Zotero

Storage & Sync

• Zotero: 300MB free cloud storage (unlimited local storage)
• Mendeley: 2GB free cloud storage

Strengths of Zotero

• Open-source with transparent development
• More flexible organization with better tagging system
• Better web capture with one-click saving from browsers
• Unlimited groups in free version
• Not owned by a commercial publisher (Mendeley is owned by Elsevier)
• Better integration with Google Docs

Strengths of Mendeley

• More robust PDF reader and annotation tools
• Academic social networking features
• Better mobile apps
• More storage in free version

Storage & Sync

• Zotero: 300MB free cloud storage (unlimited local storage)
• EndNote Online: Up to 50,000 references and 2GB attachments

Strengths of Zotero

• More intuitive interface
• Better browser integration and web capturing
• More flexible organization
• Open-source with community development
• No institutional access required

Strengths of EndNote Online Basic

• More storage for attachments
• Direct integration with Web of Science
• Compatibility with desktop EndNote
• Sometimes provided free through institutions

Storage & Sync

• Zotero: 300MB free cloud storage (unlimited local storage)
• BibTeX Local storage only unless manually set up with external services

Strengths of Zotero

• More user-friendly interface
• Built-in web capture
• Integrated PDF management
• Built-in syncing across devices

Strengths of BibTeX

• Superior LaTeX integration
• Highly customizable through plain text format
• Better for version control with Git
• Lightweight performance

• Balanced approach: Combines ease of use with powerful features
• Community-driven: Large user community and active development
• Vendor-neutral: Not tied to any commercial publisher or platform
• Cross-platform: Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Extensibility: Many plugins available to extend functionality
• Ethical considerations: Commitment to open access and academic freedom

• If you need robust PDF annotation (Mendeley might be better)
• If you require more than 300MB of synced storage without paying
• If you primarily use LaTeX and prefer a BibTeX-native workflow
• If you need advanced academic networking features