Education

Zotero

A free, open-source tool for collecting, organizing, citing, and sharing research materials.

Overview

Zotero helps users collect research from diverse sources, organize it with collections and tags, generate citations in over 9,000 styles, and collaborate with others. It supports syncing across devices and integrates with Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.

Updated Oct 27, 2026

8 things

What Zotero has

Apps

iOS (store page, opens in a new tab)
Android (store page, opens in a new tab)
Windows
macOS
Linux

For developers

Programmatic access to the product's data and features for developers. One of 13 Education tools with an API.

For teams

Shared workspaces where multiple users can collaborate on the same content. One of 4 Education tools with team accounts.

Extras

An online space where users can connect, share tips, and help each other. One of 15 Education tools with community.

6 features

Key Features

Research capture
Zotero automatically senses research as you browse the web. Need an article from JSTOR or a preprint from arXiv.org? A news story from the New York Times or a book from a library? Zotero has you covered, everywhere.
Research organization
Zotero helps you organize your research any way you want. You can sort items into collections and tag them with keywords. Or create saved searches that automatically fill with relevant materials as you work.
Citation creation
Zotero instantly creates references and bibliographies for any text editor, and directly inside Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.
Citation styles
With support for over 9,000 citation styles, you can format your work to match any style guide or publication.
Data synchronization
Zotero can optionally synchronize your data across devices, keeping your files, notes, and bibliographic records seamlessly up to date. If you decide to sync, you can also always access your research from any web browser.
Research collaboration
Zotero lets you co-write a paper with a colleague, distribute course materials to students, or build a collaborative bibliography. You can share a Zotero library with as many people you like, at no cost.

Pros and cons

Pros

Free and open-source with no cost for core features.
Supports automatic capture of research metadata from a wide range of sources.
Integrates with popular word processors for seamless citation management.
Enables unlimited collaboration and sharing of research libraries.
Cross-platform support including desktop and mobile apps.

Cons

No explicit pricing plans or premium features; relies on donations and optional storage subscriptions.
User interface can be complex for beginners unfamiliar with reference management.
Syncing and storage limits may require paid subscriptions for large libraries.
Limited advanced analytics or AI-powered research assistance features.
Requires some setup for optimal use with citation styles and plugins.

You?

Be the first to rate Zotero

Your review helps others make better decisions. No account needed. Takes about 10 seconds.

Featured Video

See Zotero at work before you try it.

Watch on YouTube

0 questions

Frequently Asked Questions

No reviews yet

Community reviews

Sort:Write a review

No written reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.

Tried this tool? Share your experience.

Write a review

No reviews yet

Community reviews

Sort:Write a review

No written reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.

Tried this tool? Share your experience.

Write a review

8 things

What Zotero has

Apps

iOS (store page, opens in a new tab)
Android (store page, opens in a new tab)
Windows
macOS
Linux

For developers

Programmatic access to the product's data and features for developers. One of 13 Education tools with an API.

For teams

Shared workspaces where multiple users can collaborate on the same content. One of 4 Education tools with team accounts.

Extras

An online space where users can connect, share tips, and help each other. One of 15 Education tools with community.

6 features

Key Features

Research capture
Zotero automatically senses research as you browse the web. Need an article from JSTOR or a preprint from arXiv.org? A news story from the New York Times or a book from a library? Zotero has you covered, everywhere.
Research organization
Zotero helps you organize your research any way you want. You can sort items into collections and tag them with keywords. Or create saved searches that automatically fill with relevant materials as you work.
Citation creation
Zotero instantly creates references and bibliographies for any text editor, and directly inside Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.
Citation styles
With support for over 9,000 citation styles, you can format your work to match any style guide or publication.
Data synchronization
Zotero can optionally synchronize your data across devices, keeping your files, notes, and bibliographic records seamlessly up to date. If you decide to sync, you can also always access your research from any web browser.
Research collaboration
Zotero lets you co-write a paper with a colleague, distribute course materials to students, or build a collaborative bibliography. You can share a Zotero library with as many people you like, at no cost.

Pros and cons

Pros

Free and open-source with no cost for core features.
Supports automatic capture of research metadata from a wide range of sources.
Integrates with popular word processors for seamless citation management.
Enables unlimited collaboration and sharing of research libraries.
Cross-platform support including desktop and mobile apps.

Cons

No explicit pricing plans or premium features; relies on donations and optional storage subscriptions.
User interface can be complex for beginners unfamiliar with reference management.
Syncing and storage limits may require paid subscriptions for large libraries.
Limited advanced analytics or AI-powered research assistance features.
Requires some setup for optimal use with citation styles and plugins.

You?

Be the first to rate Zotero

Your review helps others make better decisions. No account needed. Takes about 10 seconds.

Featured Video

See Zotero at work before you try it.

Watch on YouTube

0 questions

Zotero

Overview

What Zotero has

Apps

For developers

For teams

Extras

Key Features

Research capture

Research organization

Citation creation

Citation styles

Data synchronization

Research collaboration

Pros and cons

Pros

Cons

Be the first to rate Zotero

Featured Video

Frequently Asked Questions

What Zotero has

Apps

For developers

For teams

Extras

Key Features

Research capture

Research organization

Citation creation

Citation styles

Data synchronization

Research collaboration

Pros and cons

Pros

Cons

Be the first to rate Zotero

Featured Video

Frequently Asked Questions

More in Education

More in Education