Bibliographic Management Tools: RefWorks, Mendeley and EndNote
Feature
RefWorks (ProQuest, LLC)
Mendeley (Elsevier)
EndNote Desktop (Thomson
EndNote Online
Best Use
Long-Term storage and management of
many sources.
Sophisticated Management of Sources.
Can work on references without
Internet connection.
Best Features
Ease of sharing and collaboration.
Review and management of large
numbers of sources.
Free perpetual access for Alumni.
Most number of reference fields, e.g.
author, year, article title, to use for a
particular reference type.
Most number of import filters for online
databases.
Have to import references and upload
PDF in retrospect (RefWorks Flow an
alternative to traditional RefWorks
account).
Works best with traditional resources,
e.g. books.
Needs Internet to import references.
Management of large numbers of
PDFs.
Can work on references without
Internet connection.
Free & Lifetime (Elsevier is
developing an institutional product
similar to RefWorks) User-friendly
design
Review and management of PDFs
Ease of adding sources Recognized
by Mendeley
Dropbox compatible.
Good bibliographic
management tool for
users of especially Web
of Science.
Free & Lifetime
Most number of
reference types, e.g.
books, reports, journals
Often unable to recognize sources
that are not PDFs (e.g., books)
which requires editing of reference
elements in retrospect.
Least number of import filters for
online databases, however users are
encouraged to use the Internet
plug-in.
Desktop-based.
Complicated to import references.
Works best with traditional resources,
e.g. books.
Disadvantages
Reuters)
Customization
Review and management of large
numbers of sources
Most number of reference types, e.g.
books, reports, journals
(Thomson Reuters)
Storage capacity
(Attachments)
Search full-text of
PDF attachments
Store other file
types?
Share references
Citation Styles
Yes, (Limited to 20 MB per attachment)
Yes, can annotate
Unlimited
Limited to 21
bibliographic output
styles.
Limited to 9 citations
one can import from an
online database.
Limited to 5 online
resources one can search
from ‘within’ Endnote.
Needs Internet to import
references.
2 GB
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
3000+ RefWorks citation styles
Yes
Over 6,000 bibliographic styles
Yes
20 bibliographic output
styles
Check duplicates
Harvard UCT
Yes
Yes
Yes
6652 citation styles which are
fetched from the CSL (Citation
Style Language) repository
No
No (Plans to create output style via
?
No
No
No
compatible?
Import from
online databases
Yes, 300+ databases with import filters
available at:
http://www.refworks.com/
refworks2/help/
Exporting_from_Data_Services
_and_Importing_into_RefWorks.htm
CSL)
Yes, with Mendeley import
browser plugin.
Some editing may be required at
the plugin is less compatible with
traditional resources.
Yes, specific databases
Yes, specific databases
Number of
references
Number of
references one can
send from online
databases
Import citations
from web sites
Feature
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
50,000
1000 (Can Email a link to download
exported results; up to 25000)
?
500+
9
Yes, with RefGrab-it plugin
Yes, with Mendeley import
browser plugin
Mendeley (Elsevier)
No
Yes, with bookmarks
EndNote Desktop (Thomson Reuters)
Access
UCT Library website to authenticate
account
Web-based
WWW & downloaded software
Desktop
Web and Desktop-based. Desktop
version can sync with Web
account
No
Desktop Software. Can transfer ‘library’
to Web version
EndNote Online
(Thomson Reuters)
WWW & downloaded
software
Web-based
No
Yes
No (Sync database to allow for offline
use)
No
No
Yes
Yes (Cannot be used with Endnote on
the same computer)
MS Word (Write n Cite), Open Office,
Latex .bib file exports, OnlineCite View
Option
Windows & Mac compliant, Mobileoptimized sites that work with any phone
with access to the Internet.
Yes (Can be used with Endnote or
RefWorks on the same computer)
MS Word (Mendeley Cite-OMatic), Open Office, Latex
Yes (Cannot be used with RefWorks on
the same computer)
MS Word (Cite While you Write), Open
Office
Yes (Cannot be used
with RefWorks on the
same computer) (Cite
While you Write)
Windows & Mac compliant,
Mobile App for iPads or iPhones
Windows & Mac compliant
Free to UCT students/staff & Alumni
Free (Web version)
Institutional Pilot Study under way
Must purchase (±$300)
Windows & Mac
compliant, Mobileoptimized sites work
with phones with access
to the Internet
Free
Web-based vs.
Desktop Format
Requires Internet
to Add or Import
References?
Requires Internet
to Format a
paper?
Word processing
Windows, Mac,
Mobile devices
Cost
RefWorks (ProQuest, LLC)
Yes
Back up
Storage on ProQuest Server
Local User
Support
Yes
at Elsevier.
Automatic back up desktop, web
and mobile
Yes
Local PC?
No
Adapted by UCT Libraries on 12 May 2014, from the following sources: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/library/research/citation-tools/features.cfm /
http://guides.lib.washington.edu/content.php?pid=69943&sid=518591 & Refworks: Comparison & Features (Dec 2012).
Thomson Reuters Data
Center
Limited