Paperpile
Paperpile: A complete citation workflow for researchers working across PDFs, browsers, Google Docs, and Word. Ranked #10 of 23 in Citation Management Software by our editors (7.8/10); pricing: 30-day trial; best for google Docs and Word users needing polished workflows.
At a glance
- Editor score7.8 / 10
- Pricing30-day trial
- Best forGoogle Docs and Word users needing polished workflows
- Free planNo
- Paid from$4.15/user/mo
- PDF annotationYes
- Founded2012 · Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- PDF storage, full-text search, highlighting, notes, and annotations
- Google Docs and Word plugins with automatic citation formatting
- Browser capture, duplicate detection, shared libraries, and mobile apps
Where it doesn't
- No free plan is available
- Plans are billed annually, including monthly-equivalent pricing
- Safari and Firefox support is described as beta
Our verdict on Paperpile
Paperpile is a web-based reference-management application for researchers and academic teams. It collects references from academic databases and publisher websites, organizes them with folders, labels, search, and duplicate detection, and keeps research PDFs in the same workspace. Users can read, highlight, annotate, and cite sources, while iOS and Android apps provide access to research libraries on mobile devices. Its strongest fit is for people who work regularly in Google Docs or Microsoft Word and want their reference library connected to the writing process.
Pricing is organized around two paid individual plans. Regular costs $4.15 per user per month with annual billing and includes reference collection, PDF storage and reading, major citation styles and BibTeX, plus basic Word and Google Docs integrations. Expert costs $5.75 per user per month with annual billing and adds full-text PDF search, PDF notes and annotations, shared folders and libraries, supplementary file support, advanced integrations, and custom citation styles. The Enterprise and Institutions plan adds SAML single sign-on, advanced security and privacy settings, a custom MSA and SLA, vendor security reviews, and HIPAA. A 30-day free trial is available.
Paperpile’s main strength is the connection between source capture, PDF work, and citation output. Integrations include Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Scholar, PubMed, arXiv, CrossRef, and Overleaf, while BibTeX and LaTeX synchronization supports technical and academic workflows. Collaboration features such as shared folders, shared libraries, and collaborative annotations make the Expert plan more suitable for research teams. The product is less suitable for buyers seeking a free citation manager or month-to-month billing, and browser compatibility should be considered where Safari or Firefox is required because that support is described as beta.
Your product? Our editors can test Paperpile in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Paperpile pricing
All 3 Paperpile plans and prices →
Paperpile fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $4.15/user/mo |
| PDF annotation | Yes |
| Browser extension | Yes |
| Citation styles | Not verified |
| Word processor support | Both |
| Mobile apps | Both |
| Import formats | Not verified |
| Team collaboration | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension |
| Compliance & security | GDPR, HIPAA, SSO/SAML |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 9 integrations: Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Scholar, PubMed … |
| Pricing | 30-day trial (source) |
| Website | paperpile.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Paperpile integrations
Paperpile lists 9 integrations on its own site.
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Word
- Google Drive
- OneDrive
- Google Scholar
- PubMed
- arXiv
- CrossRef
- Overleaf
Alternatives to Paperpile
- 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
See all Paperpile alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Paperpile is ranked in 2 of our directories.
Used Paperpile? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Paperpile for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Paperpile is listed in our Citation Management Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/paperpile/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/paperpile.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update