4.7
References, free, until the storage runs out.
Reference manager built around Google Docs and Chrome.
Best for citations if your whole degree lives in google docs
Reviewed 16 September 2026 · Prices checked the same day
4.6
5.2K reviews
Paperpile is a reference manager aimed at Google Docs, Drive, and a Chrome workflow. A 30-day trial is free. After that all plans are billed annually: $8.30 a month list, or $4.15 a month with the 50% academic discount for students, faculty, and researchers. There is no monthly checkout. Prices checked 21 September 2026 on paperpile.com/pricing.
If you write in Word on a campus PC, this is the wrong shape. If you live in Docs, it is the least painful cite-while-you-write we listed.
Pricing
subscription
$8.30/mo billed annually; academic $4.15/mo billed annually
Free version
30-day trial, then paid
Platforms
Web · Chrome · iOS
The default when the seminar paper is a Docs file. Not the default for a LaTeX thesis (use Zotero or Overleaf plus BibTeX).
Checked 2026-09-21
| Model | Subscription |
|---|---|
| What free actually includes | 30-day trial, then paid |
| Cheapest paid tier | $8.30/mo billed annually; academic $4.15/mo billed annually |
| Student pricing | 50% academic rate at $4.15/mo billed yearly |
Links from StudyApps include ref=studyapps.
30-day trial, then paid Checked 16 September 2026.
Cheapest paid plan: $8.30/mo billed annually; academic $4.15/mo billed annually. Student deal: 50% academic rate at $4.15/mo billed yearly. Prices checked 16 September 2026.
Citations if your whole degree lives in Google Docs
Annual billing only, after a 30-day trial
References, free, until the storage runs out.
Elsevier’s reference manager, free until the 2 GB library fills.
Clarivate’s heavy reference manager, cheap only if campus already paid.