a bibliography in thousands of citation styles such as APA, MLA and Chicago. Zotero also has a built-in PDF reader for highlights and notes, group libraries for shared projects, and apps for desktop, iPhone, iPad and Android. It is free and open source, made by a non-profit.
Main Features
- One-click saving from the browser with automatic metadata
- Citations and bibliographies in thousands of styles
- Plugins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs
- Built-in PDF reader with highlights and notes
- Group libraries for sharing research
- Sync across desktop and mobile apps
How to Get Started with Zotero
- Download Zotero for your computer from zotero.org
- Install the Zotero Connector for your browser
- Click the connector on an article or book page to save it
- Use the word processor plugin to add citations and a bibliography
Zotero Pricing
Zotero is free and open source, and includes 300 MB of free cloud storage for syncing files. Extra storage costs $20 a year for 2 GB, $60 a year for 6 GB or $120 a year for unlimited space.
Who Should Use It?
- University students writing essays and theses
- Academic researchers and lecturers
- Librarians
- Journalists and writers who track sources
- Research teams sharing reading lists
Zotero Alternatives
- Semantic Scholar: Find and read academic papers for free
- ResearchRabbit: Discover related papers and map research topics
- Elicit: Search and summarise research papers with AI
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zotero free?
Yes. The Zotero software is free and open source. Only extra cloud storage for files beyond the free 300 MB is paid, from $20 a year.
Does Zotero work with Microsoft Word and Google Docs?
Yes. Zotero has plugins for Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs that insert citations and build bibliographies.
Can I use Zotero on my phone?
Yes. Zotero has apps for iPhone, iPad and Android that sync with your library.