4.3
Elsevier’s reference manager, free until the 2 GB library fills.
References, free, until the storage runs out.
Best for citations without a sales pitch
Reviewed 16 September 2026 · Prices checked the same day
4.7
18K reviews
Zotero is free, open source, and the only reference manager here that is not trying to sell you a writing suite. Storage is where money appears: 300 MB free, 2 GB for $20 a year, 6 GB for $60, unlimited for $120, checked 16 September 2026.
Syncing PDFs will push you past 300 MB inside one term, at which point a free tool has quietly become a paid service.
Pricing
freemium
$20/yr for 2 GB; $60 for 6 GB; $120 unlimited
Free version
300 MB of cloud storage. The app itself is free.
Platforms
Windows · macOS · Linux · iOS
The grown-up choice for essays and theses. Pair with LiquidText or a PDF reader for the reading itself. Do not use it as a notebook.
Checked 2026-09-16
| Model | Freemium |
|---|---|
| What free actually includes | 300 MB of cloud storage. The app itself is free. |
| Cheapest paid tier | $20/yr for 2 GB; $60 for 6 GB; $120 unlimited |
| Student pricing | None published |
Links from StudyApps include ref=studyapps.
300 MB of cloud storage. The app itself is free. Checked 16 September 2026.
Cheapest paid plan: $20/yr for 2 GB; $60 for 6 GB; $120 unlimited. Prices checked 16 September 2026.
Citations without a sales pitch
PDF sync blows the free 300 MB in one term
Elsevier’s reference manager, free until the 2 GB library fills.
Reference manager built around Google Docs and Chrome.
Clarivate’s heavy reference manager, cheap only if campus already paid.