EndNote vs Mendeley Reference Manager

EndNote9.2Visit Mendeley Reference Manager9.0Visit

Higher score EndNote #2 in Citation Management Software 9.2/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit EndNote

vs

Mendeley Reference Manager #3 in Citation Management Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Mendeley

• EndNote fits best

  Researchers wanting a mature, full-featured suite

• Mendeley Reference Manager fits best

  Cross-platform researchers with a flexible budget

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Side by side

Feature	EndNote 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Mendeley Reference Manager 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	9.0
Ranking	#2 in Citation Management Software	#3 in Citation Management Software
Best for	Researchers wanting a mature, full-featured suite	Cross-platform researchers with a flexible budget
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	$55/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension	Cloud, Desktop, Browser extension
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Chrome extension	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome extension
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs · 24/7	Docs
Integrations	7 integrations	3 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features EndNote 3/3 · Mendeley Reference Manager 3/3
PDF annotation	✓	✓
Browser extension	✓	✓
Team collaboration	✓	✓
Specs
Citation styles	7500 styles	Not checked yet
Word processor support	Both	Microsoft_word
Mobile apps	Ios	None
Import formats	PDF, RIS, EndNote, Refer/BibIX, tab-delimited, XML, ISI-CE	BibTeX, EndNote XML, RIS
Our review
Pros	Supports 7,500 citation styles and multiple word processors Combines PDF annotation, database search, and reference management Works across web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Chrome	Free plan includes 2GB storage and five Reading Assistant questions Works across web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome Combines PDF annotation, browser capture, shared libraries, and Word citation tools
Cons	Paid licenses may be more than simpler citation tools Advanced features can be more than occasional users need The trial converts to a license unless the user opts out	No native iOS or Android apps in the current access model Annual plans require separate pricing choices from monthly billing Advanced AI features and higher storage limits require paid tiers
Our verdict	EndNote is reference-management software for students, researchers, academics, and institutions. It stores bibliographic records and attached files, imports references from databases and PDFs, searches online scholarly resources, and… Read the review →	Mendeley Reference Manager is a web and desktop application for researchers, students, and academic teams who need to organize references, manage PDFs, and create citations. It supports reference storage, search, metadata extraction,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• EndNote — where it wins

  • Supports 7,500 citation styles and multiple word processors
  • Combines PDF annotation, database search, and reference management
  • Works across web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Chrome

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid licenses may be more than simpler citation tools
  • Advanced features can be more than occasional users need
  • The trial converts to a license unless the user opts out

• Mendeley Reference Manager — where it wins

  • Free plan includes 2GB storage and five Reading Assistant questions
  • Works across web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome
  • Combines PDF annotation, browser capture, shared libraries, and Word citation tools

  Where it doesn't

  • No native iOS or Android apps in the current access model
  • Annual plans require separate pricing choices from monthly billing
  • Advanced AI features and higher storage limits require paid tiers

• EndNote9.2/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A mature citation suite with broad writing support, PDF tools, collaboration, and AI assistance.

  Visit EndNoteFull verdict →
• Mendeley Reference Manager9.0/10 · Free plan

  A flexible, cross-platform reference manager with PDF tools, Word integration, and tiered AI features.

  Visit MendeleyFull verdict →