Citavi
Citavi: A deep research workspace for teams managing references, PDFs, notes, and citations. Ranked #4 of 23 in Citation Management Software by our editors (8.8/10); pricing: Paid; best for teams needing advanced research workflows.
At a glance
- Editor score8.8 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forTeams needing advanced research workflows
- PDF annotationYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Captures references, quotations, and images from browsers, PDFs, and databases
- Supports PDF annotation, quotation extraction, comments, and AI summaries
- Offers 11,000-plus citation styles and Microsoft Word integration
Where it doesn't
- Desktop access is presented separately from the browser-based Web offering
- Mac access is available through Citavi Web rather than the desktop software
- The product is proprietary rather than open source
Our verdict on Citavi
Citavi is reference management and knowledge organization software for students, researchers, faculty, librarians, and research teams. It combines reference importing, browser capture, PDF annotation, quotation and note management, citation formatting, project storage, and collaboration in one research-oriented workspace. Its scope suits people handling substantial academic literature rather than users who only need a basic bibliography tool.
Its strongest area is research workflow depth. Citavi can import references from PDFs, library catalogs, websites, and databases, while browser pickers capture webpage references, quotations, and images. Within PDFs, users can highlight, annotate, extract quotations, and add comments. Citation and bibliography formatting covers more than 11,000 styles, and Microsoft Word integration supports writing workflows. AI features add summaries, key insights, and paper search. Integrations also include NVivo and Google Docs, while storage can be cloud-based, local, or hosted on an institutional server.
Collaboration and deployment make Citavi relevant to research groups as well as individuals. Team projects include roles, tasks, and real-time collaboration, and larger organizations have institutional deployment options. The published plans are Citavi Web, with browser-based access and 5 GB of Citavi Space, and Windows + Web, with desktop and web access and the same 5 GB allowance. Citavi Web can be accessed from Mac, while the desktop offering is presented separately. Choose Citavi when annotation, structured knowledge organization, team workflows, and detailed citation control matter. Users seeking an open-source tool or a simpler, narrowly focused reference manager should consider alternatives.
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Citavi pricing
All 2 Citavi plans and prices →
Citavi fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| PDF annotation | Yes |
| Browser extension | Yes |
| Citation styles | 11000 styles |
| Word processor support | Both |
| Mobile apps | Not verified |
| Import formats | BibTeX, RIS, EndNote Tagged, CSV, Excel, Access, OpenOffice Calc, OvidSP, Zotero, Mendeley |
| Team collaboration | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, Windows |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: Microsoft Word, NVivo, Google Docs |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | citavi.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Citavi integrations
Citavi lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- Microsoft Word
- NVivo
- Google Docs
Alternatives to Citavi
- ZoteroA flexible, free citation manager with strong capture, annotation, and writing-tool support.9.4
- EndNoteA mature citation suite with broad writing support, PDF tools, collaboration, and AI assistance.9.2
- Mendeley Reference ManagerA flexible, cross-platform reference manager with PDF tools, Word integration, and tiered AI features.9.0
Citavi vs the competition
- Citavi vs Zotero
- Citavi vs EndNote
- Citavi vs Mendeley Reference Manager
- Citavi vs RefWorks
- Citavi vs JabRef
- Citavi vs BibDesk
Compare Citavi with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Citavi is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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