Skip to Main Content
University of Texas University of Texas Libraries

Cite Sources

Citation Managers

Citation Managers

Citation Managers are software applications that allow you to:

  • collect and organize your research
  • format citations for written assignments
  • share sources with group members or professors

Use the chart below to choose the correct application for you:

  NoodleTools EndNote (Desktop) EndNote Basic Zotero

Description

Web-based service that walks you through the process of formatting citations

Citation management software that helps you collect, store, organize and cite sources

Web-based service that helps you collect, organize, share and cite sources

Web-based tool and standalone software that helps you collect, organize, share and cite sources

Best for Short undergraduate research papers with fewer than 10 sources Large research projects (thesis, book) written using your own computer Smaller research projects, and when internet access is more reliable than access to a specific computer Small or large research projects
Cost Free for UT students Purchase a downloadable student license from UT Campus Computer Store Free for everyone Free for everyone
Sharing Yes - share lists with classmates and instructors Yes - through included Endnote Web account Yes - create groups to share lists Yes - set up groups, share libraries
Mac/PC Yes Yes Yes Yes

Download software?

Work offline?

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Integration with word processors? Save bibliographies as Word docs but no in-text citation functionality Yes - create in-text citations and bibliographies with Cite While You Write plug-in for Word Yes - create in-text citations and bibliographies with Cite While You Write plug-in for Word Yes - download plugins for Word and OpenOffice to create in-text citations and bibliographies
Import citations from databases? No Yes Yes Yes
Unique features Note card function helps organize notes Options to define custom citation style Add a toolbar in Firefox to save online references directly into your library Easy to add sources from the Web; only major open source option
If you're graduating/leaving UT No access after graduation, no easy way to transfer lists Nothing changes - you own the software Nothing changes - free for everyone Nothing changes - free for everyone

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Generic License.