Citation Managers, also called Reference Management tools, enable users to create, capture, and store references and then use them in bibliographies, footnotes, endnotes, and other output. Not only are they enormous time-savers, they also enable researchers to create their own research database, which can be used for multiple purposes.
A range of citation managers and related tools are available. Three of the tools most widely-used at Tufts University are compared below (you can apply this "deal breaker" comparison criteria to other tools). Contact a librarian for additional information about these tools in general or for more information about a particular product.
| EndNote Desktop | EndNote Web (Online) | Zotero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access/Cost | Free to Tufts affiliates. Requires TTS install. | Basic version is free. Premium requires EndNote Desktop or access via Tufts Web of Science subscription. | Free from Zotero.org. Unlimited storage with Tufts login. |
| Configuration Options | Macintosh, Windows, and mainstream web browsers. | Mainstream web browsers. | Macintosh, Windows, and Linux with Firefox, Chrome and Safari. |
| Storage Limit for Citations and Attachments | Limited by hard drive space. | Depends on version. | Ceiling for free account with option to purchase additional storage. |
| Links to PDFs and other file formats | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Microsoft Word Integration | Yes via plug-in. | Yes via plug-in. | Yes via plug-in. |
| Sharing References | Yes in most recent versions. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Access Dependent on Tufts | No. | Yes if set up via Tufts Web of Science. | No. |
| Noteworthy Features | Superior integration with wordprocessors and PDFs and high degree of customizability. | Syncing with EndNote Desktop and EndNote iPad, integration with Web of Science. | Captures metadata and images from webpages; able to grab multiple citations from Google Scholar. |